Wellbeing Australia

Psychology for a better world

2012-02-06T03:57:51Z

This is a very generous offer from Nikki Harre, an academic in New Zealand. You can download a PDF copy of her book Psychology for a Better World from here. Having dipped into it quickly it makes a good case for what we are all trying to do in Wellbeing Australia in promoting a sustainable, ethical world for the future wellbeing of our children. http://www.psych.auckland.ac.nz/uoa/download-the-book

Learning to fail

2012-02-05T20:06:59Z

Everyone knows of students who have high anxiety levels in case they make a mistake and parents who 'bubble-wrap' their children and don't let them experience difficult feelings. See what this school in the UK is doing to ensure that students learn that failure is part of life: 'Failure week' at top girls' school to build resilience

Teach your child to Save, Spend and Share

2012-02-05T08:38:29Z

Bill Hansberry in Adelaide is distributing Moonjar moneyboxes - what do these have to do with Wellbeing? Well, they have three sections, meaning children are encouraged to think about whether to Spend their money, Save it, or Share it with others. Bill says: "Our kids all have moonjars and the conversations these things generate with kids about money, saving, donating and spending are incredible!"

Download the flyer, and contact Bill if you're interested.

Free MindMatters Training in Sydney 23/24 Feb

2012-02-04T08:27:36Z

MindMatters is running a FREE Workshop: L1 Planning Workshop on 23rd & 24th February, 2012. Location: Y-Hotel Sydney, 5-11 Wentworth Street, Sydney. No cost - Morning, afternoon tea and lunch are included. This workshop is recognised by the NSW Institute of Teachers and is accredited for 10 hours of teachers Professional Development. Please see below for agenda. Register HERE

]]> AGENDA:

MindMatters Level One Introductory Workshops provide an introduction to the MindMatters resource kit and the concept of a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

This practical hands-on workshop provides school classroom ideas around the following topics; Bullying & Harassment, Resilience, Understanding Mental Illness, Community Matters, Loss & Grief, and Data & Evaluation.

Introduction
Mental health - Promotion, Prevention and Early Intervention
Whole School Approach
Mapping Current Practice
Resource Familiarisation
Reconnect, Reflect and Plan
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
Dealing with Bullying and Harassment
Empathy and Safety
Resilience
Belonging and Friendship
Problem Solving and Coping
Protective and Risk Factors
Social and Emotional Learning
Understanding Mental Illness
Promoting Understanding and Help Seeking
Keeping Connected
Understanding the Issues
Change, Loss and Grief
Safety, Control and Trust
Community Matters
Diversity, Mental Health and Wellbeing
Community, Culture and Identity
Educating For Life
Suicide Prevention
Self Harm
Planning to Implement MindMatters as an individual or as a whole school/organisation

Survey: Factors Affecting Student Wellbeing

2011-11-21T04:15:59Z

Your opinion counts in helping to create positive teaching and learning communities where student wellbeing is a high priority. 465 of you filled in this survey - many thanks! We will publish the results soon ...

Emotional Learning Brings Real Hope to Schools

2011-11-17T08:11:26Z

Read this useful article from Yes! Magazine: "a fledgling movement to rethink what students need to thrive is proving that miracles can happen. An educational approach known as social and emotional learning (SEL), being implemented in individual schools--and now, for the first time, whole districts--has proven effective at simultaneously improving students' academic performance, behavior, and well-being."

Social Inclusion Week 19-27 November 2011

2011-11-17T08:04:49Z

Social Inclusion Week is about encouraging communities to reconnect and be inclusive of all cultures, age groups, nationalities and the disadvantaged. Social Inclusion Week aims to help Australians feel valued and to give people the opportunity to participate fully in society. It's about connecting with local communities, work mates, family and friends to build relationships and networks, addressing isolation and exclusion by supporting people who may be unable help themselves. Find out more here.

Conference: Innovation in Community Engagement

2011-11-10T02:43:21Z

The 2011 Planning By and With the People conference is in Melbourne on December 7 & 8. "A national conference on community engagement methodologies and how they need to satisfy one test: how can the community effectively influence public sector decision making and ensure improved outcomes in community well-being and sustainability?" More details here.

National Professional Learning System - a call to action

2011-11-05T01:27:53Z

The Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AISTL) has released a draft Australian Charter for the Professional Learning of Teachers and School Leaders. The Charter focuses on improving teacher and school leader professional practice through ongoing professional learning, directly assessing and supporting the National Professional Standards for Teachers and Principals.

"Be Brave" - bullying resource

2011-11-05T01:19:16Z

'Be Brave' is a book of encouragement for kids (from senior primary school age into senior high school) to help them disclose that they have been or are being hurt by another person. The author says:

"The book is written in simple, easily understandable language that speaks to the child reader as they read in their own experiences. The book is not a story, it is a personal journey for each reader. The book then goes on the provide encouragement to 'Be Brave' and 'tell someone' what is going on.

This book is relevant for those kids who may have been bullied, harassed or abused, either physically, mentally, sexually or by cyber means. It explains that strong emotions come from being hurt (without specifying the cause) and that these are a normal and understandable reaction to the situation. It provides understanding and encouragement and delivers a mechanism for the child reader to tell someone what is going on. The book empowers the reader and hopefully gives them the courage to say something to someone about what is happening to them. 'Be Brave' can be used by kids directly or by parents, carers, teachers, school counsellors, as well as child mentors, therapists and other medical professionals to help a child in need. It is also a very useful resource in an emotional literacy context. The book also provides a guide to help kids realise that there is help available to them and tells them where to find the sort of help they may need.

The 'Be Brave' website, www.bebravebook.com provides information about me and how the book came to be written. It also shows some of the illustrations created by Kat Chadwick. The publisher of 'Be Brave' is Jojo Publishing at the Docklands in Melbourne and you can find out more information about the book from their website. The book is available in hard cover and soft cover."

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European Network of Social and Emotional Competence

2011-11-03T04:04:51Z

ENSEC publishes The International Journal of Emotional Education and has a biennial conference. Non-Europeans can be associate members for free - signup on their website here. Their latest newsletter includes a brief report from the 2011 conference, which was attended by several members of Wellbeing Australia.

School suspensions - a resource

2011-10-19T06:35:53Z

School suspensions - a resource for teachers and school administrators, by Sheryl Hemphill, has been published on the website of the Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne. A quote from the first page: "... recourse to school suspensions or other exclusionary policies is rarely effective and often counter productive. The negative impact of school suspensions is more far-reaching than may be anticipated, for both individual students and the entire school community."

Australian Positive Psych & Wellbeing Conference March 2012

2011-10-18T09:52:33Z

The Australian Institute of Business Wellbeing at Wollongong University is hosting the 3rd Australian Positive Psychology & Wellbeing Conference on 22nd to 25th March 2012. The theme - 'Spotlight the Future' - will cover emerging research in four areas: health, organisations, policy and education. More detail can be viewed here.

KidsMatter Primary Newsletter 21 now out

2011-10-18T09:49:08Z

Available for download here. Includes an audience survey, and articles on Why social and emotional learning matters, Everyone has a role to play ... and many others.

Australian Community Psychologist on Resilience

2011-09-15T07:59:05Z

The August edition of The Australian Community Psychologist is all about resilience - you can download this - and other articles - here