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Wellbeing and Engagement 

Shannon Ross

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Wellbeing and Engagement 

 

Live4Life Ballarat 2023

 

 

We are excited to welcome the Live4Life initiative to Woodmans Hill Secondary College in 2023.

 

Live4Life is an evidence-based model for improving youth mental health and reducing suicide across rural and regional communities. Live4Life delivers Teen and accredited Youth Mental Health First Aid training in schools and the wider community. The model of Live4Life is a whole community approach, involving secondary schools working in partnership with community partners to lead conversations about mental health that reduce stigma, and promote young leaders as mental health ambassadors.

 

Live4Life Ballarat was created in response to a reported increase from schools and agencies, in depression, anxiety, cyber bullying and self-harm which has led to the need for a coordinated response to address our young people’s mental health. 

 

Ballarat secondary schools and community partners agreed to utilise an evidenced based approach to mental health that focuses on prevention and education. 

 

In 2023, 8 secondary schools will have the Ballarat Live4Life program delivered to Year 8 students: 

•          Woodman’s Hill Secondary College    •          Mt Rowan Secondary College 

•          Phoenix P-12 Community College      •          Damascus College 

•          Ballarat Christian College                   •          Mt Clear College 

•          Ballarat & Clarendon College             •          Ballarat High School 

 

In 2024, Ballarat Live4Life program will be delivered to Year 8 and 10 students. 

 

Delivery of Live4Life Ballarat will be supported by partnering community agencies:

•          City of Ballarat 

•          Ballarat Community Health 

•          Diocese of Ballarat Catholic Education

•          Department of Education and Training

•          CMY (Centre for Multicultural Youth) 

•          Cafs 

•          Headspace 

•          Victoria Police 

•          The Y Ballarat

•          Ballarat & District Suicide Awareness Network

 

Live4Life Ballarat is made up of the following components: 

1.         Delivery of Teen Mental Health First Aid to year 8 and 10 students. 

2.         Parents and Teachers – Youth Mental Health First Aid training.

3.         Live4Life Crew - Yr. 9 and 10 Students who volunteer to support the delivery of education sessions and run the launch, mental health promotion activities and celebration events for the year ahead.

 

Teen Mental Health First Aid (TMHFA)

Our Year 8 students have completed the first week of their TMHFA training this week and been active participants and demonstrated respect for our presenters and care for each other. 

 

If your child is in Year 8, we encourage parents to discuss this training with your young person to hear the key messages that they have taken out of Week 1. 

 

 

Learning Walks

At Woodmans Hill, we regularly engage in the Learning Walk procedures. Learning Walks are designed as a data collecting process, as schools monitor the impact of their collective focus. We have completed these for a long time in the teaching and learning team and we are now expanding this to include our wellbeing and engagement team. 

 

Our 5 learning walk questions for students are: 

  1. What routines does your teacher have at the beginning of a lesson? 
  2. How do you know you are prepared and ready to learn in this class?
  3. How has your teacher checked your work/learning this lesson? 
  4. How does your teacher create a safe learning environment for everyone?
  5. What routines does your teacher have at the end of a lesson? 

 

 

School-Wide Positive Behaviour Team (SWPB)

 

We are happy to announce that we have three wonderful student representatives who will be joining our School-wide positive Behaviour team this Term. 

 

These students will connect student voice to our SWPB program at Woodmans Hill and ensure that any changes made have the backing of our student body. 

 

We will start our work on auditing and revitalizing the merit system at Woodmans Hill to ensure that all students value and look forward to the rewards and prizes that are offered. 

 

Year 7: Kayla Gardner

Year 9: Mason Trevitt