Events

The student wellbeing crisis is becoming one of the most urgent challenges facing schools today. Across Australia, rising levels of anxiety, disengagement, school refusal, and mental health concerns are placing enormous pressure on students, families, teachers, and education systems. National reports continue to highlight the critical link between student wellbeing, attendance, learning outcomes and social connection, yet many schools are being asked to respond without adequate clarity, support or resources.

As expectations on schools continue to grow, so too do the tensions surrounding how wellbeing is understood, who is responsible for addressing it, and whether current approaches are meeting the scale of the challenge. What should the role of teachers and schools be in supporting student mental health?

With featured leaders who are shaping national policy, pioneering mental health initiatives in schools, and producing internationally recognised research into child development, equity and educational wellbeing, the panel offers a rare opportunity to hear from experts working at the forefront of systemic change across education and child health.

Drawing on policy, research and practice insights, this timely panel discussion will confront the complexities, pressures and possibilities shaping student mental health and wellbeing in schools, and explore what must change now to better support young people and the educators working alongside them.

Registration is essential.

ACCESSIBILITY
If you have any support requirements in order to participate fully, please let us know via educationevents@unimelb.edu.au to ensure that we can arrange any reasonable adjustments.

Kristy Crooks will talk about her work bringing First Nations voices into infectious disease emergency planning and response. She has helped shape state-level approaches to pandemic preparedness, especially around strengthening cultural governance and making sure First Nations leadership is built into response systems.

Bryony Roberts will also join the conversation, sharing insights from her work with the FIRST Network.

This is a hybrid meeting, email onemda-info@unimelb.edu.au for zoom details.