WELLBEING PAGE

MENTAL HEALTH & WELLBEING TERM 3

This week is ‘Bullying No Way!’ National Week of Action. The theme for 2024 is 'Everyone belongs'.  When we all feel like we belong, bullying struggles to find a place. It's about embracing who we are, respecting everyone's differences and standing up together against unkindness. Belonging means we all have a role in preventing bullying. We're encouraged to speak up and create a safe place where everyone feels supported and respected, and our voices are heard and valued. In our classes this week we continue our work on teaching, learning and practising our School Wide Positive Behaviours and School Values, ensuring that, this week in particular, students better understand what bullying means. Bullying is an ongoing and deliberate misuse of power in relationships through repeated verbal, physical and/or social behaviour that intends to cause physical, social and/or psychological harm. Single incidents and conflict or fights between equals, whether in person or online, are not defined as bullying. If you would like to know more, there are some great resources at Bullying No Way.

Equine Assisted Therapy: Counselling with Horses

Located 20 minutes from Ballarat CBD, near the township of Smythesdale, in a country setting with natural bush surroundings, right on the corner of the State Forrest. Here at our centre, we are passionate about helping people of any age or background, alongside a strong love for animals and nature, it’s the perfect place for healing and change.

Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) psychotherapy is a unique approach to mental well-being and personal development. It is a non-room based, holistic process where you are offered safe experiences with horses, our wonderful co-facilitators that assist with the therapeutic process.

Horses are wonderful teachers and offer unique feedback for their clients due to their heightened sensitivity and natural instincts. Horses can offer emotional safety, trust, and confirmation in a non-judgemental and curious interaction. They also help create awareness when working with them.

Certified EAL practitioner with the Equine Psychotherapist Institute (EPI), I have also completed the advanced training in Trauma Informed Equine Assisted Therapy support techniques with EPI.  Many other qualifications in the about section of this webpage. https://equineassistedhealing.com.au/

Recommendations for those interested to learn more about how you can support your child’s mental health and wellbeing:

Every parent wants their child to have good mental health, and leading developmental paediatrician and host of the 'Pop Culture Parenting' podcast Dr Billy Garvey is here to help. Children of all ages are grappling with anxiety, depression, low self-esteem and behavioural issues, and it can take years to see an expert who can help them. Dr Billy Garvey is a senior specialist at one of the world's biggest and most prestigious paediatric hospitals. With over twenty years' experience working with families, he wants to reassure parents that there is no such thing as a bad child and that much of what he tells families in clinic is based on the same principles he outlines in this book.

Regardless of whether you have a young child or a teen on the brink of adulthood, by understanding the foundations of good mental health, you will be able to help them to thrive at any stage in their development.

To learn more about the work of Dr Billy Garvey including his podcast ‘Pop Culture Parenting’ go to https://www.guidinggrowingminds.com/