Celebrating Student Wellbeing

We're excited to share the wonderful journey of our Year 10 students, Cameron Powell, Harry Wall, Ashlan White, Paige Johnson and Christian Buddle, who recently attended the Maroondah City Council's Student Wellbeing Action Teams (SWAT) Celebration Evening. This event marked the culmination of a six-month program initiated by the Maroondah City Council Youth Services, aimed at empowering our students to make a positive impact on their community. 

The SWAT program was a unique and immersive experience that encouraged students to discover their strengths and develop the skills needed to create positive change in their community. While participation in SWAT was limited to a select number of Year 10 students from participating schools in Maroondah, the impact it had was immeasurable. 

The program consisted of several key components: 

1-Day Summit: The journey began with an intensive one-day summit that provided students with the foundational knowledge and tools they needed to address wellbeing challenges in their community. 

3-Day Overnight Retreat: Following the summit, students embarked on a three-day wellbeing camp where they delved deeper into their understanding of wellbeing and learned to apply their newfound skills. 

Wellbeing Project: Perhaps the most exciting part of the program was the wellbeing project. This was where students got to put their knowledge and skills into action. They had until the end of Term 3 to complete their project, which could address a variety of wellbeing-related issues in the community. Our students presented to the entire Year 7 cohort about the Positive Education PERMAH Pillars. This was no easy feat, and we commend our students for their dedication and hard work in delivering this important message. 

Drop-In Sessions: Staying connected and receiving ongoing support was essential. To ensure this, there were monthly drop-in sessions after school where SWAT leaders could reconnect with their peers and youth workers. These sessions were optional but highly encouraged, as they provided a platform for sharing project updates, discussing future directions, and seeking guidance. 

The SWAT program was not just an educational opportunity; it was a chance for our students to become active participants in improving the wellbeing of our community. By fostering leadership, teamwork, and a deeper understanding of wellbeing, students were empowered to create lasting positive change. 

We are incredibly proud of our Year 10 SWAT participants. This program served as a testament to the dedication of our students and the commitment of the Maroondah City Council Youth Services to nurturing the wellbeing of our youth. 

Allana Constance 

Student Voice, Agency & Leadership