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DNA sequencing of a 100-year-old lock of hair has established that Aboriginal Australians have a longer continuous association with the land than any other race of people. "Our Lands, Our Waters, Our people, All Living Things are connected… we long for sparkling, clean waters, health land and people and all living things… Our vision is all people Caring, Sharing, Knowing and respecting the lands, the waters, and all living things (Ngarrindjeri, Nation, 2006, p.5). As Hemming

A random act of kindness is generally considered to be a selfless act performed by a person or people wishing either to assist or to cheer up an individual person or people. The Jewish concept of Mitzvah is used colloquially to mean a good deed or an act of kindness. Martin Seligman (2002) in writing about happiness proposed that doing something for others (eg RAK) was linked to increased self esteem and happiness. The questions that arises is -why? RAKS “The very first da

Big Talks for Little People I am currently working on a few mental health education initiatives arsing from the Big Talks for Little People program for primary schools (see here). Big Talks for Little People is an innovative mental health education program empirically studied and found to make a significant difference in students self reported social emotional learning rating and in instances of bullying where the Schools Program has been run. One of the new initiatives is a

June 21, 2026 Including mental health education into the broader framework of health literacy development through curriculum in primary/elementary schools is essential. When we think about health literacy in schools, traditional topics like nutrition, physical exercise, and dental hygiene often dominate the curriculum. However, health literacy is incomplete without treating mental wellbeing with the exact same importance as physical health. Mental health education provides

What is an affirmation? Affirmations are phrases when repeated regularly can change your mindset, boost confidence, give self-belief and positivity. Do affirmations work though? Answer: Yes, but they are not an instant fix, it will not happen instantly. Science does back benefits and research has shown that brain pattern can change over time(Zhang, et al, 2025) . What makes me believe in affirmations? Throughout my life, I have had constant struggles with bullying, growing up

The U.N Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children. According to the Convention it is a fundamental democratic right for a young person to live and learn in a safe school environment. ‘’Action to combat bullying in schools is undoubtedly a major contributor to the achievement of child rights globally.’’ (Richardson & Hiui,2018, p.3 ) In a globally connected and culturally diverse world, ad

According to Aristotle as outlined in the Nicomachean Ethics written in the 4th century BC , friendship is a reciprocal mutually recognised desired for goodwill between two people. He identified three types of friendship , namely that based on (i) utility which emphasises usefulness rather than mutual affection eg business partnership (ii) pleasure ie enjoyment or shared interests such as a hobby and (iii) good /virtuous - drawing on admiration, mutual respect and shared c

NOT IF these crucial elements are attended to: 1. PURPOSE The identification of the purpose of the program -see Fig. below. (a) Universal Programs: targeted for the whole population group that has been identified as at risk e.g. childhood measles immunization (b) Populations at Risk. interventions are directed towards individuals or sub-groups of a population known to be at risk of developing problems e.g. literacy programs (c) ‘High Risk’ Individuals. Programs

As a personal observation a few years ago I was on a plane and seated across the aisle from my wife and I was a family with 2 children – the youngest being a toddler. In the course of the 3 hour trip I became aware of the youngest child looking over at me and ‘inviting’ me to engage with her in some way. We then began a short game of ‘peek-a-boo’ which we both enjoyed before I went back to my reading. At the end of the trip as we stood up to take our bags from the over-h

The word system is derived from the Greek sunistánai, meaning ‘to cause to stand together’. Systems thinking emphasizes that the properties of the system are properties of the whole which none of the parts possesses. An important feature of systems theories is their transdisciplinary nature. This is at odds with the tendency towards neatly compartmentalizing the understanding of a phenomenon, and instead proposing the need to embrace complexity. Systems thinking has been inf

Bullying remains a significant challenge in schools across Australia and beyond. Addressing this issue requires effective educational tools that engage students and promote empathy, awareness, and positive behaviour. One such tool is the use of bullying education videos. These videos present realistic scenarios that help students recognise bullying, understand its impact, and learn appropriate responses. In this article, I will explore how these videos contribute to bullying

Shute & Slee (2026) have described in detail systems theory and commented on its application to addressing school bullying. The underpinning assumptions draw on family systems thinking and in particular the authors' clinical experience in working with individuals, couples and families. The approach is adapted to the school setting where the counsellor is generally counselling individuals or perhaps two or three involved students, or working with the family in relation to th

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (2022) reports that 12.1% of children and young people aged 0-24 years (946,300 people) have a disability. In Australia SEND refers to those with special needs and disabilities while in the United Kingdom and Canada SEN refers to those with special education needs and in the United States the term used is disability. Presently, the term ‘disability’ is used in most Western jurisdictions to encompass individuals with intellectual and dev

In the current global context the Social Determinants of Health (SD) model offers powerful insight into the effects of chronic and multiple dis-advantage on families and children. As Shute & Slee (2026) have noted health and well-being are the result of multiple and interwoven determinants ranging from individual factors (biological, genetic, behavioural) to local resources and opportunities for health and well-being, to society-wide factors (environmental, cultural, socio-e

The P.E.A.C.E. Pack anti-bullying wellbeing program <www.caper.com.au>draws upon the ancient Greek word -psuche (ψυχή),- translated (psyche) sometimes referred to as as "soul" or "life," and the concept of the breath of life. The PEACE Pack anti-bullying program (4th edt.) aims to promote student wellbeing and involves developing, student peer relationships, student strength based capacities and positive mindset relating to understanding and regulating behaviour, communic

Millions of children worldwide spend time in Outside School Hours Care (OSHC) or Extended Education (EE) services under the supervision and care of educators. Out-of-School Hours Care (OSHC) is the fastest-growing part of the childcare sector in Australia. OSHC services operate before and after school and during school holidays. They provide safe and supportive spaces where children can take part in activities such as art, homework support, play, and social interaction. Howev

Since 2001 the P.E.A.C.E. Pack antibullying wellbeing program has been translated and implemented in Japan Malta, Greece , Italy and Mongolia. Evaluations in schools in these countries show significant reductions in bullying, increases in student coping skills, feelings of safety at school, school belonging and wellbeing of students. In Australia the PEACE Pack is a state and nationally recommended resource by educational and wellbeing websites. Developed collaboratively

Authors: Deb Agnew (Ph.d), Shane Pill (Ph.d), Phillip Slee (Ph.d), Jessica Skuza (Ms) Please visit our website - https://bigtalkslittlepeople.com/ School and community sport settings provide an impor­tant platform to reach and engage young sports people with mental health supports in light of the high participation rate of young people in sport. A range of mental health programs have been developed for implementation in sport settings and research demonstrates their promise

‘Kaukauwa’ Inspired by my time teaching in Fiji, the story ‘Kaukauwa’ follows a young boy named Peter as he discovers the power of confidence. In a primary school classroom filled with children from many cultures- where the Fijian boys were big, bold, and rugby mad - I saw firsthand how encouragement could help children overcome worries, build real confidence, and even stand up to bullies. In this tale, a touch of magic sparks Peter’s courage, but its message is universal: w

Extended Reality Laboratory – Flinders University and video Director: Professor Gretchen Geng Link: https://www.xrplaylab.com The XR Lab at Flinders University, part of the College of Education, Psychology, and Social Work (CEPSW), is dedicated to advancing immersive technologies for education, research, and industry. The XR Lab promotes digital literacy and prepares learners and professionals for a future shaped by all kinds of immersive technologies. The XR Lab prov