Wellbeing News
Year 9 Health day 2019
Karina and Melissa planned another interesting health day at Greensborough College on Wednesday 14th August. Health days are an opportunity to connect with local health services and we invited Banyule Youth services, Headspace and Victoria Police along to deliver several presentations to our students.
Our students were very well behaved and demonstrated respectful manners throughout the whole day and all the workers commented positively on their interactions with our young people during the sessions.
In the morning the students received a “Life Hacks” session from Ellen and David from Banyule Youth Services. Ellen covered information about money, getting a license, general health, legal advice and living out of home. Information that gives adolescents ideas about the responsibilities that lay ahead as they transition to become young adults. Megan and Philip from Headspace attended and spoke to the students about understanding and destigmatising issues around mental health, including coping skills. This session built on the mental health information delivered to the whole school (including parents) in term 2 about helping a friend with mental health concerns.
Concurrently the students also received a health session from health teachers; Mr Hay and Andy (student teacher) about the hazards of cannabis and drug use. Mr Hay ran an interactive quiz session and the students had a fun opportunity to experiment the impact of being drunk/stoned on their vision with the beer goggles. Melissa, adolescent health nurse delivered a health session on respectful relationships where the topics discussed were sexual assault, sex and the law, consent and communication. A lot to pack in but all essential knowledge for teenagers before they embark on serious intimate relationships.
Following lunch the students were visited by Tracey Porter from Victoria Police and Tracy covered sexting and the law regarding sexual activity and teenagers. The age of consent in the state of Victoria is 16, however there are several other specific stipulations around this including exclusions around a person aged between 12 and 18 requiring no more than a 2 year age gap for sexual activity to be regarded as not illegal. Ask your year 9 young person if they can tell you more information from the police officers talk!
To finish the afternoon we had an inspirational talk from Saad Al-Kassab; (thanks Banyule Youth Services). Saad told a moving story about him and his family fleeing Syria with the recent civil war and finally finding refuge in Australia. Saad spoke about the deprivations he and his family faced during this time including having to move from city to city seeking safety, and his brother being captured and tortured by government troops. Saad admitted to our students he hadn’t enjoyed school at all but when he was prevented from attending and learning by the war, he realised he was missing out by not being able to attend school.
After coming to Australia 5 years ago, Saad was able to learn English and ended up in a TAFE course and then working as a gardener before he was offered the opportunity to complete VCE. Saad said when he was a little boy he wanted to own a kebab shop for a job, but now, he aspires to be a doctor because he wants to help others. Saad is currently studying biomedicine at university. Saad told a story of facing terrible challenges and overcoming these with persistence, family support and opportunity. Ultimately Saad’s story is one of resilience!
Thank you to all the teachers for supporting this day
Karina Dienjes, Student Wellbeing Coordinator
Melissa Lenton, Secondary School Nurse
Beyond Blue
