Deloraine High School is using a new healthy schools initiative, launched by the state government, to target mental health and wellbeing, after the community suffered a year of disasters.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The district was hit by bushfires, floods and decreased milk prices in 2016, and principal Lee Barker said the government initiative came at “the perfect time”.
“The community has suffered, fires, reduced milk prices and floods recently, and we felt this initiative was timely to help boost the wellbeing of students, which will hopefully transfer to families and the community.
“There were families that have lost jobs, and there were families that had damage from the floods and the fires, so it was just timely to think we’ve got to really have a can-do attitude and do something to bolster these students and build their resilience and perseverance.”
Deloraine High was one of 47 state schools to receive a grant as part of the government’s Student Health Initiative. The school has $10,000 to spend this year, $9000 next year, $8000 in 2019, and $7000 in 2020. The funding will help establish and support programs, together with funding and resources provided by the school. Deloraine High is in the process of establishing two programs – one called Mood Food and another called Back on Your Bike.
“The aim of these programs is to encourage engagement in learning through the development of emotional and wellbeing skills, such as resilience, perseverance and self confidence, and important 21st century skills such as problem solving, self regulation, teamwork and communication,” Ms Barker said.
The Mood Food program will involve learning about healthy food habits through preparing food made with fresh produce from the school’s agricultural garden and community garden. “Produce will be grown and then used with other ingredients to prepare healthy food. Emotional health and wellbeing of students will be strengthened by incorporating the topics and ideas such as the importance of healthy eating, healthy lifestyle, self care and mental health.
“Each week during and after cooking and eating, a topic for discussion around the theme for the week will be discussed. Our students will also be able to have access to healthy food through our canteen.”
As part of the Back on Your Bike program, students are restoring old donated bikes. “That’s hopefully going to bring the community in because the bikes will be built by and for the students themselves, but also to give to disadvantaged families. The other thing we were talking about was once a month getting family members and community members involved in a ride with these bikes - maybe a Sunday ride along the riverbank.”
The community has suffered, fires, reduced milk prices and floods recently, and we felt this initiative was timely to help boost the wellbeing of students which will hopefully transfer to families and the community
- Lee Barker
In order to apply for the government grant, schools had to partner up with an organisation. Deloraine High partnered with Northern Job Link, which will provide a mentor to work with students throughout the program.
Assistant principal Angela Gatti said the school was in the process of choosing the students to participate in the two programs. “The students will be identified through the support team at our school so it will be a mixture of students, but students needing a bit of extra support socially or with re-engagement. We’re even hoping perhaps to turn this into, as the year goes on, a transition kind of program to engage students who might be at risk from local primary schools, to be part of the program.”
Schools were awarded the Student Health Initiative grant for one of four focus areas – nutrition, food and agriculture, physical activity, drug education, and emotional health and wellbeing. Round two of applications will open in mid-September.
