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

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

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.

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

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 ...

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 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.

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.

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' 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.

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 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." 

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.

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.

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