‘While we found that a lot of elements in our lives can be replaced by an online substitute, after a year of lockdowns we still have not been able to replicate the “human” element. The lack of peer-to-peer interaction was perhaps felt most by children.’ Professor John Toumbourou discusses the role of peer support programs in rebuilding student resilience.

The fourth topic in a series revisiting the ‘big five’ challenges in Australian education asks what progress has been made towards ensuring all children get off to the best start in life. Ahead of their webinar this week, expert panellists Dr Dan Cloney, Myra Geddes and Mary-Ruth Mendel give Teacher readers an overview of what they’ll be discussing.

Casual relief teachers (CRTs) are an integral part of the teacher workforce, but many often report feeling a lack of support and exclusion at schools they’re working in. Recent research has uncovered the common challenges faced by CRTs, and how school leaders can mitigate these concerns. Find out more in this podcast episode.

A review by researchers at the Telethon Kids Institute into different approaches over the last decade to improving student wellbeing has highlighted six key learnings to help drive decision-making in schools. Find out more about the recommendations and other findings from the review in today’s article.

Most Australians will experience loneliness at some point in their lives. Dr Michelle Lim from Swinburne University shares her research into the prevalence of loneliness in society, the impact it has on our health, and the importance of building and maintaining meaningful relationships.

What is inflammation? And, what role does diet play in lowering inflammation in the body? In today’s article we speak to Dr Aimee Dordevic from Monash University to learn more about the relationship between food and inflammation.

‘If anyone asks, I would definitely tell them that it is healthy to put yourself first on a regular basis; to do something that is just for you.’ Michelle Feely, College Librarian at St Patrick’s College for Girls, shares how yoga has become part of her weekly routine and gives her the opportunity to put herself first.

Can doing martial arts improve our cognitive function and mental health? In today’s Q&A, we speak to Dr Paloma Mari-Beffa, a Senior Lecturer in Psychology at Bangor University in the UK about her research into the way martial arts make us more alert and vigilant, boost our concentration and improve wellbeing.

Being a school principal can be isolating, but principals who participate in mentoring gain access to support from a trusted peer who has a first-hand understanding of the unique aspects of the role. Here, we speak to Linda Mitchell, Principal of Fitzroy High School in Victoria, about what she’s gained by having a mentor.

In this series, we take a look at some further readings available on a particular topic, including open access research papers from various online databases. In this edition, the focus is on student resilience.