In profile: Sarah Oliver

JUNIOR SCHOOL WELLBEING SUPPORT

Can you tell us about your role and current projects?

My role here at Radford is to help support the wellbeing of our small friends!

A student might see me if they are having challenges with their friendships, confidence, feelings of anxiousness or regulating their emotions. We might do structured activities together, discuss strategies or even just talk it out. My goal is to support students to know their best and be their best.

I am also co-presenting Friendology lessons with the lovely Allana Weir. This is a fantastic program tailored to specific age groups and gives kids the foundational skills and language to thrive in their relationships.

What do you like best about your current role?

I enjoy listening to children talk about things that are big for them and gently challenging some of their thoughts – particularly any negative ones about themselves. Childhood is a critical period for developing patterns of thinking that stay with us for life, and to see even the smallest shift in a child’s perspective is such a boost.

A particular activity that I love to start or finish sessions with, is using gratitude prompt cards and I am always touched by the responses this can provoke. Kids can be incredibly astute and appreciative of the world around them, and it reminds me to do the same.

What did you do before joining the Radford community?

Prior to joining Radford this year, I worked as a case manager for child protection. My role involved investigating and responding to allegations of child abuse, as well as working with young offenders on court orders.

My time there left me hugely inspired by my colleagues and leaders, many of whom dedicate not only their careers, but huge amounts of personal drive and energy to achieve safer outcomes for Canberra’s most vulnerable children and young people.

What do you enjoy outside Radford?

The days I’m not at Radford, you can find me picking strawberries, washing carrots or maybe harvesting cucumbers for the family farm. We sell our organic/biodynamic produce at the Farmer’s Market at EPIC and I’ve been doing the market since I was 10 years old. I used to get paid $10 per market, a fact I was very proud of until one of my dearest school friends pointed out to me that it was approximately $1.60 per hour! I’ve since negotiated up a few brackets.

When I’m not at Radford, the farm or the markets, I will be spending time with my partner, friends, family or my darling doggo, Pawpaw.