From the Wellness Centre

Older Persons MHFA – NEW DATE

The date for OPMHFA will now be Thursday 4 and Friday 5 April as per new detail on flyer.

These days fall in the first week of the school holidays.

Introducing … The Unplugged Psychologist

Brad Marshall AKA The Unplugged Psychologist has spent over a decade at the cutting edge of healthy screen use. But don’t be confused by the name, Brad is NOT anti-technology. Brad is an internationally published author, researcher, clinician and speaker. Brad walks his talk and delivers from a place of real-world experience.

Brad authored ‘The Tech Diet for your Child & Teen; The seven-step plan to regain your kid’s childhood (and your Family’s Sanity)’ which has now been published in over a dozen countries worldwide, by HarperCollins. ‘The Tech Diet for your Child & Teen’ provides real-life strategies that any parent can implement to create a healthy balance and put your kids’ development first. Based on solid psychological research explaining why screen addiction is so powerful, his jargon-free advice gives a clear plan for parents who have had enough and are serious about changing the way their kids use and interact with technology.”

These tracts are directly from Brad Marshall’s website where parents can find more golden information below.

Parents - The Unplugged Psychologist

Peer Mediation Year Twelve Leadership Course

This essential and most valuable training concludes this week and I am thrilled to introduce you to our newly minted Peer Mediators: Sam Jeffery, Angus McSweeney, Rosie Nicoll, Lily Quick, Scarlett Swain, Maddie Warren, Michael Watson, Mary Witham, Evie Woodall, Ella Anderson, Pippa Wilson, Tiffany Butterworth and Felicity Ericsson. These incredible young people will receive their Certificate of Accreditation in Peer Mediation early next term.

To recap: Peer Mediation is a structured process, in which mediators are in control of the process, the parties are in control of the outcome, the parties take responsibility for the past and future, and the mediators are impartial. In short, peer mediation involves two trained students assisting other students through a structured process to reach a resolution of a conflict, misunderstanding, or dispute. The 13 Year Twelves were able to manage mediating an unknown scenario in teams of disputants and mediators.

Peer Mediation:

Fosters self-regulation, self-esteem, self-discipline;
The skills are transferable to a variety of settings
Promotes critical thinking, conflict resolution, problem-solving
Supports youth in becoming responsible citizens
Encourages people to change the way they negotiate – moving from positional bargaining to principled negotiation based on issues and interests

Currently, the Pastoral team is mapping where Peer Mediation will sit within the broader wellbeing programme at GSG and the practicalities of access and activation. It’s very heartening to assert that GSG now has a team of trained mediators whose broader contextual focus is around fostering pro-social behaviours across the campus and beyond, as well as promoting self-management and resilient empowerment in all. Where students, staff and community members recognise it as a legitimate conflict resolution, problem-solving, help-seeking option.

We are already discussing the next cohort of Year Elevens for training in Semester Two.

Best in mental health maintenance and promotion,

Ms Sheryl Moncur | School Counsellor/Teacher