Program Coordinator - Student Services

NAIDOC Celebrations

The College’s first NAIDOC celebration was held earlier in the term. Led by a group of students, a number of activities were held to recognise and celebrate the diversity in our student group. A gallery of portraits representing remarkable First Nations people was set-up in the dining room foyer. Students and staff enjoyed some delicious kangaroo fillets, superbly cooked by the kitchen staff. Year 10 HASS students explored significant events in Aboriginal activism and we raised the Aboriginal flag to signify the importance of creating a culture of awareness and inclusivity. 

Tomorrow Man/Woman

This term, student’s participated in workshops that followed on from those held in Term 1. Feedback from College students following the first workshops suggested that they wanted to participate in another workshop before the end of the year. 

Tomorrow Man + Tomorrow Woman deliver workshops to people of all ages across Australia. The workshops aim to;

“disrupt outdated traditional gender stereotypes and help participants define their own, unique story”, and “… enable participants to confidently navigate a world of expectations, demands + emotional complexity, creating a healthier life for themselves and the people they love”. 

Most students consider the sessions to be particularly useful. Below is an outline of the content for each group of students.

Year 10 Girls – Her Story

Participants will gain a greater understanding of what has influenced their past, their generational history, and their own gendered lens, and how it impacts the women they want to be today and for the future.

Year 10 Boys – History of Man

Learn about the historic evolution of both man, and woman. Understand how to identify the positive and negative traits that men have carried for years, and which key moments, environments and relationships have shaped them.

Year 11 and 12 Girls – Her influence

An opportunity for participants to look more deeply at how pressures and expectations influence the way we treat others, particularly other women. We'll provide tools to help create a more positive and empowering peer dynamic.

Year 11 Boys – Man and the Mask

Explore how fear of judgement and excessive 'banter' affects individuals and the culture of a cohort. Identify the ways in which men hide and protect themselves.

Year 12 Boys – Showing Up

Discuss toxic behaviours, and the current state of man according to society and the media. Explore how 'showing up' impacts those around them and practice being able to 'feel the burn' by taking ownership for relationships that they are committed to improving.

School Well-being Check

Student Services at the College has aligned with the Student Wellbeing Hub, a government backed group of experts, academics, teachers and leaders, professional associations and industry providers that support the education community in Australia. The Hub is the home of the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework, which is based on evidence of the clear links between safety, wellbeing and learning. We will be using this framework to guide us in improving student well-being. 

We are currently reviewing our practices in regard to student well-being. A number of staff have been asked to complete the Student Well-being Checklist that asks what priority does the College place on a number of practices including:

• Fostering and maintaining caring and respectful student–peer, student–teacher, teacher–parent and teacher–teacher relationships.
• Using critical analysis and evaluation of school data to inform decision-making in order to effectively respond to the changing needs of students and families.
• In collaboration with students, developing strategies for enhancing wellbeing, promoting safety and countering violence, bullying and abuse in all online and physical spaces.

It will be very interesting to see the results, then plan and implement strategies that improve student well-being at the College.