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Staff Matters Focus Module Reports
Brisbane 27-28 February 2012
The Darling Downs, Metropolitan, South East and North Coast education regions of Queensland were represented at the Staff Matters Professional Development workshop held at the Riverside Reception Centre, New Farm, Brisbane. MindMatters National Training Co-ordinator, Tracy Zilm and Queensland’s State Project Officer, Olivia Fisher facilitated the event.
The workshop examined personal mental health and wellbeing, interpersonal relationships for individuals and the workplace and the professional aspects of people's work that relate to mental health and wellbeing. School personnel discovered how they can survey and check on their progress in maintaining mental health and wellbeing.
S.M.A.R.T. outcomes chosen to work on from the workshop included:
- Facilitating the introduction of Staff Matters and promoting mental health in my schools · Relationships – building across the school
- Staff awareness of mental health & wellbeing
- Creation of a staff induction document outlining clearly our vision & practices that promote staff mental wellbeing.
Townsville 7–8 September 2011
The North Coast and North Queensland education regions were represented at the Staff Matters Professional Development workshop held at the Mercure Hotel in Townsville. State Project Officer, Jane Taylor facilitated the workshop that used the Staff Matters Wellbeing at Work to explore a range of resources and strategies to maintain staff mental health and wellbeing.
The workshop examined personal mental health and wellbeing, interpersonal relationships for individuals and the workplace, and the professional aspects of people's work that relate to mental health and wellbeing. School personnel discovered how they can survey and check on their progress in maintaining mental health and wellbeing.
Feedback from the participants included:
- ‘Wonderful, relevant and useful.’
- ‘Engendered much enthusiasm to continue the work we have begun with our team.’
- ‘My understanding of this module is the best understanding of a MindMatters module yet.’
- ‘The facilitator was fully knowledgeable and well versed on the different modules she presented.’
Cairns 14–15 September 2011
This week Queensland State Project Officer, Jane Taylor was in Cairns for the Staff Matters Focus Module at a local state school.
Twenty-nine educators from the Far North Queensland education region attended this two day professional development workshop that examined the significant impact that staff mental health and wellbeing has in the life of the whole school. The Staff Matters Wellbeing at Work model was used to explore a range of resources and strategies to maintain staff mental health and wellbeing. Our thanks go to Trish for her assistance with this workshop.
Feedback from the workshop included:
- ‘A wonderful array of resources and ideas to continue learning and implementing around mental health and wellbeing in a school environment.’
- ‘Workshop flowed well, facilitator actively encouraged involvement.’
- ‘Well run; Jane was very observant and paced the workshop expertly.’
- ‘Really comfortable and the process provided for clarified focus on where to from here.’
- ‘Really increased my awareness of necessity for looking after mental health of staff and need to plan for it.’
Brisbane 30–31 March 2011
Thirty three educators from seventeen organisations throughout the Metropolitan, North Coast and South East Regions of Queensland attended the Staff Matters workshop held at the Riverside Reception Centre at New Farm. This workshop covered personal mental health and wellbeing, interpersonal processes for the individual and the school as well as the professional aspects of people’s work that relates to mental health and wellbeing. Schools were able to reflect on how they surveyed and also check on their progress in wellbeing.
Feedback included:
- ‘Facilitated in such a way all felt comfortable to interact.’
- ‘Great to get an action plan ready for delivery to all staff.’
- ‘Showed the need for this at work.’
- ‘The program provided an explanation of what I see as areas of concern and tools to develop programs in the school where I work.’
- ‘Flexible, well-paced, extremely interactive and safety of environment, positive, knowledgeable and informative!’
Toowoomba 16–17 March 2011
The Downs Club in Toowoomba was the venue for the Staff Matters Focus Module facilitated by Jane Taylor, State Project Officer. Sixteen educators from throughout the Darling Downs/South West Region attended this popular workshop that examined the significant impact that staff mental health and wellbeing has in the life of the whole school.
The Staff Matters Wellbeing at Work model was used to explore a range of resources and strategies to maintain staff mental health and wellbeing. The workshop examined personal mental health and wellbeing, interpersonal relationships for individuals and the workplace and the professional aspects of people's work that relate to mental health and wellbeing. School personnel discovered how they can survey and check on their progress in maintaining mental health and wellbeing.
S.M.A.R.T. outcomes chosen to work on include:
- improving staff mental health
- effective communication to community
- wellbeing of staff
- analysis of staff wellbeing data
- a complete plan
Bundaberg 19–20 October 2010
Participants from the North Coast region of Queensland joined MindMatters Support Trainer, Lydia Najlepszy in this two-day Staff Matters focus module at the Bert Hinkler Comfort Inn. This focus module investigated supporting staff wellbeing within schools using social and emotional learning, and engaging staff in mental health and wellbeing promotion, prevention and early intervention for students.
Feedback from the workshop included:
- ‘Very important in identifying/defining mental health and wellbeing and its important role in the workplace.’
- ‘It was a great and informative PD that engaged and kept a good atmosphere.’
