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Taminmin High School, NT
The Journey from 2003 and Beyond In 2002, inspired by a MindMatters workshop, welfare team staff at Taminmin High School adopted a proactive role to determine the wellbeing needs of staff and students at the school. A survey tool from School Matters was utilised and the results highlighted that it was important to support teachers to gain an understanding of student mental health issues frameworks for social and emotional health and wellbeing. Concurrently, students were also surveyed about issues affecting their health and wellbeing as part of the school?s "Which Party?" project. The results of these surveys influenced the school's decision to apply to participate in the MindMatters Plus project. It was hoped that participation in MindMatters Plus would help the school to better meet the needs of a diverse community facing barriers such as isolation and lack of access to support services.
MindMatters implementation and development using a whole school approach
The health promoting schools model directly influenced Taminmin High School?s "whole of school" approach to MindMatters. For example the initial whole school MindMatters Professional Development workshop included teachers, students, parents, pastors, a General Practioner, farmhands, local services providers and feeder primary school participants. Three years on, many of these groups are involved in fostering a wellbeing orientation to curriculum, school ethos and partnerships. From maths teachers wearing t-shirts with positive messages, to parents working alongside students in classes and also working together with the school choir to develop a school song, to the Student Welfare Team name change to the Wellbeing Team.
A core team was established to help set the direction, which continues to grow in many ways as teachers and the community embrace the program and the underpinning Health Promoting School philosophy.
A range of mental health workshops have been provided for teachers and the school-community from Suicide Assist, Adolescents Coping with Emotions, Peer Skills, Families Matter, Teen Triple P, Seasons for Growth to the most recent Mental Health First Aid and Heart Masters. All professional development opportunities have been delivered where possible utilising a community development approach. The training has been delivered locally, and as a result greater network of local parents, students, school support staff and local services to assist the school to better meet the mental health and wellbeing needs of the community has developed. The school has two dedicated pastors working alongside teachers and students, supporting students at risk, families in crisis, mopping up after hours, and assisting with group work, training programs such as Seasons for Growth, Resourceful Adolescent Program and Mental Health First Aid.
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