The Whole Student Approach Focus Module Reports

Cairns 2 November 2011
Fourteen participants from nine education facilities travelled to Rydges Tradewinds in Cairns for the Whole Student Approach professional development workshop. This was Queensland’s State Project Officer, Jane Taylor’s last workshop as a MindMatters facilitator. The workshop showed how important the Whole Student Approach to mental health and wellbeing is, and how it connects students with their learning. It also demonstrated how schools can provide support for young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The role of pastoral care and key academic and extracurricular opportunities were also explored.

Feedback included:

Very worthwhile.
Really informative; I learnt a lot and I think this will help me grow as a teacher.
Great food for thought.
Good Luck Jane!

Webinar 11 August 2011

A first for MindMatters Queensland, when State Project Officer Jane Taylor conducted the Whole Student Approach Focus Module via Webinar. Participants from the North Coast and Central Education Regions of Queensland as well as South Australia linked into the workshop that looked at how schools work with students as individuals and provide successful experiences by recognising what they bring with them to the school setting.

Outcomes from the workshop included:

visioning with staff – who are they/what they need/how to obtain assistance-resources so the students are then supported
assessing what we currently do in this school in regard to mental health and wellbeing.

Gold Coast 16 August 2011

MindMatters National Training Co-ordinator, Tracy Zilm facilitated this workshop at Lakelands Golf Club on the Gold Coast while State Project Officer, Jane enjoyed a well-earned break in Las Vegas, USA. Nineteen participants from education centres throughout the South East and Metropolitan regions of Queensland attended the workshop which focused on the whole student holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing’s four components – caring relationships and connections; high but achievable expectations; authentic participation and contribution; and social and emotional skills and spiritual understandings.

Feedback from the workshop included:

‘Very insightful and many new ideas have been generated today.’
‘Very enjoyable and informative presentation. Tools to take back to school to assist students/staff.’
‘I’ve always enjoyed the MM workshops. I will be able to use a great deal of what we’ve learned today in the classroom.’

Mount Isa 25 August 2011

The second workshop held in Mount Isa – the Whole Student Approach Focus Module – showed how the four components of the whole student holistic approach to mental health and wellbeing connect students with their learning and also how schools can provide support for young people’s mental health and wellbeing. The role of pastoral care and key academic and extracurricular opportunities were also explored.

Outcomes chosen to work on from the school and community groups at the workshop included:

skills knowledge to support staff and our young people – step in and step out
establishing student wellbeing group
education, promotion, love one another!

Brisbane 25 May 2011

Participants from schools and departmental offices throughout the Brisbane Metropolitan area attended the Whole Student Approach Focus Module at the Novotel in Brisbane. This professional development course looked at how schools work with students as individuals and provide successful experiences by recognising what they bring with them to the school setting.

Comments included:

‘Good to be self reflective; session led to an openness of sharing amongst participants. Forced us to look deeper within ourselves which will help us relate and connect with our students.’
‘Social and emotional skills, spirituality, connecting with high needs students.’
‘A reminder that culture plays an important role in learning.’

Merrimac 12 August 2010

State Project Officer Jane Taylor facilitated this module for educators from the South East district. The MindMatters’ protective factors were used to examine how the 'whole student' is looked at using this approach. A range of strategies across the school, including the role of teachers in pastoral care, and key academic and non-academic opportunities, were explored.

Feedback included:

the participants had an increased awareness of the 'whole student' approach and how to include this in planning
that they had gained a better understanding of strategies for building on students' strengths.

Yeppoon 5 August 2010

State Project Officer Jane Taylor facilitated this focus module. Seventeen participants from the Central Queensland education region examined how schools can provide students with successful experiences by working with students as individuals and by recognising the richness this brings to a school setting.

Participants chose the following topics for further reflection:

creating connectedness and relationships with staff, students and parents
knowing the 'whole student'
connecting with 'high needs' students
the integration of all students into classroom work
reacting appropriately to individual student needs.