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.

Jeanette Denham, a passionate secondary and primary teacher who works part-time at Ravensthorpe District High School in Western Australia, has penned a review of Pip Williams’ new book, The Dictionary of Lost Words.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a group of stress symptoms that can develop after one (or sometimes more than one) traumatic event. Dr Joanne Beames, from the Black Dog Institute, joins us today to discuss the signs and symptoms of PTSD, how prevalent it is in society, and explain ways people experiencing it can find help and support.

The findings of Australia’s annual snapshot of principal health and wellbeing have just been released. And, if you’re an educator you won’t be surprised to hear that ‘extremely long hours and constant exposure to stress’ left school leaders exhausted in 2020, as first fires, then floods, then a pandemic pushed them to their limits.

‘If it is not visible and valued, it is easy for it to become neglected.’ Nathan Curnow, Head of Science at John Curtin College of the Arts in Western Australia, shares insights into how he cares for his mental health and wellbeing.

The ability to make sound financial decisions and manage money is important, but it can also be challenging. Here, we speak to Dr Jack Noone, a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Impact at UNSW about the importance of financial wellbeing, the factors that can influence it, and the people that may find themselves most at risk.

‘In 2018, no one could anticipate that a pandemic would strike two years later. But the future will always surprise us … and public health is not the only pressing issue on the global stage.’ In his new Teacher column, Andreas Schleicher discusses how schools can better prepare learners for a fast-changing, uncertain and volatile world.

The nutrient values of foods are altered when you cook and store them. But how much is lost? And, are there some cooking methods that are better than others? Here, we speak to Dr Evangeline Mantzioris from the University of South Australia to find out more.