By Callum Ludwig
St Joseph’s Primary School in Yarra Junction is holding a Wellbeing Expo at the beginning of next month for local families and organisations to come together.
The free event will be held at the school on 40 Milners Road on Monday 2 September from 6pm to 7.30pm.
Wellbeing Leader at St Joseph’s Primary School Rebecca Beveridge said the Wellbeing Expo involves local groups and organisations related to children’s and young people’s physical, mental, and social health and wellbeing, showcasing their programs and services to the community.
“The night is open to everyone, including families from the school and the wider community, to come along and see the services available that support the development of children’s wellbeing,”
“The reason behind the night is to enable families to make connections with organisations in the community that can help foster the development of their child’s physical, social and emotional wellbeing,”
“After the effects of Covid lockdowns and long waiting lists for health care services, the Wellbeing Expo night will allow families to connect with services on offer in the local community.”
The resources at the event will cover a range of different avenues with the goal of promoting wellbeing; from sporting clubs to craft groups or animal therapy to interactive activities with stress balls or gymnastics.
Ms Beveride said at St Joseph’s they believe that wellbeing underpins everything they do.
“St Joseph’s children are given opportunities to develop skills that promote resilience, problem-solving and the ability to make good choices, we encourage empathy towards the feelings of others and respect for the rights of all and everyone in our school has the right to feel safe and be safe,” she said.
“Through our school-wide behaviour management, Positive Behaviours for Learning (PBL) students are given the skills to demonstrate our school values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience.”
A range of wellbeing initiatives have been embraced by the school already including weekly wellbeing lessons, fortnightly Friendship Groups with students of all year levels, a buddy system where older students help younger students through the first two years of school and a daily fitness program held in the mornings to help get students active and ready for learning.
Ms Beveridge said it’s crucial for kids, parents, and teachers to all be actively involved in promoting wellbeing.
“Each group plays a distinct but complementary role in fostering a supportive environment, when children are engaged in their wellbeing, they learn self-care skills, resilience, and emotional intelligence, teaching them to recognise their feelings, manage stress, and develop healthy habits equips them with tools to navigate challenges effectively,” she said.
“Parents provide the foundation for wellbeing by modelling healthy behaviours, offering emotional support, and creating a nurturing home environment, their involvement in their children’s lives helps reinforce positive habits and provides a safety net during difficult times,”
“Educators can significantly impact wellbeing by creating a supportive classroom environment, recognising students’ individual needs, and incorporating wellbeing practices into their teaching, they also serve as role models and can offer guidance and support that complements what students receive at home.”
