Student Wellbeing
Annie McNaughton
St Raphael's School
National Child Protection Week
5-11 September 2021
Theme: Every child, in every community, needs a fair go.
To treat all of Australia’s children fairly, we need to make sure every family and community has what kids need to thrive and be healthy.
Why environment matters … toxic stress
Minor, everyday stresses are a healthy part of child development, but major stressors can have a long-term effect on children’s brain development and even on their physical health. Severe adversity that lasts over long periods of time can send the body’s stress systems into permanent high alert, flooding the body’s vital organs and the brain with stress hormones. This ‘toxic stress’ response can derail healthy development and has even been linked to adult health problems like heart disease and diabetes.
The environment in which a child lives can be the source of significant stress or support for children. For instance, living in a community with not enough jobs, with poverty, or with high rates of abuse and violence creates stress that can stop children from getting a strong foundation for life.
When we address these root causes of stress, we create healthier communities for everyone, particularly children.
Further, research tells us there is a powerful source of protection against the long-term negative effects of adversity on children. What is it? Stable, supportive relationships with caring adults. These relationships actually buffer them from toxic stress, softening and moderating the biological stress response.
Providing every family and community with the robust system of supports they need, has tremendous power to build these critical relationships between children and caring adults.
This is one of the most important investments we can make.
Here are a few fact sheets from the NAPCAN website:
Wellbeing Activities @ Home
Over the last 8 weeks, different year levels have been including wellbeing activities in their weekly program. Here are a few that you might like to do as a family at home.
2. Create a gratitude tree on your fridge where each family member can record something they are grateful for on a sticky note everyday. 
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3. Try some yoga
4. Plan a family picnic to have in your back or front yard.
