Level Two Planning Workshop Reports

Yeppoon 9–10 March 2011

Participants from the Central Queensland Region attended the two day workshop facilitated by State Project Officer, Jane Taylor.

This workshop was directed at school core teams with experience of the MindMatters Level One Introductory Workshop and familiarity in the use of the resource. Core teams collected some student wellbeing data to bring to the workshop.

The core teams in this interactive workshop were able to:

develop and implement a school action plan for mental health and wellbeing
experience a capacity-building process based on a whole school and whole student approach to mental health and wellbeing
explore measures to evaluate the progress of the school against the goals set in the school mental health and wellbeing action plan.

Feedback included:

‘I think this workshop has really given us a direction for where to begin and how to progress with a mental health focus.’
‘Great presenter, very informative.’
‘I found the facilitator easy to understand and follow – she knew the subject well.’
‘Thoroughly enjoyable and empowering’

Brisbane 16–17 November 2010

Lydia Najlepszy, MindMatters Support Trainer, facilitated these two days of professional development that saw ten educators complete the Level Two Planning Workshop. MindMatters Level Two Planning workshops are directed at school core teams with experience of MindMatters. The core team develops a school action plan with a view to measuring the progress made by the school in the area of mental health and wellbeing. The Level Two process is based on a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing with schools developing a comprehensive and considered plan using the MindMatters Implementation Model, the MindMatters Planning Cycle and other planning tools.

Outcomes chosen to work on:

improved social skills in the playground and classroom
social and emotional learning for Years 8–12
bullying in the playground.

Brisbane 3–4 August 2010

MindMatters Trainer Lydia Najlepszy facilitated this workshop, directed at school core teams of at least four staff members. These teams developed school action plans with a view to measuring the progress made by the school in the area of mental health and wellbeing. Topics covered over the two days included student diversity, protective and risk factors, leadership, and policies for mental health and wellbeing.

Feedback included:

that is was useful to revisit the subject matter and refocus, particularly with regard to protective factors
that they felt more aware afterwards
that the issue of staff wellbeing warranted further enquiry and attention
that participants felt well-supported and guided throughout the session
that this was an opportunity for discussion and reflection.

Cairns 18–19 May 2010

This workshop was facilitated by Lydia Najlepszy. Two schools from this area have now had staff successfully complete both the Level One Introductory Workshop and the Level Two Planning Workshop. The Level Two Planning Workshop is directed at school core teams of at least four people with experience of MindMatters. The core team develops a school action plan with a view to measuring the progress made by the school in the area of mental health and wellbeing. Some of the topics covered over the two days included student diversity, protective and risk factors, leadership, and policies for mental health and wellbeing.
Areas chosen to work on included:

students’ connectivity
improving whole community connectivity
improving social, emotional and academic learning for students
initially heightening staff understanding of the need to improve student health and wellbeing.

Brisbane 17–18 February 2010

Jane Taylor, MindMatters Queensland State Project Officer facilitated the Level Two Planning Workshop held at the Novotel. Twenty participants from four high schools in the Greater Brisbane region attended this workshop that is directed at school core teams, of at least four people, with experience of MindMatters. The core team develops a school action plan with a view to measuring the progress made by the school in the areas of mental health and wellbeing. Some of the topics included student diversity, protective and risk factors, leadership, and policies for mental health and wellbeing.

Very comfortable atmosphere created for participants; task-oriented, purposeful approach; but also flexible.’
Great to have the time to discuss and plan our situation.’
Very effective and flexible; lots of opportunity for discussion.’
Thank you – totally enjoyable.’