Wellbeing Initiatives

SSMART ASSK – Year 9

In Term 4 our Year 9 cohort will take part in the SSMART ASSK Program, which is delivered by Ballarat Community Health (BCH). This initiative is part of the Health Promoting Schools Framework and focuses on smoking, vaping, alcohol, drugs, party first aid and sexual health. All four interactive sessions are led by the BCH creative learning team, which promotes harm minimisation strategies that aim to reduce risk taking behaviours. The program culminates in a live theatre performance, which portrays a party scenario where young people encounter real life consequences of alcohol and drug use. This harm minimisation will encourage students to look after themselves and each other, being able to identify when to seek help, make informed choices and develop a party plan to stay safe.

Some content in the stations and performance may be confronting. Students will be informed of this beforehand and encouraged to speak with a teacher or member of the Wellbeing team if they feel uncomfortable at any time. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the college’s Wellbeing Team.

manKIND – Year 8 and 9

Another Term 4 Wellbeing Initiative we will be participating in is the manKind program, a youth-led education initiative developed as part of the Centre for Multicultural Youth (CMY) Ballarat’s Speak Up project. This program focuses on promoting gender equity and preventing gender-based violence and is delivered across Ballarat and Melbourne.

CMY is partnering with Ballarat Community Health and the City of Ballarat to bring manKIND to Year 8 and 9 students. The program includes three interactive sessions, each lasting 60–90 minutes, facilitated by trained youth leaders with support from CMY across the first four weeks of Term 4.

Students will explore key themes through engaging discussions and activities including:

Be a Man? – Understanding masculinity and identify toxic and harmful stereotypes in media.

Connecting the Dots – Examining masculinity and misogyny and learn to be an upstander.

Examine how gender stereotypes shape roles, decisions & power in relationships.

Examine how gender equality & challenging stereotypes prevents violence & abuse.

Investigate media influence on health safety, relationships and wellbeing.

Critique health messaging and services on personal, social and community attitudes.

Putting the Puzzle Together – Scenario-based discussions to consolidate learning.

Workshop activities are adapted from the Sexual Health Victoria EveryBODY Education Program and the Department of Education’s Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships curriculum, ensuring alignment with the Respectful Relationships framework.

The program is open to all Year 8 and 9 students and will run as an opt-in opportunity. If you believe this would be of benefit to your student, please complete the following form: manKind Program – Expression of Interest.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Mitchell Jolly, the Leader of Positive Behaviour for Learning via email: m.jolly@damascus.vic.edu.au.

Closing remarks

The end of Term 3 sees the completion of my time in the role of Acting Assistant Principal – Student Wellbeing. I would like to thank all the staff who have assisted, supported, challenged and been present for the past term and a bit, especially official College Leadership, Wellbeing Team members and Front Office staff. I have felt invigorated, enthused and energised throughout and constantly amazed by the empathy and care shown by all for the members of our college community. To the parents and carers, my hope is that you continue to be the primary educator of your loved ones and that we can continue to support you in whatever capacity that is needed to ensure success both in and out of the classroom for your student.

It has been wonderful to have Andy Robertson back at the college in recent weeks after a time of leave, with the commencement of Term 4 seeing him officially back in the role of Assistant Principal - Student Wellbeing, welcome back Andy!