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This module looks at the critical role that staff mental health and wellbeing plays in the life of the school as a whole, and as part of the school MindMatters initiative. The Staff Matters Wellbeing at Work model will be used to explore a range of materials and strategies to improve staff wellbeing. The workshop explores personal mental health and wellbeing, interpersonal processes for the individual and the site as well as the professional aspects of people's work that relates to mental health and wellbeing. Schools will reflect on how they survey and check on their progress in wellbeing. Location: YHotel Sydney, 5-11 Wentworth Street.

Download the flyer here.  Register here.

"Effective schools that serve truly diverse students in authentic and democratic learning must work together to build a community and provide mutual support within the classroom and school. When students engage in behaviors that are challenging, staff understand that these are expressions of underlying needs of students and seek to help students find positive ways to meet their needs." More here.

The Indigenous Education Resource Update is a comprehensive regular email newsletter about emerging resources in Indigenous education. It details nationally appropriate resources, their availability, a brief description of content and utility, and hyperlinks to the resources. See the April 2012 Issue 16 by clicking on "Continue Reading ..." below.

This module is designed to increase staff understanding of "youth empowerment" and the benefits associated with authentically engaging young people within a whole school approach to mental health promotion. This training is accredited with the NSW Teachers Institute for 5hrs professional development. Flyer-NSW Module SE-2012.pdf

Included in this issue:

• Name change for Principals Australia
• MindMatters Recognition event highlights
• MindMatters achievements
• Good news stories
• Student Empowerment - what's happening around Australia?
• Information on upcoming national events and conferences of interest
• Latest News by state and territory

http://www.pai.edu.au/mindmatters-issue01-2012

Four Corners 6 Feb 2012: strong messages around the importance of the teacher-student relationship and teacher development. Watch the program here, and also extended interviews with the principals of Toronto HS, Knox Grammar, and Hume Central.

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

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.

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 Centre for Analysis of Educational Futures at Flinders University has published a large volume of materials on the evaluation of aspects of the KidsMatter programs. The papers are all available at the CAEF KidsMatter Evaluation website. Download the Evaluation Report Executive Summary here (1MB pdf): kidsmatter-exec-summary-report

Waverley Council has been working across five local government areas with funding from NSW Better Futures, to create an integrated approach to out of school hours and recreational services. The Waverley Council Better Futures Inner and Eastern Sydney Supporting Young People (9-13 years) Project (SYPCAP) has developed and produced a service framework that sets out the approaches taken to improve integrated service provision and distils in a practical way, the findings and expertise of the Waverley Model.

MindMatters provides FREE professional development opportunities across NSW to help school communities and educators implement whole school interventions with the aim of making a difference to the mental health and wellbeing of young people. All the professional development that is provided in NSW is accredited with the NSW Institute of Teachers for the maintenance of accreditation at Professional Competence for all elements. More details in this flyer.

Neil Hawkes of Values Education has released the following report summarising research findings on the Values in Action Schools Project: The evidence...conclusively shows how Values Education can transform classrooms, relationships and school environments, teacher professional practice and parents' engagement in their children's schooling.

Red Chocolate Elephants is an educational DVD and book resource for children and families bereaved by suicide. "The text speaks directly to children, and is simply illustrated with the drawings and quotations of children who have lost a father to suicide. Even better, the accompanying DVD offers these same youngsters speaking their words aloud as we also see their beautiful and moving drawings of their experience." A review on ABC News website is here.

Circle of Security® has created a new DVD parenting education program offering the core components of the evidence-based and internationally acclaimed COS® protocol. This 4-Day seminar trains professionals to use an eight-chapter DVD to educate parents and caregivers. May 23-26 2011, Newcastle NSW.