Tues 16 May 2023 8pm AEST
Post COVID lockdown survey data indicated more than 80% of parents were concerned with regard to their child’s wellbeing.
Recent survey data has confirmed what we have become increasingly aware - that too many young people in schools are not in an emotional state that supports learning.
Prior to the events of the past couple of years, data from principals across Australia presented strong indications that a concerning number of primary aged students were showing signs of anxiety.
That research also indicated parents and school staff felt they did not have the skill base to either identify or support these young people.
In this webinar, our panelists discuss the challenges faced to raise awareness of the importance of wellbeing for learning and how to place focus on the individual student to provide the support they need.
Points include:
ABOUT OUR EXPERTS
Dianne Giblin has worked in education in both paid and unpaid capacity for the past 32 years.
Di has a passion for education, in particular public education, and the opportunities it affords young people. She has led the ACSSO secretariat since 2011 but has been a significant player in parent activism since 1984 when her eldest child commenced school. She is proud of her four children’s achievements – all successes of public education.
She has held various volunteer roles in the parent movement finishing her P&C career as President of the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW.
Di was a founding Director of Public Education Foundation whose board position she held for six years; a founding Director of Primary Ethics Board and also a founding Director of The Parenthood board.
She worked in a paid capacity for the NSW education department in a number of roles across a large area of Sydney. Her roles were all in the area of parent engagement and home-school partnerships including school based community officer, across district Community Development Officer and regional Partnership Officer – all through the Priority Schools Program.
Recognition of her work saw her commended for Meritorious Service to Public Education and Training in 2010. In 2012 Dianne was admitted as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for her service to public education and the community.
Di’s greatest love is her family but coming a close second is her love of music. Whilst an amateur guitarist she likes to spend downtime with it, her grandchildren and her playing her vinyl albums on the new turntable.
Kate Xavier is a Community Cohesion Consultant at AISNSW (Association of Independent Schools NSW). She brings extensive experience as a high school teacher to her role as a specialist in
intercultural education. Kate delivers Teacher Professional Learning and consultancy support to Independent schools in the areas of intercultural understanding, family engagement, understanding violent extremism and critical thinking.
She has expertise in facilitating student intercultural programs through her role as the Senior Education Officer at Together for Humanity where she worked with schools across all sectors nationally.
Kate is an experienced interfaith practitioner, as a member of numerous committees to facilitate and promote Interfaith Dialogue between religious communities.
Kate is a mother of two gorgeous girls attending their local primary school.
Natalie Walker is the Far West Councillor & elected President of NSW P&C Federation. For the past eight years, she has volunteered as a councillor to support students, parents and citizens involved in public education in NSW. Residing in Central West NSW, Natalie has two high school children and has been a member for 11 years of two local P&C Associations.
As a passionate advocate about public education, Natalie wants to ensure that all children and young people get the best start in life. As a product of the public education system, Natalie has experienced both rural and metropolitan public schools.
Natalie holds a Bachelor of Education (ECE), from Macquarie University and has over 25 years of experience in the community and educational sectors.
Carmel Nash OAM is the Executive Director of Catholic School Parents Queensland.
She has worked at CSPQ for 22years. Carmel is a Life Member of CSPQ with more than 40 years experience with Parent organisations at local, diocesan, state and national levels.
Carmel was a member of the working group guiding the formation of Catholic School Parents Australia and is currently a member of the Executive. She previously held the role of Deputy Chair.
Carmel is also Deputy Chair of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission and a member of the National Catholic Education Commission representing parents on both bodies. She has held roles on many educational boards and authorities in Queensland.
Carmel is passionate about better engaging families in the learning and well-being of their children and young people. In her work she provides seminars and in school training on Parent Engagement, Parent Association Executive Training Workshops, works with local Parent Associations in Catholic Schools to have more effective bodies and also provides dispute resolution when required. She is also involved in
research around engaging parents in the transition from home to school as well as further research on engaging parents in learning through social media.
Currently at the local school level Carmel is leading development of new models of Catholic School parent associations.
Nikki Bonus is an experienced ed-tech founder and CEO of Life Skills Group, harnessing more than 20 years of deeply personal and professional experience in the development and delivery of social-emotional literacy programs for individuals, organizations, and most importantly, teachers and students. Nikki’s work has helped give voice to more than 850 schools, connecting with 20,000 teachers and 500,000 primary school children to build a continuing evidence base of what works to measure, report and implement real improvements in Social Emotional and Physical Literacy for school communities.
