Health & wellbeing experts highlight the latest strategies, programs, products, services and technologies designed to improve the mental and physical health of students, teachers and principals; and reveal how these developments can be put into practice.
An overwhelming 90 per cent of New South Wales teachers say that changes in government policy as well as data collection and administrative responsibilities have significantly added to their workload over the past five years and impacted their time to focus on students.
Geelong Grammar School’s Institute of Positive Education places wellbeing at the heart of education. As educators, we know that supporting student wellbeing is integral to the work we do. Increasingly, schools are prioritising wellbeing as a response to the prevalence of mental illness in youth and the link between wellbeing and positive learning outcomes. Read more
Fostering supportive workplace environments can create experiences that assist those who may be in need, writes Dr Gavin Hazel, Mental Health and Research Program Manager at Hunter Institute of Mental Health. Read more
Peer Support Australia explains how it provides school communities with the support they need to enhance the wellbeing of young people and help inform positive cultural change. Read more
The role of school principal is a rewarding, yet challenging, leadership career. The breadth and magnitude of responsibilities can weigh heavily on a school leader, from student wellbeing and discipline to staffing issues and teaching evaluation, plus being in charge of budgeting and resource allocation, legal responsibilities, change management, community engagement and public relations.
Since 2011, issues of health and wellbeing have worsened among educators – an immediate response is therefore needed to address the growing problem, argues Rob Nairn, Executive Director of the Australian Secondary Principals Association.