Garrawang - Senior Fellas
Term 3 Highlights
As Term 3 comes to an end, it has been great to reflect on some of the highlights and achievements across Garrawang. We have had a busy term, with plenty of opportunities for students to develop their independence, build connections, and get involved in activities both within the house and around Melbourne.
It has been great to see students continue to grow in their confidence and independence throughout the term. Whether through sport, activities, cooking, school commitments or simply spending time together in the house, there have been plenty of positive moments across Garrawang.
Art Show
One of the highlights of Term 3 was the annual MITS Art Show. It was amazing to see the range of artwork created by our students and the effort they put into showcasing their creativity.
Students were involved in a range of activities throughout the evening, including a fashion show, musical performances, and the presentation of student artwork. Students also participated in the Artistic Panel, answering questions about their work, and sharing their creative process with the wider community.
The students did a fantastic job contributing to and helping run the evening, and it was great to see them take ownership of the event. The Art Show takes place each year in Term 3, and we look forward to continuing to support and celebrate this event in the years ahead.
Activities & Student-Led Experiences
Students have had plenty of opportunities to get out of the house and enjoy activities together throughout the term. Some of the regular favourites included mini golf, Bounce, sport and Strike Bowling.
One of the highlights was a trip to Melbourne Museum. What made this particularly great was that the idea came directly from the students. We really value seeing students come up with their own ideas for activities and take ownership of how they spend their time, and we hope to continue encouraging more of this in the future.
Students also organised a shopping trip along Sydney Road in Brunswick, visiting Clothing the Gaps and Mediterranean Wholesalers. These student-led activities are a great way for students to explore Melbourne while also developing confidence, independence, and the ability to plan and organise their own experiences.
There was also plenty of success on the sporting front. CC and his team won their grand final this term, with family coming down to support him. CC was also awarded Best on Ground, which was a fantastic achievement and a great moment to celebrate with his family.
Family Engagement
As always, having families down at MITS was another major highlight of the term. Family engagement is such an important part of supporting student success, and there is nothing better than having families visit the house, spend time with their young person and meet the staff who have the privilege of working with them each day.
Whether it was families coming down for sporting events, visiting the house or simply spending time with their young person, these connections are incredibly valuable. It has been fantastic to see families involved throughout the term, and we look forward to continuing to strengthen these connections in Term 4.
Wellbeing & Connection
We have also continued to focus on student wellbeing and creating opportunities for students to connect with each other and staff.
This term, Headspace joined us for sessions with the students, including some Mario Kart competitions on the projector. These sessions have always been a hit and, more importantly, have provided a relaxed opportunity for students to come out of their rooms, spend time together, and have conversations in a more informal setting.
We also recognised R U OK? Day this term. While it is important to recognise days like this, we want to continue working towards normalising conversations around how students are doing throughout the year. Encouraging students to check in with themselves and others, talk when things aren't going well and look after their own wellbeing is an important part of life at Garrawang.
Student Chef & Life Skills
Another highlight this term has been the success of Student Chef. It has been awesome to see students getting into the kitchen, creating food they enjoy and sharing meals that remind them of home.
Student Chef provides a great opportunity for students to develop practical life skills while also building confidence and independence in the kitchen. We are looking forward to continuing this in Term 4 and building on skills such as cooking, keeping the house tidy and taking greater responsibility for shared spaces.
A key focus for Term 4 will also be supporting students to make healthy choices around food and sleep. We regularly talk with students about how important diet, sleep and general wellbeing are to getting the most out of their time at MITS. Student Chef will be one of the ways we can continue encouraging students to develop positive habits while preparing food they enjoy.
Looking Ahead to Term 4
We are looking forward to another positive term in Garrawang. Term 4 will continue to focus on student independence, life skills, family engagement and wellbeing.
In particular, we want to continue encouraging students to take ownership of their own activities, develop practical skills around the house and make positive choices around food, sleep and their overall wellbeing.
Thank you to all families for your continued support throughout Term 3. It is a privilege to work alongside you and support such an incredible group of young people, and we look forward to continuing this work together in Term 4.
Tom Conron
Assistant Manager