Psychology: Meet the Experts

Lisa Bairstow, Psychology Teacher

On Thursday 12 June, Unit 1 Psychology students took part in an engaging and insightful session exploring real-world applications of psychology with professionals working in mental health and education.

Students rotated through three sessions, each offering a unique perspective. In the first session, DCC Learning Support teacher Tanya Roberts, explored the concept of neurodiversity, highlighting how inclusive education can support and celebrate diverse learners. In the second, our school’s counselling and social work team discussed the real-world challenges and rewards of supporting student wellbeing. The final session featured a panel of psychologists and a clinical counsellor, who spoke about their roles in diagnosis, therapy, and culturally responsive practice.

One student reflected,

“It was inspiring and intriguing hearing about the experiences, ways, and unknowns behind psychologists, counsellors, and social workers… I’m grateful we got to hear such incredible stories.”

It was a rich and thought-provoking afternoon that helped students connect their learning to real-world practice, encouraging them to consider how they might contribute to the wellbeing of others, and for some, sparking curiosity about future pathways in psychology, counselling, or education.

Colourbration Alpaca Show

Rachel Burnett, Assistant Farm Manager and VET Trainer

Alpaca Parader Competitions are designed to demonstrate the bond that develops between alpacas and their handlers, and the skills required for their upkeep and management. The competitions incorporate Showmanship and Stockmanship.

Showmanship demonstrates excellence in preparation, presentation and handling of alpacas in a show ring setting. Handlers are required to parade their alpaca in the show ring and manage some basic movements to display the alpaca’s conformation at its best to the judge.

Stockmanship offers the opportunity to demonstrate the excellence in the handling of alpacas in their normal daily management. This highlights through consistent training the bond, teamwork and trust that can be developed between the alpaca and its handler.

Stockmanship is designed to simulate challenges that an alpaca and handler may face in day-to-day management by progressing through a series of stations/challenges.

Hear from Eva one of our Year 10 students who took part in the show.

Last weekend I attended the Colourbration Youth Alpaca Show in Bendigo. Teddy (DonChristColl Theodore) the amazing DCC alpaca joined me to take part in Showmanship and Stockmanship. He was an excellent participant and is very well halter trained!

Teddy and I competed in Showmanship and Stockmanship. In Showmanship, Teddy paraded around the arena so the judges could assess his health and wellbeing. We also competed in Stockmanship, where Teddy traversed across a set of challenges known as stations, which included a bridge and reversing though a path of hay bales.

There were seven competitors in total: three in Open (experienced), and four in Preliminary (beginner). I decided to compete because I thought it would be both fun, and a wonderful opportunity to gain more experience with alpacas.

Special thanks to Rachel Burnett for all her assistance, particularly with the transportation of Teddy and his two companion alpacas all the way to Bendigo!

Eva Hodges, Year 10 Student

Christian Thinkers Symposium

Tom Ricketts, Christian Studies Teacher

Several of our DCC students recently presented at the Christian Thinkers Symposium, an event run by Christian Education National. Earlier in the year, these students participated in a colloquium event (a virtual conference), with three guest speakers presenting on a range of topics related to faith and leadership. These included Health and Wellbeing, Artificial Intelligence and Creativity.

At the symposium, students from different Christian schools met to present their reflections on these talks, with a range of informative and creative responses. Our students planned and worked as a team to write, perform, and film a creative perspective on the theme of ‘pivot points’ in everyday discipleship; considering how we can live faithfully as Christians in both the mundane and difficult moments of daily life.

It was terrific to see the ideas that students from participating schools had to share, and some of the projects they had been working on over the past few months in response to the initial colloquium event. Our students created an impressive video project, which blew us all away both in its thoughtfulness, and its high production values.

Great work, team!

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