Student welfare

Mental health is now the number one national concern for young people in Australia, according to Mission Australia’s annual Youth Survey – the first time in its 16 year history. Coping with stress, body image and depression also take out three of the top four spots in the list of personal concerns.

In today’s Behaviour Management podcast we talk to Dr Anna Sullivan from the University of South Australia. Here, she shares her insights into what it means to enact respectful, school-wide behaviour policies and the role of school leaders in doing so.

Earlier this year, Phil Beadle spent a month in Australia conducting one-day workshops to share his expertise in literacy and behaviour management with Australian educators. In his first contribution for Teacher, he shares his response to the question he was asked most while on tour.

In this instalment of The Research Files we discuss student fitness and wellbeing, specifically, two simple exercise programs – the first is a new project aimed at improving adolescent health and wellbeing, and the second is being used by thousands of early years and primary students across the world.

Hit film Inside Out provided the inspiration for Team Kalianna in this year’s Australian STEM Video Game Challenge, so it’s fitting that the whole process – from initial idea to winning game – brought plenty of joy to the talented group of students and their teacher mentor.

In the annual Teacher survey, we ask readers: 'Looking back on your experiences as an educator, if you could share one piece of advice with your peers what would it be?' Here are some of the responses received on the topic of relationships.

Online learning environments have been a game changer for Australian distance educators. The technology allows teachers to provide one-to-one support and immediate feedback to students who are struggling with issues such as anxiety, helping to build their confidence and self-esteem and re-engage with learning.

Earlier this year Canadian educator Maggie MacDonnell was named winner of the Global Teacher Prize. In today’s article, she tells Teacher about the impact the prize has had on her students and explains more about the positive educational programs she’s implemented in her remote school community.

In his latest Teacher video, Greg Whitby speaks to Melanie Brown from Our Lady of Nativity Primary School about the new approach to student leadership and learning that’s been implemented at her New South Wales school, where all Year 6 students have the opportunity to take on a leadership role.

Parents, grandparents and guardians want more support from teachers and schools when it comes to helping their children develop social and life skills, such as how to behave in public, according to an Australian study.