CEOM Student Wellbeing Conference
The Catholic Education Office Melbourne (CEOM) has an important role in supporting schools in the implementation of policy and strategic initiatives in the area of whole school approaches to Student Wellbeing. Supporting school leadership to build sustainable models with a focus on prevention and early intervention is seen as being particularly important.
Close to 350 participants attended the inaugural Student Wellbeing conference The Journey of Student Wellbeing in Catholic Schools - The face, The place, The space (Citigate Albert Park, April 2007) which provided Student Wellbeing Coordinators, School Leaders, Year Level Coordinators and Staff involved in student wellbeing with an opportunity to
- examine current evidence based research in Student Wellbeing;
- highlight good practice models and frameworks and
- explore capacity building initiatives in Catholic schools.
The conference recognised that schools are ideally placed to have a significant impact on health and wellbeing outcomes for students, teachers and other members of the school community.
Dr Toni Noble, a senior University lecturer in education and psychology at Australian Catholic University National, presented the conference dinner address Hooray It's Monday! which focussed on strategies for enhancing schoolwide wellbeing and resilience for student and staff success. More information about Dr Toni Noble's address and an audio 'podcast' is available by clicking here.
The day session began with a performance of Look Into My World with provided an insight into the lives of young people addressing issues of peer friendship and exclusion, parental relationships, cyberbullying, the impact of premeditated hurtful pranks and issues of negative thoughts and self doubt. Look Into My World was written and performed by Drama students from St Columba's College Essendon under the direction of their Drama teacher Judy Jack.
A series of workshops and presentations were offered that examined the interconnectedness of teaching and learning outcomes, organisational ethos and environment, service partnerships and student and community wellbeing. Workshops and presentations at the conference were :-
School Ethos and Environment
- Developing Environments in which students thrive - Liz Freeman (University of Melbourne) with panel members Jennifer Fries (Kilbreda College), Sue Dempster (Kilbreda College) and Helen Kelly (St Columba's College, Essendon)
- Building a safe and effective environment - Pat Marshall (University of Melbourne) with panel member Colleen Salvado (Sacred Heart Primary School)
- Youth Empowerment - Authentic Student Participation - Roger Holdsworth (University of Melbourne) with panel members Sharron Hunter (Marian College, West Sunshine) and Judy Harris (SS Peter and Paul's Primary School, East Doncaster)
- Staff and Leadership Wellbeing - Jo Mason (MindMatters) and Vivienne Archdall (MindMatters)
Community Partnerships
- Developing Partnerships - Irene Verins (VicHealth)
- Engaging Parents and Multicultural Communities in School Life - Lesley Hyde (Catholic Education Office Melbourne) with panel member Patricia Taylor (St Joseph's Primary School, Collingwood)
- Making the Difference : School-Community Partnerships and Student Wellbeing - Desma Strong (University of Melbourne)
- Enriching Schools with Community Resources - Mary Rose (City of Boroondara) with panel members Sue Cahill (St Charles Borromeo Primary School, Templestowe) and Kelli Simmons (Catholic Education Office Melbourne, Northern Region)
Curriculum, Teaching and Learning
- Building Resilience : Linking Wellbeing Drug Education. Louise Dingley and Charles Branciforte (Keilor Downs Primary School)
- Keeping Kids Keen : Planning for Improved Student Engagement. Helen Butler (Centre for Adolescent Health) with panel members Neal Crossan (Whitefriars College, Donvale) and Marianne Massarany (Laverton Catholic Education Community)
- Values Education : Adolescence - the agony and the ecstasy. Cheryl Kane (Aquinas College, Ringwood) with student panel members from Aquinas College
- Promoting Social Emotional Development in Young People. Dr Tim Moore (Centre for Community Child Health, Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne)
- KidsMatter. Carolyn Buckley (KidsMatter) with panel members Colleen Manuel (Sacred Heart, Fitzroy), Sharyn O'Kane (St Christopher's Primary School, Airport West) and Cathie Devery (Christ the King School, Braybrook)
The plenary session from the conference is available online by clicking here.
Maria Kirkwood
Helen Butler
