Wellbeing News

Men’s Health Week - Monday, June 9th to Sunday, June 15th, 2025

During Men’s Health Week, the Wellbeing team organised some lunchtime activities to help celebrate and raise awareness. Men’s Health Week is all about promoting the physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing of men and boys, with this year’s theme focusing on older men and the importance of mateship. To support this, we ran a basketball knockout tournament and set up an information station to give students a space to connect, reflect on their community, and think about who their mates are.

Wellbeing Committee 

During Harmony Day celebrations, the Wellbeing Committee and Multi-Pride proudly showcased their joint project, inviting the college community to contribute by writing messages of “welcome” and words relating to “harmony” in their national language. Students are to be commended for their enthusiasm, dedication, and attention to detail. A very big thank you to the Wellbeing Committee and all staff involved who helped bring the students’ vision to life, making the event a great success. The Wellbeing Committee also helped support Men’s Health Week by putting up posters with information and facts about Men’s Health. Thank you to students for volunteering their time to promote an important cause. The wellbeing committee meets fortnightly on Tuesdays at lunchtime to discuss and promote issues important to the school community.

Group Programs 

Throughout Term 2, students from various year levels participated in a range of Tier 2 group programs, including Martial Arts Therapy, Canine Comprehension, Healthy Teens, Pasifika, Chilled, Men’s Talk, Red Tent, Drumbeat, and the LEGO Program. The students have thoroughly enjoyed the content of each group, and it’s been a pleasure to see their growth and progress over the course of the term.

South Eastern Centre Against Sexual Assault (SECASA) Presentations

Over the course of the term, SECASA delivered their Respect, Protect, Connect program to our entire Year 8 and Year 10 cohorts. SECASA is a specialist sexual assault and family violence service.

Respect, Protect, Connect is a respectful relationships program designed to raise awareness within the school community about child sexual abuse and family violence, specifically in the context of young people in a secondary school setting. The program supports students in developing a broader understanding of violent behaviours and their impacts on personal wellbeing, as well as on emerging romantic and sexual relationships.

Following most sessions, SECASA collected student reflections through an impact log, capturing key takeaways and insights gained from the program. Many shared how valuable it was to:

• Understand affirmative consent and the law
• Learn about the legal implications of sexting
• Clarify the age of consent
• Recognise coercive control in a digital context
• Explore the relationship spectrum
• Realise that abuse isn’t limited to physical violence

The SECASA presentations were incredibly insightful, offering students meaningful perspectives and practical knowledge. The lessons and reflections they took away will serve them well in their everyday interactions, both within the school environment and out in the wider community, helping to foster respectful relationships, greater awareness, and responsible decision-making.

OmeTV – The Latest Trend in Online Chat Platforms

What is OmeTV? OmeTV is one of the latest video chat platforms gaining popularity among young people. Like the now-defunct Omegle/MSM Chat, it allows users to connect with strangers from around the world for real-time video or text conversations. The platform promotes casual interactions and even offers automatic translation for users speaking different languages. While it may appear harmless on the surface, it’s important to be vigilant about who students are connecting with, as these platforms can expose them to inappropriate or unsafe content. Having open, ongoing conversations with your young people about online safety and digital boundaries is key to supporting them.

OmeTV presents several online safety concerns, particularly related to inappropriate content, unwanted contact, and potential exposure to harmful interactions, which users should be aware of and take steps to mitigate. 

Key concerns and considerations for OmeTV users include:

• Exposure to inappropriate content
• Unwanted contact and harassment
• Privacy and data security
• Age-appropriate use
• In-app reporting tools

Users might encounter sexually explicit material or other disturbing content, as the platform is designed for random video chat and lacks robust content filters. 

Due to the random nature of the platform, users may be subjected to unsolicited messages, unwanted advances, or harassment from other users. 

Users should be mindful of the information they share and understand OmeTV's privacy settings and permissions, as well as the potential for data profiling. 

It is crucial to consider the age rating and requirements of the platform and ensure users, especially children, are ready for the types of content and interactions they might encounter. 

Users should familiarize themselves with the reporting options available within OmeTV to flag inappropriate behaviour or content, as recommended by the eSafety Commissioner. 

Le Mana Pasifika, Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) – Staff Professional Learning 

As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting students from all cultural backgrounds, staff were given the opportunity to take part in a professional learning session facilitated by Le Mana. The session focused on deepening our understanding of the cultural context, experiences, and needs of Māori and Pasifika young people and their families.

Le Mana has been working closely with our Māori and Pasifika students each week through the Pasifika program, helping them build emotional intelligence, cultural pride, leadership skills, and a strong sense of community. The depth of conversation, genuine interest, and openness from staff in sharing personal stories and lived experiences made the session incredibly powerful and meaningful. It was so great to see how engaged everyone was, and it really highlighted our shared dedication to creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all students.