Catholic Education launches wellbeing initiatives

A dedicated Wellbeing site and a series of information sessions were among the initiatives Rockhampton Catholic Education launched last term to support the mental health and wellbeing of all members of the Catholic Education community across the diocese in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Catholic Education Student Wellbeing Project Officer, Erin Sheldrick, said the new Wellbeing site was a place where teachers and parents could access a whole range of materials to support students both at home and online.

“We wanted to support schools in prioritising wellbeing for all in the school community and allow teachers easy access to a wide range of wellbeing resources,” Miss Sheldrick said.

“The site contains practical strategies and activities for students in Early Years, Primary Years and Secondary Years with resources that embed wellbeing activities into everyday teaching and learning,” Miss Sheldrick said.

“The site also includes staff wellbeing resources around monitoring and managing stress as well as self-care strategies and ways to ask for support during COVID-19,” Miss Sheldrick said.

“Specific resources to address issues related to COVID-19 are also available to support children and young people to understand and manage the current climate,” Miss Sheldrick said.

Information sessions for parents and teachers around Supporting Children during Challenging Times were also held in various regions in response to concerns around how students would cope with uncertainty, change and returning to school after an extended period away.

“The presentations focused on understanding how children may respond, potential warning signs, ideas for supporting children through these times, information on discussing the event with children, where and how to access extra support, what reliable resources are available, the need to look after their own mental health and how individual schools are supporting students,” Miss Sheldrick said.

Miss Sheldrick said the sessions had been very well received by the school communities and further encouraged parents with any queries or concerns about their children’s mental wellbeing to contact their school counsellor for assistance.

Photo: Catholic Education Wellbeing Project Officer Erin Sheldrick working on the new Wellbeing site launched in Term 1 to support school communities in response to the pandemic.