The importance of a good night's sleep

How much sleep should our students be getting?

The US National Sleep Foundation has published sleep recommendations for age groups across the lifespan. These recommendations highlight that as people get older, they generally need less sleep. In line with this, research shows that among Australian children aged 9 to 18 years, school-night sleep duration decreases at a rate of 12 minutes per year. Data from Victoria and South Australia shows adolescents are only getting an average of between 6.5 and 7.5 hours of sleep on school nights, rather than the recommended 8–10 hours.

While there is a genetic basis to people’s sleep patterns, behavioural and environmental factors also contribute. While a number of these may be important across the lifespan, some may be particularly important in benefiting or disrupting the sleep patterns of young people.

One recent South Australian study asked adolescents to stop using their phone one hour before bedtime on school nights (after a week of baseline or ‘usual’ sleep habits). During the intervention, the subjects maintained the same bedtime, but turned their lights out 17 minutes earlier, and obtained an average of 21 extra minutes of sleep per night – gaining 1 hour and 45 minutes of sleep over the school week.

This is an exert from the Sleep Health Foundation and VicHealth Sleep and Wellbeing report. Read the full report here...

Wellbeing Contact Form

Contact our Cheltenham Secondary College Wellbeing team directly with any concerns or issues and one of the team will get back to you. The form can be accessed here.

Helpful Contacts

Headspace

http://www.headspace.org.au/

Headspace Centres can be a one-stop shop for all young people who just need some help with everyday stuff or wellbeing and physical health.

Kids Helpline

https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Kids Helpline is across Australia, it is free, private and confidential 24/7. Mainly for young people aged 5 to age 25.

Call them on.. 1800 55 1800

Lifeline

https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Provides all Australians everywhere experiencing a personal crisis allowing 24-hour support. Call them on.. 13 11 14

Beyond Blue

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Provides information and support which helps tackle head-on the effects of mental health issues no matter where or what age.

Call them on.. 1300 22 4636

Parentline

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/serviceprofiles/parentline-service

Fantastic service for parents and carers of young children from a few days of age all the way up to 18-year-olds. This service offers counselling and support which is confidential and anonymous on all issues around parenting. Call them on...13 22 89.

FReeZA

Join our FReeZA P81 Events Committee to run a variety of youth events for the City of Kingston. Committee members will receive experience and training in the following roles:

Stage Manager
Artist Liaison
Sound and Lighting
Plus many more!

FReeZA provides opportunities to gain hands on experience in Event Management, additional training to develop or strengthen your skills and wider networking opportunities with other FReeZA committees.

Upcoming Event: Glitter and Glow. Keep an eye on our socials for more details…

To join the crew, you must be 12-25 years with a connection to the City of Kingston (live, work, study).

For more information, visit FReeZA P81 Events

To join, complete our Expression of Interest Form

Youth Advisory Committee (YAC)

The YAC has been established to provide advice to the City of Kingston in relation to broad-based youth related issues within the community and is an important forum for identifying municipal-wide issues and opportunities and advising Council about effective policy and service provision for young people within the City of Kingston.

The YAC provides opportunities for young people to develop leadership skills and be part of the decision making process. Further, the committee will provide the opportunities for young people to gain experience and knowledge of local government and the youth services system available to young people in the local and surrounding suburbs.

To join the crew, you must be 12-25 years with a connection to the City of Kingston (live, work, study). For more information, visit Youth Advisory Committee. Register via our Expression of Interest Form

Kingston Youth Services in partnership with Parkdale Library will be running a social chat for young adults (13-21yrs) commencing from July - YA Chat. These sessions will provide an environment for like-minded young adults to come together monthly and chat about pop culture, music, TC and books.

No bookings required.

For more information contact Parkdale Library on 1300 135 668 or enquire online.

Universal

Join our Universal Magazine Committee to develop a quarterly print-based youth magazine to be distributed throughout the City of Kingston. We are currently seeking:

Editors
Writers
Graphic Designers
Illustrators
Photographers

Universal provides hands-on experience, networking, portfolio pieces to showcase your work and training to develop or strengthen your skills.

You must be 12-25 years with a connection to the City of Kingston (live, work, study) to join the crew.

For more information, visit Universal Magazine Committee

To join, complete our Expression of Interest Form

Queer in Kingston (QIK)

QIK is a free, confidential, weekly social support group for young people aged 12-17 years who have a connection to the City of Kingston (live, work, study) who may identify as same sex attracted, gender diverse or questioning their sexuality and gender.

The group always welcomes new members to join in their weekly sessions as well as a range of activities held throughout the year.

For more information, visit Queer in Kingston (QIK)

To join, complete our Expression of Interest Form

Academic Assembly