Wellbeing - Senior School

Youth Mental Health Forum - A Wellbeing Strathfield Initiative

The Strathfield Council Youth Advisory Board is made up of young people from within the Strathfield Local Government Area who advise the NSW Member for Strathfield, Jason Yat-Sen Li, on issues affecting youth in the community. The 2025 representatives from St Patrick’s College are Year 11 Year Ambassadors Michael Bartorilla and Ryan Scullion.

At the first workshop of the year, students identified mental health as their number one concern, with academic pressure, social media, anxiety, and bullying emerging as key challenges. In response, Strathfield Council is partnering with ACU, BATYR, and other leading organisations to deliver a practical and engaging forum for young people and their families: Youth Mental Health – A Wellbeing Strathfield Initiative.

If you and members of your family (14 years and older) are interested in attending this free community event, please RSVP here via this QR code.

Alternatively, you can RSVP via the following link. 

Megan Santiago

Wellbeing Coordinator

Student Reflection - Year 12 Presentation         Guest Speaker, Daniel Principe

Last Thursday, the Year 12 cohort had the opportunity to attend a presentation by Daniel Principe, focusing on relationships and the societal expectations that come with them. Daniel, who describes himself as a "passionate youth advocator and educator," led us through an engaging workshop that encouraged group collaboration and open discussion.

We were divided into groups of six and invited to answer a series of thought-provoking questions. Throughout the session, Daniel challenged us to consider situations from both male and female perspectives, prompting us to share our thoughts and experiences with the wider cohort. By creating a safe, non-judgemental space and sharing personal anecdotes, he encouraged honest conversation around relationships, gender expectations, and self-awareness.

 

One of the key discussions revolved around the characteristics both men and women value in a relationship. Many of the responses from the boys touched on financial, physical, and personal traits. This led to a deeper conversation about the stereotypes surrounding what women and men look for in a relationship, breaking them down and forming our own expectations for our own lives. Daniel shared stories that challenged this view, allowing us to reflect and form our own perspectives. Talking to our peers on these topics that we usually wouldn’t discuss allowed us to consider personal situations, with identity and culture often playing a major part in forming individual opinions on the topics we discussed`. These discussions helped shape a more mature and respectful understanding of relationships and masculinity.

The presentation was highly engaging and despite the lack of time we had with him we all walked away with a different perspective on relationships, respecting boundaries and the societal expectations and stereotypes surrounding these topics.

The Year 12 cohort would like to sincerely thank Daniel for his ongoing support and dedication to educating us since Year 11. His guidance has had a profound impact on our growth, helping us become the young men we are today.

Dylan Celegon | Year 12 Student