Student Welfare and Wellbeing News

Term 2 Week 4-8

How exciting our Lunch Clubs are returning in Week Four this term!  Students have requested the following clubs:

• Mindfulness/Drawing, Dance
• Trivia 
• Meditation Clubs

Lunch clubs provide studentd with an oppportunity to explore wellbeing in different areas and with cross age friendships.  

Students can attend any of these lunch clubs as they desire and build friendships amongst like minded peers. We hope these clubs help the students to explore wellbeing and respectful relationships with peers and educators alike.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

In 2024, South-Eastern regional government schools will receive funding to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL) to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing for students, staff and families based on a broad knowledge of the needs of the school community.

My name is Rhianna Hamilton and my role as MHWL is to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

I will be working in collaboration with our Wellbeing team to promote awareness and understanding of mental health and wellbeing in the school community, and to build the capacity of staff to support student mental health by: 

• Building the capability of the whole school regarding mental health and wellbeing
• Supporting the whole school to better identify and support students with mental health needs
• Establishing referral pathways for students requiring assessment and intervention, and monitor and evaluate student progress.

The World Health Organisation defines wellbeing as:

"... a positive state experienced by individuals and societies.  Similar to health, it is a resource for daily life and is determined by social, economic, and environmental conditions. Well-being encompasses quality of life and the ability of people and societies to contribute to the world with a sense of meaning and purpose."

It involves a student's emotional, mental, physical and social health, and includes how the student thinks and feels about themselves and their life generally.  Students can think of wellbeing as:

• 'Being' - Students identified well-being as a state of 'being' that existed when their needs were met and when they experienced a sense of satisfaction.  For example, being happy, loved, cared for, connected, wanted, safe and healthy
• 'Having' - Students conceptualised well-being in relation to 'having' support, rights, and social justice.  For example, students described the importance of having a voice, justice, fairness, help with schoolwork, good friendships, communication and respect
• 'Doing' - Students also understood well-being in relation to their own actions.  For example, the actions students most referred to included looking after oneself, accepting yourself and others, making good decisions, and performing acts of generosity and kindness. 

Promoting mental health and wellbeing at home

Promoting mental healthand wellbeing at home

As parents and carers, you are already doing lots of things to support your child’s mental health and wellbeing.  You can continue to protect your child’s mental health and well-being by developing and promoting:

• healthy sleeping habits
• healthy eating habits
• physical activity
• strong and nurturing relationships
• positive self-talk and providing praise, encouragement
• mindfulness, kindness, and gratitude
• social and emotional skills
• help-seeking.

For a range of videos and articles backed by Australian experts on how to support your child’s mental health, visit Raising Children Network.