Wellbeing News
Celebrating Neurodiversity Week: Empowering Students and Staff Through Awareness and Support
This week, we’re proud to celebrate Neurodiversity Week, a time to highlight and honour the diverse range of neurological experiences that make each individual unique. At our school, we are continually striving to create an inclusive environment where all students feel valued and supported. This week’s celebrations are a chance to reflect on the progress we've made and look ahead to even more opportunities for growth and understanding.
A Student-Produced Resource to Support Neurodiverse Students
One of the most exciting developments during this Neurodiversity Week is the launch of a student-produced resource for staff. This guide, created by our students, outlines practical and insightful ways that staff can support neurodiverse students both in and out of the classroom. These students, many of whom are actively involved in our ICAN Neurodiverse Mentoring Program, have worked tirelessly to share their experiences and provide actionable advice. The goal is to empower staff with the knowledge and strategies they need to create an even more inclusive environment for all learners.
The ICAN Neurodiverse Mentoring Program has been a huge success, and we’re thrilled to announce that we will be running another group next term. Through the program, students have received mentorship and guidance from peers who understand their unique challenges. This initiative has not only fostered stronger relationships between students but also helped raise awareness and reduce stigma around neurodiversity.
THRIVE Sessions: Building Emotional Awareness
In addition to the ICAN Program, our staff have been running the incredibly impactful THRIVE sessions, which have been a key part of our efforts to support neurodiverse students. These sessions focus on helping students develop emotional awareness and regulation skills, encouraging them to recognize their own emotions and explore strategies for self-help. The goal is to provide students with the tools they need to navigate challenging situations, improve their emotional well-being and enhance their overall learning experience.
The THRIVE sessions have been widely praised for their positive impact on students, and it’s clear that the skills being developed in these sessions will benefit students throughout their academic and personal lives.
Nick Ford: Student Wellbeing Leader
Emsal Uger: Student Support Worker
El Harvey: Mental Health Practitioner
Roz Harry: Adolescent Health Nurse
Join Fresh Take – A Southside Creative Project!
Do you want to lead change through creative action? Fresh Take is an exciting opportunity for students to develop real-world creative campaigns to raise awareness about the harms of vaping.
How to Get Involved:
Students can be nominated by the school, or can self-sign up here.
For more info, contact Roz Harry (Adolescent Health Nurse) in Wellbeing on Mondays and Thursdays or email Roslyn.harry@education.vic.gov.au
