Student Wellbeing
Staying Safe During The Holidays
The upcoming summer holidays will provide the opportunity for all of us to relax, have fun, spend time with loved ones and have a much-needed break from school. However, with more free time comes the responsibility to stay safe and make wise choices. Below are some important tips on how you can ensure your holiday break is safe while keeping your wellbeing a top priority.
Plan Ahead - Summer holidays often mean more freedom, but it’s important to plan ahead and make good decisions:
- Always let your family or friends know where you are going and when you’ll be back
- Set or agree on a curfew and stick to it
- Keep your phone charged and with you at all times in case of emergency
Protect Yourself Online - Without the commitment of attending school, you might be spending extra time online. As always, it’s important to stay safe and responsible in the digital world by:
- Being mindful of content you share on social media – once something is posted, its out there for everyone to see
- Avoid sharing personal information online, such as where you live or where you will be spending time
- Take regular breaks from screens and spend time engaging in real-life activities to keep a healthy balance
Be Safe in the Sun - We often spend a lot of time outdoors over the summer holidays, so it’s important we prepare best for this by:
- Applying sunscreen before going outside and reapply it throughout the day
- Wearing a hat and sunglasses to protect your eyes and face
- Drinking plenty of water to stay hydrated, especially on hot days
- Trying to avoid the sun during peak hours when UV rays are strongest
Be Smart Around Water - Whether you’re at the pool, beach or lake, water activities are often a summer highlight. Keep these tips in mind:
- Swim at safe and familiar locations or swim in designated areas with lifeguards present
- Never swim alone
- Be mindful of weather conditions and avoid swimming in rough or dangerous waters
Live an active, balanced lifestyle - While it’s important to make time to rest over the summer holidays, maintaining an active, balanced lifestyle will ensure good health and wellbeing.
- Try and find time each day for physical activity even if it is just taking a short walk
- Consider trying a new sport or physical activity – doing this with friends would be ideal
- Maintain a healthy and regular sleep routine over the holidays and as we approach the return to school, gradually get back to going to bed and waking up at the times needed during the school terms
- Make time for rest and relaxation – even consider trying out mediation, mindfulness activities, etc.
Stay Safe at Parties - Summer holidays are a great time for social gatherings and parties, but it’s important to be mindful of your safety. If and when you’re attending a party or social gathering, consider the following:
- Only attend parties hosted by someone you know and trust
- Have a plan to get home by means that are safe and reliable
- There is safety in numbers – ensure you’re in a group of familiar friends when attending parties and look after each other at all times
- Avoid risky behaviour and never feel pressured to do something you’re not comfortable with
- Trust your instincts at parties and social gatherings - if something doesn’t feel right, leave and reach out for help
- For our Senior Students – reflect on the wisdom passed on from the Paul Dillon (Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia) presentation earlier this year. Resources for staff, students and parents can be found at https://darta.net.au/resources/
Take Care of Your Mental Health - Summer can be a great time to unwind, but it can also bring challenges like loneliness and boredom. Take time for self-care and manage your general wellbeing by:
- Staying connected with your friends and family and don’t be afraid to ask for some support if you need it
- Making time for hobbies and activities that bring you joy and happiness
- Practicing the gratitude, empathy and mindfulness skills you have learned in your Wellbeing periods
- Reaching out for support if and when you need it – kids helpline is a great resource you can access at https://kidshelpline.com.au/ or by calling 1800 55 1800
By following these tips, we hope that you can ensure that your summer holidays are safe, relaxing and enjoyable. Enjoy the break and we look forward to seeing and supporting you in 2025.
Scott Cadby PACFA Reg. Clinical (21605)
Psychotherapist
BA (Psych) MPsychotherapyCouns
A Message From Victoria Police
As we move into the summer months and people start to enjoy more social activities, it is a timely reminder for us to do all we can to keep our community safe, particularly some of our most vulnerable. Unfortunately, around this time we can see an increase in robberies and assaults against some of our young people, often by other youth who are targeting them for their phones and other valuables. We know that these types of crimes can have lasting impacts on young people and their families.
While the number of incidents in this area are generally low, we are aware that some incidents are not reported to police, with victims often too scared of retribution by those responsible.
We have been working on a project to help better understand robberies and other harmful crime against our young people. While we always encourage victims to make a formal report to ensure those responsible are held to account through the judicial system, we do understand that some do not want to or are too frightened to take this path. The focus of our work is about returning power to the victims by providing them with other options to tell us what is happening within the community.
Operation Renegade will see Victoria Police partner with Crime Stoppers to promote an alternate pathway to report these types of crimes and to do so anonymously and without fear of retribution.
Summer Safety
Summer is here and the City of Kingston wants to make sure our community is staying safe (and cool!). To help keep you, your family, friends and neighbours safe, informed and aware during the warm weather, visit kingston.vic.gov.au/summer-safety
Social Media Safety
Social Media is an important tool to help students stay connected, communicate and express themselves. To help students have positive and safe online experiences, the Victorian Government has provided information about online safety and advice about what to do if anything goes wrong.
How secondary students can have a healthy relationship with social media, recognise online exploitation and what to do if something goes wrong online.
Helps parents and carers support their child to be safe online, recognise signs they need help and know what to do if they have an unsafe online experience.
The responsible use of Digital Technologies for schools is to engage with digital technologies in a safe and responsible manner, ensuring cybersafety and supporting student learning.