Level One Introductory Workshop Reports

Toowoomba 13-14 March 2012

Fifteen participants from nine education facilities throughout the Darling Downs, Metropolitan and North Coast regions of Queensland attended the Level One workshop at the Downs Club in Toowoomba. State Project Officer, Olivia Fisher and MindMatters National Project Officer, Cathy Venning were the facilitators.

The Level One workshop provided an introduction to the MindMatters resource kit and the concept of a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. Topics included Bullying and Harassment, Resilience, Understanding Mental Health, Community Matters, Curriculum Teaching and Learning, as well as planning for change.

Steps chosen to work on:

Talk to principal; collection of data
Goal setting – getting staff on board
Implementing classroom strategies, whole school processes and staff Professional Development
Highlighting to students, the support available
Create a wellbeing team

New Farm, Brisbane 11–12 May 2011

Twenty seven educators representing fourteen organisations from the Metropolitan, South East, North Coast and Darling Downs education regions of Queensland attended the Level One Introductory workshop at New Farm in Brisbane. This workshop explained the MindMatters approach to developing mental health and wellbeing in schools and classrooms. Comments from participants included:

‘Presenter very passionate about the areas which made the training so interesting. Lots of great activities to meet varied learning styles.’
‘I am pre-service but this information would be very useful for pre-service in second, third, fourth years.’
‘Great networking opportunity.’

Ipswich 10–11 November 2010

Lydia Najlepszy, MindMatters Support Trainer, was in Ipswich this week with 20 educators from the Metropolitan and North Coast regions of Queensland. The Level One Introductory Workshop provided an introduction to the MindMatters Resource Kit and the concept of a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. Topics included bullying and harassment, resilience, understanding mental health, community matters, change, loss and grief, curriculum teaching and learning, and planning for change.

Feedback from the workshop:

•    ‘Good introduction to the kit/course.’
•    ‘More teachers and senior staff need to attend this course.’
•    ‘Good multicultural links.’
•    ‘It was good to see how other schools deal with diversity.’
•    ‘Really interesting and relevant.’

Brisbane 27–28 October 2010

Thirty-eight participants from 23 organisations in the Brisbane/North Coast region of Queensland attended the Level One Introductory Workshop held at the Novotel and facilitated by MindMatters Support Trainer, Lydia Najlepszy. This workshop gave an overview of the whole school approach, diversity issues, interactive teaching strategies and community links, as well as what the MindMatters Resource Kit contains and how to use it.

Aspects from the workshop found most useful:

•    ‘Group activities – ways to deliver topics in a fun and safe way.’
•    ‘The area of loss and grief and being able to talk to other teachers and community members about it.’
•    ‘The different aspects of the MindMatters Kit: different activities that we could apply.’
•    ‘Looking for signs in children who need support or help.’
•    ‘Information on processes; ideas for implementation.’

Mooloolaba1 & 2 September 2010
MindMattters Trainer Lydia Najlepszy facilitated this final two-day professional development workshop for Term 3. Educators from the North Coast region of Queensland were provided with an introduction to the MindMatters resource kit and to the concept of a 'whole school' approach to mental health and wellbeing. Topics covered included: Bullying and Harassment; Resilience; Understanding Mental Health; Community Matters; Change, Loss and Grief; Curriculum Teaching and Learning; and Planning for Change.

Feedback included:

that the interactions with other participants were useful
that the information was very well presented, professional and well thought out
that there was a good balance of activities and theory
that input from participants was useful
that the information about mental illness and mental health provided good ways to promote mental health at school.

Merrimac 27 & 28 July 2010
This workshop was attended by staff from educational facilities in the South East Queensland region. MindMatters Trainer Lydia Najlepszy provided an introduction to the MindMatters resource kit, as well as to the concept of a 'whole school' approach to mental health and wellbeing.

Feedback included:

that activities were interesting
that the book is a useful reference
that the role-plays were enjoyable
that the 'whole school' approach made sense.

Brisbane 8–9 June, 2010

The Novotel was the venue for this workshop facilitated by Lydia Najlepszy. Twenty-seven participants from schools around the education region of Greater Brisbane, as well as Queensland Health and the University of Queensland, attended the workshop.
Participants were introduced to the MindMatters resource kit and the concept of a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. Aspects of the workshop found most useful by the participants included:

specific information on mental illnesses/mental health
importance of mental health – who can support change
implementation and understanding of MindMatters and how we can make a difference
information given on background behind health and wellbeing
practical activities. Great information, have a much greater understanding of mental health/illness; wellbeing.

Rockhampton 11–12 May, 2010

Lydia Najlepszy facilitated this workshop at the Dreamtime Cultural Centre. Twenty-three educators from eight organisations throughout the education region of Fitzroy Central West Queensland were in attendance. The workshop gave an introduction to the MindMatters resource kit and the concept of a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Feedback from the workshop included:

‘Worthwhile, educational and updating.’
‘All teachers, primary and secondary, should at least attend this workshop.’
'Very good – should be available to all pre-service teachers as their last part of uni.’
‘Excellent program and presentation.’

Brisbane 16–17 March, 2010

Twenty-eight educators from throughout the Brisbane region of Queensland attend this workshop at the Novotel, facilitated by MindMatters Queensland trainer, Lydia Najlepszy. This workshop gave an overview on bullying and harassment, loss and grief, mental health and wellbeing, team building, resilience and practical activities, as well as how to use the MindMatters kit.

Following on from the workshop, participants would like to:

‘Work with other staff in my school – planning a whole school approach – come back for the second workshop.’
‘Attend the focus modules.’
‘Become more involved in using MindMatters at school.’
‘Be able to convince everyone of its importance.’
‘Implement many of the topics covered in the course.’
‘Sit down with Year Level Coordinators and plan a whole school approach.’

Toowoomba 24–25 February, 2010

Lydia Najlepszy, MindMatters Queensland trainer, was the facilitator for this workshop held at the Downs Club. Sixteen educators from throughout the Darling Downs/South West region of Queensland attended the workshop that gave an overview of the whole school approach, diversity issues, interactive teaching strategies, community links as well as what the MindMatters kit contains and how to use it.

Participants from the workshop said aspects they found most useful were:

‘How to address various issues; greater understanding of mental health.’
‘Having a whole school approach, not teaching wellbeing individually – getting to it before it’s needed.’
‘Realising the content of the kits and its ease of use.’
‘Brainstorming; how to integrate MindMatters into curriculum.’
‘All elements, especially loss and grief and building resilience – never bored and always involved.’

Townsville 17–18 February, 2010

MindMatters Queensland trainer, Lydia Najlepszy was the presenter for this workshop held at the Mercure Hotel. Participants from six educational facilities attended this workshop that gave an introduction to the MindMatters resource kit and the concept of a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

When asked what aspects of the workshop were found most useful, replies included:

‘Listening to other practitioners talk about how they would use the materials. The workshop excelled with getting participants to interact.’
‘School matters and understanding mental illness.’
‘All areas were of great benefit. Key areas were grief and loss, and resilience.’
‘Whole school approach.’