Amid growing concerns about the mental health of those in the teaching profession, a recent article in The Age underscored a looming crisis: a critical shortage of principals in Australian schools. With research consistently pointing to high levels of stress ...
More »Self-care: the critical reason why school staff and leaders must prioritise their own wellbeing without feeling guilty
The reality of schools (for as many years as I have worked in education) is that teachers, Principals, and school staff more broadly run the gauntlet each term at frenetic pace, often collapsing physically and emotionally at the finish line. ...
More »Some say Year 12 final exam pressure is no longer necessary
Having grown up the child of two high-achieving professionals and possessing the requisite academics, I commenced a law degree after school. Like the 99 per cent, I wasn't to know that the GFC would hit in 2008 – two years later. ...
More »Why it doesn’t smell like teen spirit
Legendary 90s band Nirvana were known for their members' excesses. Indeed, lead singer Kurt Cobain took his own life aged 27, after myriad drug and alcohol struggles. Growing out of the punk and grunge movement was an anti-substance abuse subculture: straight ...
More »New medical guidelines for transgender kids
They may constitute only approximately 1.2 per cent of the population, but until recently, transgender individuals have been excluded from society. In a 2015 speech, former Human Rights Commissioner Tim Wilson said that of LGBTQI people, "the lingering and most extensive discrimination ...
More »Australian students don’t feel they belong as much as others
The teenage angst anthem Creep, by Radiohead, contains the following lyrics: I'm a creep, I'm a weirdo. What the hell am I doing here? I don't belong here. The British rock band could have been alluding to the latest batch of ...
More »Mental health in schools: the new #MeToo?
"Like #MeToo, we need a hashtag," Lynne Symons declared. The former principal of the largest school in South Australia – now an educational leadership consultant – was referring to the need for greater awareness of the mental health crisis among Australian principals, ...
More »New teachers “slipping through the cracks”
Teachers in the early stages of their career are most likely to lack access to professional support and are most likely to leave the profession, a new study has found. Led by Dr Nick Kelly from the Queensland University of ...
More »Youth report card: Australia ‘could do better’
The latest snapshot of Australia's youth shows the wellbeing and performance of school aged children is on a downward slide. Released today, the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) Report Card: The Wellbeing of Young Australians, places Australia ...
More »Teaching wellbeing
Professional learning can help school leaders, teachers, school staff and students strengthen their wellbeing As educators, we are aware of the importance of the social and emotional learning (SEL) we facilitate for the children and young people within our schools ...
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