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 Catering for the day including a buffet lunch, along with a Certificate of Attendance (Mapped to APST).

Register now to access Early Bird rates

9:00 - 9:45am

Speaker: Andy McNeilly, Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader, Ocean Grove Primary School

Using Stories in the Classroom to Build Relationships and Strengthen Social & Emotional Learning

Connected relationships are one of the special joys of being human. They are what bring us to life, and they help us grow. We all feel the pleasure of spending time and sharing stories with the people in our lives who we care for. Learn how to build stronger and more connected relationships when working with our students. Not only will we enjoy spending time together, but our students will build trust in us, and will therefore experience an increase in positive outcomes; socially, emotionally and educationally.

9:50 - 10:30am

Speaker: Michelle Falzon, Founder/CEO, Positive Wellbeing Education

Cultivating Sustainable Growth for Successful Outcomes

Cultivating growth in challenging times can be difficult, but it is also a tremendous personal and professional development opportunity. Knowing how to support yourself, your staff and all other stakeholders during such transitions is imperative for successful outcomes. In this workshop, participants will explore;

• Recognising challenges and opportunities

• Discuss the various challenges that individuals or schools  may face in difficult times.

• Emphasise the importance of identifying and understanding these challenges in order to overcome them

• Discuss how challenges can also present opportunities for growth and innovation

• Discuss the importance of maintaining a growth mindset and a resilient attitude in the face of challenges

• Explore positive psychology interventions and the Pathways of Growth framework for developing and maintaining sustainable change

10:30 - 10:50am

Morning Tea

10:50 - 11:20am

Speaker: Tania Linnertson, Head of Wellbeing, Knox Grammar School

Enhancing wellbeing through academic teaching

Fitting wellbeing programs into the school day is increasingly difficult for school leaders. In most schools, students spend more than 80% of their day in academic learning. So how can we maximise this time? This session delves into a holistic school approach for implicitly infusing wellbeing principles into everyday classroom teaching, in order to support social and emotional learning whilst also enhancing academic outcomes.

11:25am - 12:10pm

Speaker: Andrew Oberthur, Principal, St Columba’s School

Building Models for sustainable leadership for teachers and school leaders

Learn some practical ways to manage your workload in a sustainable way, by identifying what is important and what is mandatory. Through these strategies you will identify ways to maintain and promote your personal and professional well-being, and possibly give employing authorities some priorities to address to give longevity to our profession. You will leave being affirmed in your role and hopeful of your professional future.

12:10 - 1:10pm

Lunch

1:10 - 2:10pm

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

Avoiding Educator Burn Out

Join us for an empowering professional learning session hosted by The Big Sister Experience, focused on equipping educators with effective strategies to prevent burnout and cultivate a sustainable and fulfilling teaching career. 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.

2:15 - 2:50pm

Speaker: Joy Geyer, Associate Head of College, Hillcrest Christian College

Building a culture of wellbeing

Wellbeing needs to be part of the main meal rather than a side dish (or off-the-shelf program) to be most successful. It needs to be interwoven into the fabric of the school community and owned individually for the collective benefit. This session will unpack the Hillcrest Christian College educational model and the strategic process followed to achieve a culture of wellbeing. Covering both philosophical and practical evidence-based strategies, it will provide something for everyone passionate about building a culture of wellbeing.

2:55 - 3:30pm

Speaker: Lyn Harland, Principal, Carinity Education Rockhampton & Donna Purcell, Play Therapist, DDs playtime

Eat Sleep Play Repeat

Play skills equal good Mental Health and Wellbeing. Explore the ways in which the Therapeutic Powers of Play connect within the school day to support the Mental Health and Wellbeing of students and staff.

Participate in a variety of hands-on tasks that require self-regulation, concentration, and imagination.

3:30pm

Wrap Up Day 1

9:00 - 9:45am

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!

Social problem solving involves evaluating options and considering consequences rapidly in the moment. Young people with these difficulties can present with behavioural challenges and strained relationships with peers. This is especially common for young people with executive planning difficulties, ADHD and autism. This workshop will explore 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.

9:50 - 10:30am

Speaker: Erin O’Donoghue, Academic Lecturer, University of Southern Queensland

Gabanma-li (heal)

Through culture and the use of LORE ways, wellbeing can be established within a classroom setting. There are approaches and strategies that teachers/educators/community members can employ to help ensure not only wellbeing, but cultural safety. In a workshop style session, learn strategies and methods to achieve true wellbeing for students; this will be achieved through culture and ancient processes that our Old People have used for many millennia.

10:30 - 10:50am

Morning Tea

10:50 - 11:20am

Speaker: Mitchell Mills, Head of Year 11/12, Saint Stephen’s College

Changing Lanes: The Power of Imperfection

This session will engage individuals in the lessons of the Changing Lanes Program. It will provide them with some meaningful activities they could implement in order to generate connection amongst their students. As humans, we are neurobiologically hard-wired for connection; we crave human interaction. As such, open communication is the cornerstone of the Changing Lanes Program. For this to occur, individuals are provided with multiple opportunities to openly communicate about crucible moments they have been through, as well as the emotions they experienced during that time. Our inability to love ourselves unconditionally is also a profound issue in contemporary society. As such, the Changing Lanes Program provides students with proven strategies that allow them to have a high level of self-worth.

11:25 - 12:10pm

Speaker: Michelle Wellham, Secondary Teacher and PhD Researcher, Hedland Senior High School

Teach Well

The session offers both a presentation and corresponding hands on workshop. Presented is the design, facilitation, and outcomes of an arts-health oriented well-being program initiated to promote the health and resilience of staff at a regional High School in the Pilbara region. A corresponding and highly engaging ‘hands on’ arts-health workshop follows.

12:10 - 1:10pm

Lunch

1:10 - 1:50pm

Speaker: Ros Lugg, CEO, StepsWeb

Exploring the link between wellbeing and literacy

Neurodiverse learners and others with literacy or language difficulties are vastly over-represented in statistics for prisons and youth correction facilities.   A recent study in Australian prisons showed that over 80% of inmates are not functionally literate and this is reflected in statistics from many other countries around the world.

Genuine wellbeing comes largely from a feeling of security.  Security in your home and school life, obviously, but also security in your self-esteem and your self-image.  Far too many of our neurodiverse learners have had the experience of struggling (and failing) in front of their teachers and their peers throughout their school lives and this has a massive impact on their wellbeing and feelings of self-worth.

1:55 - 2:30pm

Speaker: Elizabeth Errington, Director of Teaching and Learning, Georges River Grammar

Developing teacher wellbeing through autonomy in practice

Take a look at one school's journey to create a professional learning program where teachers have autonomy over their own professional growth through grappling with data and setting professional goals. Discover by owning their journey, teachers feel an increased sense of pride in their work and celebrate their achievements.

2:35 - 3:15pm

Speaker: Dominique Jones, Teacher and Author, Inspiraminds

Inspiring one mind at a time - connection is the key to unlocking our classrooms!

The most powerful gift a teacher can impart on a student is connection. For a child to be seen and heard in a world that can be cruel and challenging makes teaching the most rewarding vocation. From her experience as a 'School Failure' to her drive and passion Dominique is driven to prove others wrong. Whether in the classroom, on the playground or at home we cannot underestimate the importance of being seen and heard. It goes to the core of everything we do and the purpose behind our actions, thoughts and behaviours. This presentation is designed to inform educators, leaders and communities around feeling valued, appreciated, and worthy.

3:15pm

Wrap Up Day 2 and Conference Close