- ‘It was well presented, clear and very relevant; critical information and strategies/ideas for supporting everyone.’
- ‘I had no idea MindMatters was so good!’
- ‘This was a rewarding PD to focus our whole-school social and emotional learning plan. Prior to this we considered students and staff – but now we know so much more about how to support staff wellbeing and include the community.’
Rockhampton 17–18 August 2010
Lydia Najlepszy facilitated this workshop for participants from Mount Larcom State School, Rockhampton Special School, Capricornia School of Distance Education, and Glenmore State High School. The module investigated topics including the wellbeing of supporting staff within schools using social and emotional learning, engaging staff in mental health promotion, and prevention and early intervention for students.
Feedback included:
- that the introduction activities made participants feel welcomed
- that the 'outline of expectations' made the purpose of the module clear
- that the module as a whole was relevant, useful, informative
- that relaxation and mediation techniques, as well as the 'planning wheel’ exercise, were especially useful.
New Farm 9–10 August 2010
This two-day workshop was facilitated by Lydia Najlepszy. Participants from various primary and high schools covered topics including personal mental health and wellbeing; interpersonal processes for the individual and the school; and professional aspects of work relating to mental health and wellbeing. Schools were able to reflect on their processes for measuring their progress in MindMatters-related areas.
Participants chose the following topics for further reflection:
- collegiality and the 'thriving self'
- developing emotional and social intelligence
- creating a happy, thoughtful and cooperative work environment
- considering the ethos and culture of their school, and its impact on staff wellbeing.
Townsville 15–16 June 2010
The Mercure Hotel was the venue for the last ‘open’ MindMatters focus module for school term 2. Lydia Najlepszy facilitated the workshop that looked at personal mental health and wellbeing, interpersonal processes for the individual and the organisation, as well as the professional aspects of people’s work that related to mental health and wellbeing. Participants from the Department of Education, Training and Arts; The Willows, Annandale, Weir and Cranbrook state schools; and Shalom Christian College attended the module.
Areas chosen by the participants to work on included:
- improving staff morale by improving staffroom facilities
- developing staff leadership skills
- increasing speed at which new staff feel part of the team
- being aware of myself and my effect on others.
Toowoomba 1–2 June 2010
Lydia Najlepszy facilitated this popular focus module. Twenty-two participants from 15 educational facilities throughout the education region of Darling Downs–South West attended. Staff at the educational facilities were able to reflect on how they surveyed, and also check on their progress in wellbeing.
Feedback from the workshop included:
- ‘It was good to stop and discuss our own school and identify the positives. Good opportunities for reflection.’
- ‘Very informative and practical look at the positive use of language. I liked the focus on own mental health as final activity.’
- ‘Very well-presented.’
- ‘The last two days have opened many doors; lines of communication, ideas, available resources.’
- ‘Worthwhile and important. Thank you.’
Ipswich 25–26 May 2010
Participants from a variety of schools around the area attended this focus module that was facilitated by Lydia Najlepszy at the Metro Ipswich International. The module looked at the critical role that staff mental health and wellbeing plays in the life of the school as a whole, and as part of the school MindMatters initiative. The module explored personal mental health and wellbeing, interpersonal processes for the individual and the site, as well as the professional aspects of people’s work that related to mental health and wellbeing.
From the workshop, participants chose to work in the following areas:
- staff understanding and awareness
- improved collegiality and communication
- focusing on making wellbeing more talked about and seen as a normal part of the discussion
- staff happiness, and awareness of the importance of staff mental health and wellbeing.
Gold Coast 19–20 May 2010
Queensland Project Officer Jane Taylor facilitated this focus module held at the Lakelands Golf Club at Merrimac. The two-day module covered personal mental health and wellbeing, interpersonal processes for the individual and the school, as well as the professional aspects of people’s work that relate to mental health and wellbeing. Schools were able to reflect on how they surveyed and also check on their progress in mental health and wellbeing. Participants from eight educational organisations throughout the education region of the South Coast were represented at the workshop.
Feedback included:
- ‘Informative, challenging, encouraged reflection and new learning.’
- ‘Sessions didn’t feel like sessions; they just “flowed”.’
- ‘Very important for all staff in schools. Would love for all staff to attend.’
- ‘It has helped me get motivated to start processes in the school to further enhance our staff health and wellbeing committee.’
Mooloolaba 3–4 March 2010
The popular Mooloolaba Surf Club was the venue for this focus module facilitated by MindMatters Queensland Trainer, Lydia Najlepszy. The two-day workshop covered personal mental health and wellbeing, interpersonal processes for the individual and the school, as well as the professional aspects of people’s work that relates to mental health and wellbeing. Schools were able to reflect on how they surveyed and also check on their progress in wellbeing.
Fourteen participants from the Sunshine Coast and Greater Brisbane regions of Queensland attended the workshop with the following feedback.
- ‘Great opportunity to cross-share information from other schools and appreciate what we have in our school.’
- ‘First time I’ve been exposed to MindMatters – a lot to think about and a lot of good information. Thank you.’
- ‘Will use many aspects in personal and professional capacity.’