Explore perspectives for improving
school wellbeing programs

Overview

The focus of this conference is on the wellbeing of teachers and students with a goal to developing and updating school wellbeing programs. We know that not only do confident and resilient children with a capacity for emotional intelligence perform better academically, but these skills can also contribute to their ability to create strong social bonds and supportive communities, and to maintain healthy relationships and responsible lifestyles. Teacher burnout is a major concern for all schools and so we need to develop strategies and plans to support our teachers to put themselves first to ensure they are able to lead a healthy, fulfilled life balance. This conference will provide delegates with common sense approaches to significantly improve their own wellbeing and mental health.

Target Audience

Those in leadership roles, wellbeing coordinators, learning support, welfare coordinators and classroom teachers.

Tickets

Tickets include tea/coffee on arrival, morning tea and lunch, along with a Certificate of Attendance (Mapped to APST).

Register NOW to access our Early Bird Rates

9:00 - 9:45am

Speaker: Dr Sophie Lea, Academic, former School Counsellor, Teacher Monash University

Choose Kindness: How Young People View, Experience And Benefit From Kindness In The School Community.

This session provides attendees with an overview of the research on the impact that kindness (given and received) has on our wellbeing and school communities. Hear about how these benefits can be practically implemented within a whole-school context to promote a respectful and happier school community and culture, and explore a Kind Education theoretical model. Discuss data collected from youth and staff surveys. Finally, we will examine pilot ‘kind school’ programs implemented by Kind Schools and Resilient Youth Australia, focusing on how to best enhance young people's wellbeing and facilitate effective resilience-kindness-building practices.

9:50 - 10:50am

Speakers: Kritz & Bianca Sciessere, Co-Founders, The Big Sister Experience

Avoiding Educator Burn Out

In the dynamic landscape of education, the demands on educators can often lead to feelings of stress and burnout.

This session aims to empower educators with practical tools and insights to recognise the signs of burnout, understand its underlying causes, and implement proactive measures to maintain their wellbeing. We’ll work through effective strategies to prevent burnout and cultivate a sustainable and fulfilling teaching career.

10:50 - 11:15am

Morning Tea

11:15am - 12:00pm

Speaker: Frances Smith, ShIne Your Light Education

The Art of Teaching

Teaching is a noble profession that demands extraordinary commitment, patience, dedication, and integrity from teachers.

This session aims to help build teacher capacity and enhance teacher wellbeing so they can manage the many demands placed upon their time and energy both inside and outside of the classroom. We’ll discuss how we can better shine a light on the joy of teaching and help teachers build the resilience they need to create positive learning environments.

12:05 - 12:45pm

Speaker: Trent Ray,
Co-founder & Lead Educator, Cyber Safety Project

Digital Wellbeing - Helping Young People Thrive in a Digital World

This session reminds us of the imperative to integrate digital safety and wellbeing concepts into your everyday classroom practice. Fundamental social and emotional skills that can support students to self-manage their digital safety and wellbeing will be highlighted.

By engaging in our open forum style discussion, we’ll drive conversations targeted to key challenges faced, including:

• An update on trending social networking and gaming tools for young people.

• Unpacking digital dilemmas through the lens of a social media user and gamers.

• The fundamentals of integrating digital wellbeing themes into the classroom.

• Exploring lesson ideas and activities targeted at K-12 learners.

12:45 - 1:45pm

Lunch in the Education Show

1:45 - 2:05pm

Discussion

2:10 - 2:50pm

Speaker: Rhonda Browne, Director of Community Wellbeing, Bayview College

Developing a whole school wellbeing program after covid

This session will build on work and research carried out with SA University, focused on creating a wellbeing program for staff and students across Bayview College.

We’ll discuss how we worked with staff, students and parents to rebuild resilience, wellbeing and work-ethic in.

2:55 - 3:45pm

Speaker: Dr Connie Buckingham, Psychologist, Director of the Social Learning Studio

Talking about social problem solving with young people who don't like talking about it

Young people who have executive planning difficulties, ADHD or Autism can often present behavioural challenges and strained relationships with peers.

