TC Talks 2024

I was delighted to attend our major partner and sponsor’s breakfast event held this week.  The team at TheirCare engaged Dr Michael Carr-Gregg to present on effective parent and community engagement in primary school.

Dr. Michael Carr-Gregg is well known to many of you as he is a prominent Australian psychologist and child and adolescent mental health expert, known for his work in educational psychology, mental health advocacy, and public speaking on youth issues.

His presentation highlighted that today's school children face unprecedented challenges, including heightened anxiety, cyberbullying, and academic pressures. He emphasised the need for supportive school environments, effective mental health resources, and open communication to help students navigate these difficulties and foster their overall well-being and resilience.

Dr Carr-Gregg made the pertinent point that schools have now become the focus of building social capital in community a role once held by other institutions.  Over the years schools have certainly become increasingly central to fostering social connections and building a sense of community.  There is no doubt that schools now play an ever increasing and crucial role in developing social networks, supporting relationships and strengthening community bonds, all above and beyond the primary function of providing academic education.

A key problem faced is that this expanded role places an extra burden on schools, requiring additional resources, staff training and support systems to effectively address and manage these multifaceted responsibilities. It is essential to address this added burden, as schools are currently challenged to meet these needs with limited existing supports and resources.

Thank you to the team at TheirCare for delivering the TC Talks presentation. Upcoming sessions are scheduled, and I encourage school leaders to attend, regardless of whether TheirCare is your OSHC service provider. These sessions are open to all and offer valuable insights.