Supporting our young people
From Claire Melloy - Assistant Principal, Students
For some young people who are already feeling isolated, lonely or are experiencing mental health issues, this time of year can be challenging.
Young people who may be facing some particularly significant life changes, like starting a new school, or having just finished school, can be the most vulnerable. Regular routines changing (including those around regular contact with friends) can cause additional worry.
Families and friends can help by being aware of signs and symptoms that someone may need more supports. Being withdrawn, not doing the things they would normally enjoy, ongoing worry or irritability, are just some of the changes to look out for.
Other ways that adults can support young people include encouraging them to stay connected, involved and physically active. Social relationships are an important aspect of young people’s general wellbeing. Whether it is time spent with friends, work, hobbies, clubs or sports – involvement with these can help a young person feel/stay connected.
LOCAL and ONLINE RESOURCES
The following resources may also be helpful if you have any concerns about your young person over the Christmas break.
Local supports:
- Relationships Australia Canberra & Region – Relationships Australia offers a wide range of services for individuals, couples and families to help you build stronger relationships.
1300 364 277 https://racr.org.au/
- Parentline ACT – Parentline offers free telephone and face-to-face confidential counselling services to parents and carers. In addition, we host courses and provide various resources for raising positive families.
(02) 6287 3833 http://parentlineact.org.au/
Online/phone supports:
- eheadspace – eheadspace provides free online and telephone support and counselling to young people aged 12–25 and their families and friends. If you’re based in Australia and going through a tough time, eheadspace can help.
1800 650 890 https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/ - Kids Helpline – Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free (even from a mobile), confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5–25.
1800 55 1800 https://kidshelpline.com.au/
REACHOUT
The links below are targeted towards young people about coping with holidays and Christmas a bit more specifically (from Reach Out).
https://au.reachout.com/articles/your-summer-survival-guide
https://au.reachout.com/articles/coping-with-the-stress-of-christmas
SCHOOL HOLIDAY PROGRAM – Communities@Work
Communities@Work offers School Holiday Programs throughout the year during all ACT School Holidays. Summer School Holiday Programs (2021–2022) are now open for bookings.
‘Programs focus on fun and delivering a new adventure every day for your child.’
eSAFETY RESOURCES
Keeping your young person safe online (including tech gift guide and parent/carer webinars)
- https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/resources
Downloadable resources (including family tech agreements) to help you start the chat about online safety issues and strategies with your child. - https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/gift-guide
To help parents and carers be smart, safe and secure when choosing tech gifts for children and young people. - https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/online-safety-book
This book covers some of the key online safety issues for young people and includes a range of practical tips and advice on what to do if things go wrong. You can also find a list of important services that can offer extra support. - https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents/webinars
Join one of the free webinars for parents and carers. These live webinars give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and tools to support their children to have safe online experiences. The 2022 webinars include a broad range of topics that will be delivered by an expert education and training team.
SchoolTV – HAVING THE ALCOHOL DISCUSSION
‘With the impending festive season and end of school celebrations, some teenagers may be feeling ready to party, wanting to put the disruptions, frustrations and disappointments of this past year behind them.
To ensure our young people stay safe during this time, parents and carers are encouraged to have the alcohol discussion - no matter how difficult or overwhelming it may be. It is important to outline the rules and boundaries around age-appropriate alcohol consumption and what the legal implications may be.
Young people are at greater risk of alcohol-related harm than adults because their brains continue to develop until their mid-twenties. The safest level of alcohol consumption for teenagers, is no alcohol at all, but this may be difficult to enforce and may not prevent them from experimenting. However, parents and carers can influence sensible drinking habits and help minimise the risks. In this Special Report, a series of discussion points are offered to help make the conversation about alcohol consumption a little easier.
If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please contact the College Wellbeing Team for further information, or seek medical or professional help.
PAUL DILLON WEBINAR, 20 JAN 2022
Parenting, alcohol, parties and sleepovers in Year 9:
Why this year group can be so challenging and the importance of putting things into place now.
Thursday, 20 January 2022
7.00-8.30pm (AEDT)
Further details and registration
‘If you're a parent of a child about to begin Year 9 it's important to prepare yourself for issues around sleepovers, parties and gatherings. Putting things into place now can prevent potential problems in the year (and years) ahead.
This presentation will focus on the positive influence that parents can have on their child’s drinking behaviour, even during adolescence, as well as the barriers that they may face during this time. Peer influence is a significant issue at this time and it is important for parents to have clear rules and boundaries in the area of sleepovers, parties, gatherings and alcohol.
This presentation will also examine the latest data on Australian teen drinking behaviour and the growing evidence on the risks associated with this practice.’
Wishing you all a safe and peaceful holiday break.
Claire Melloy