Learn why these challenges occur for some young people, and unpack a theory-based, engaging approach to teach social problem-solving to both individuals and the whole class. Learn more about this approach (extracted from the Social Stencil program), which involves evaluating one’s options and considering consequences rapidly, in the moment.

3:45pm

Wrap Up Day 1

9:00 - 9:45am

Speaker: Stewart Jones, Principal Chapel Hill State School & Ryan Pedley, Principal, Belgian Gardens State School

Developmentally Appropriate Pedagogy = student wellbeing = staff/parent wellbeing

Cognitive development shifts as children get older and this impacts their capacity and competency to engage in their learning. Research suggests that there is a significant shift in cognitive development for students at or around 8 years of age.

This session prompts us to consider what might happen if schools were to shift their pedagogical processes so that they aligned with these student developmental changes.

We consider whether an engaging pedagogical model, that focuses on the whole-child (social, emotional, academic), can help address student wellbeing. We will also discuss how positive student engagement can boost  teacher and parent/carer wellbeing.

9:50 - 10:30am

Speaker: Michelle Falzon, Founder/CEO Positive Wellbeing Education

10:30 - 11:00am

Morning Tea

11:00 - 11:40am

Speaker: Andrew Mittiga, House Leader Wilderness School

Why emotions are central to learning

In an ever-evolving educational landscape, the role of educators extends beyond academic instruction to encompass the holistic development of students. Social and Emotional Learning (SEL) has emerged as a pivotal component in fostering well-rounded individuals who not only excel academically, but also navigate life's challenges with resilience and empathy.

This interactive session delves into the significance of integrating SEL into the classroom (7-12) and equips educators with practical strategies to cultivate essential emotional skills in their students.

11:45am - 12:25pm

Speaker: Adriano Di Prato, Academic Operations Manager, LCI Melbourne

Designing A Better Normal

Join prominent Australian educational leader Adriano Di Prato for an inspirational journey at 'Designing A Better Normal' as he unveils LCI Melbourne's groundbreaking Student Success Strategy framework.

Discover how this innovative model can revolutionise your school's wellbeing program, putting student voices, agency, and advocacy at the forefront. Learn how to create an environment where students can explore their passions, unearth new possibilities, and craft their own extraordinary success stories. Join us and be a part of the transformation.

12:25 - 1:25pm

Lunch in the Education Show

1:25 - 2:05pm

Speakers: Michael Scicluna, Principal David Scott School and Dr. Jodie Long, Assistant Principal, Research and Advocacy, David Scott School

'Why would she do that?' The space between wellbeing, behaviour and educator responses.

Engage with the stories of students who present with non-conventional behaviours, and who have had to work creatively (consciously or subconsciously) to develop strategies to make their lives work for them.

Through these stories, we’ll focus on how we can recognise student strengths in unexpected places and through involvement, providing participants with techniques to help them better understand themselves and their students, and support more meaningful school connections.

Gain a practical understanding of how we can combine our contemporary knowledge of attachment strategies with the dynamic nature of the maturation processes of young people, to make sure our classrooms are as accessible, safe, respectful and productive as possible for everyone.

2:10 - 3:00pm

Speaker: Dr Kate Renshaw, Founder and Director, Play and Filial Therapy

The Teacher's Optimal Relationship Approach (TORA): An Evidence-Based Universal Approach To Mental Health And Wellbeing In Primary Schools

In Australia, children spend 16,000 hours in formal schooling during their childhood. Student–teacher relationships are intertwined with the humanising process, which occurs throughout child development. It’s vital that teachers confidently use relational skills when creating the classroom climate, every day, for all children.

The Teacher’s Optimal Relationship Approach (TORA) is an evidence-based, relationally responsive skill set derived from play and filial therapy, that teachers can embed into their everyday teaching practice.

This session will showcase a multi-tier play therapy service provision in one school community, inclusive of individual, group, and family mental health services, and additionally, TORA as a universal approach for all students and teachers.

3:05pm

Wrap up Day 2 and Conference Close