FriYays @ Bayside Youth Services

Drop in for fun, free, supervised activities for young people. Chill out, catch up with friends or make new ones!

Friday 8 March: Footy is back: kick to kick, jack in the pack 🏉
Friday 15 March: Drumming circle session 🥁
Friday 11 March: Easter themed session 🐥

Details:

When: Fridays, 3:00 - 5:30pm

Where: Peterson Youth Centre, Highett - see map

Who: Young people aged 10 - 17 with a connection to Bayside (live, work, study, recreate).

Cost: Free

www.bayside.vic.gov.au/programs-and-events/friyays

Bayside Youth Ambassadors

Bayside Youth Ambassadors are young people with big ideas and a passion about making a difference in their community. Represent youth voice in Bayside and meet other like-minded young leaders. Have your say on the things that affect you.

The Bayside Youth Ambassadors are a committee of local young people who aim to:

Create positive change, with young people acting as leaders and role models within the community
Build confidence, skills and knowledge in young people, including leadership, communication, team work and advocacy skills
Promote young people as being integral members of the community
Include young people from diverse backgrounds in decision-making processes
Provide consultation to a variety of internal Bayside City Council stakeholders regarding projects or service development, which have an impact on the community

The committee is open to young people 12 – 25 years who have a connection to the City of Bayside. Meetings will be held Fortnightly on a Tuesday from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM in person at Sandringham Library.

Applications close 9am Tuesday 12 March

https://www.bayside.vic.gov.au/services/youth/bayside-youth-ambassadors

Healthy Life Balance

As we dive into another exciting academic year, it's crucial to remember that your well-being is just as important as your academic success. Achieving a healthy life balance is key to navigating the challenges of a new year and beyond.

Mind and Body Wellness

Mindful Mornings: Begin your day with a moment of mindfulness. Whether it's deep breathing, meditation, or a quick stretch, setting a positive tone in the morning can enhance your focus and mood.

Stay Active: Incorporate physical activity into your routine. Join a sports team, take up a dance class, or simply go for a walk – find what you enjoy to make staying active a fun part of your daily life.

Academic Success and Time Management

Effective Study Habits: Discover study techniques that work best for you. Experiment with methods such as flashcards, summarizing information, or creating mind maps to find what suits your learning style.

Prioritize Tasks: Create a to-do list and prioritize tasks based on deadlines and importance. Breaking down larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps can make your workload more manageable.

Social Connection and Support

Friendship and Community: Foster positive relationships with your peers. Surround yourself with friends who uplift and support you, and be there for them in return.

Seek Help When Needed: Don't hesitate to reach out for support when facing challenges. Whether it's talking to a teacher, school counselor, or a trusted adult, seeking help is a sign of strength.

Balancing Extracurricular Activities

Discover Your Passions: Engage in activities that bring you joy and fulfillment. Whether it's joining a club, participating in community service, or pursuing a hobby, find balance by incorporating activities beyond academics.

Time for Relaxation: Schedule downtime for relaxation and self-care. Whether it's reading a book, listening to music, or spending time with family, make sure you have moments of rest to recharge.

Transition to secondary school

Transitioning into secondary school and change is a common theme during adolescent life and a difficult but ultimately fulfilling journey to undertake for most young people.

Here at Sandringham College, this is even more

present for our Year 7 cohort, as they begin high school!

Below are some tips, and resources developed by ReachOut Australia that you can utilise to support your child and enhance their well-being and mental health.

Finding my way around school

https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/finding-my-way-around-school

Exams, assessments and school work

https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/exams-assessments-and-school-work

Friendship issues

https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/friendship-issues

Managing new rules & expectations

https://schools.au.reachout.com/articles/managing-new-rules-and-expectations

If your young person requires any further support, please do not hesitate to and contact one of our Well-being team members at Bluff Rd.

Patrick Pekin

Email: Pat.Pekin@education.vic.gov.au

Phone: (03) 8599 0500

Felicity Brown (she/her)

Email: felicity.brown@education.vic.gov.au

Phone: (03) 9599 5681

Anxiety

Worrying, feeling stressed, or anxious is something that we all experience from time to time.

Sometimes these feelings can help us perform better by helping us feel alert and motivated. This experience is our body’s way of preparing us to manage difficult situations.

But sometimes anxiety can stop us from doing things and affects our day-to-day living, can last for a prolonged period, can be very intense, and causes us distress.

What parents can do to help

Parents and caregivers play a critical in helping your pre-teen/teenager to cope with anxiety by:

Explain what anxiety is and take away the shame (normalize it).
When your pre-teen/teenager is anxious, avoid any “accommodating behaviours”. Be careful not to provide too much reassurance or help the pre-teen/teenager to avoid what makes them anxious.
Validate and empathise with your pre-teen/teenager’s feelings. Acknowledge that the pre-teen/teenager’s anxiety is “real” and is difficult for them, even if it may seem irrational to you.
Express confidence in their ability and use positive language.
Assist and encourage your pre-teen/teenager to develop a language around their thoughts, emotions, and things which may increase or heighten their feelings of anxiety.
Encourage your pre-teen/teenager to face their fears: Parents should encourage their pre-teen/teenager to face their fears gradually and gently.
Praise any “brave” behavior: When pre-teen/teenager successfully face their fears or even when they take a “baby step” toward facing their fears - give a lot of praise and positive attention.
Help your pre-teen/teenager learn to tolerate uncertainty: Many pre-teen/teenagers (and adults) with anxiety will try to avoid anxiety by reducing uncertainty in their environment - gradually exposing them to more uncertainty in their environment.
Encourage and develop your pre-teen/teenager’s independence and ability to make choices on their own: Allow your pre-teen/teenager the freedom to make mistakes, take risks, and even make the “wrong” decision.
Take Care of Yourself, it is important that you remember to also look after yourself.

Other things that can also help are:

To provide a safe and secure environment
Encourage a healthy lifestyle.

Identifying when to get help.

Although parents/carers can certainly help their pre-teen/teenager to cope with anxiety, it is also important to seek professional help when needed.

Parents should seek help for any of the following reasons:

Their pre-teen/teenager anxiety seems to be interfering with important functions such as sleep, eating, school, or activities that they used to enjoy.
The strategies they are using to try to manage their anxiety do not seem to be helping or are making the anxiety worse.
The pre-teen/teenager has been exposed to a traumatic situation which is causing anxiety.
The pre-teen/teenager’s anxiety seems to be getting worse over time.

What to do

Continue to support the every day worries.
Contact your pre-teen/teenager’s Year Level Leader
See your GP.
Seek further mental health support from a psychologist, counsellor etc.- There are local subsidised options available including Headspace and Family Life

Resources

For parents:

Headspace:https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/supporting-a-young-person/anxiety/

https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/supporting-a-young-person/how-to-support-a-family-member/

Beyond Blue: https:/www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/anxiety

Family Life: https://www.familylife.com.au/support/individuals/individual-counselling/

For students:

KidsHelpline1800 55 1800

Eheadspace: https://headspace.org.au/online-and-phone-support/create-account/

Headspace: https://headspace.org.au/explore-topics/for-young-people/anxiety/

For parents and students:

Brave: https://brave4you.psy.uq.edu.au/

ART - What's happening in 2024