Minnis Journals

ET News Digest

Your Weekly Education Newsletter

What's the matter with mental health?
Love life, love yourself – Annie Facchinetti

You can hardly watch the news these days without hearing a reference to mental health issues in some form or other. As our understanding of the role that mental health plays in everything from crime to homelessness to relationships and school achievement has grown, so too has our approach to student wellbeing evolved in schools.

According to The Melbourne Declaration on Educational Goals for Young Australians (MCEETYA, 2008, p.7), Australia’s school system should be providing an environment for students that fosters ‘equity and excellence’, enabling students to become ‘successful learners’, ‘confident and creative individuals’ and ‘active and informed citizens’. Read More

Teens cope better with their friends
Research has found that teenagers’ reliance on their peers is good for their development and sense of belonging, particularly in the immediate aftermath of a stressful event, like failing a test.

“While educators, parents and other adults may feel responsible for soothing teens’ stress, it is important to help young teens cultivate their power to help each other," said Murdoch University PhD student Bep Uink. Read More

Catholic Education attacks new school funding plan
The National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) is reported to have voted to approve a campaign that would involve a grassroots social and main-media blitz across the country with the objective of negotiating a better deal than the share-out Education Minister Simon Birmingham's 2017 Budget plan proposes.

The Weekend Australian [May 20-21] has quoted an unnamed source as stating: "It will be a long and sustained campaign based on 'Who do you trust more: the school, the principals of the government?'"

According to the report, NCEC research has examined 72 Catholic sytemic schools nationwide, finding 31 would need to raise fees by between $3000 and $4000 a child next year with another 21 requiring increases from $4000 to $5000. Read More

Long term need for demountables in growing NSW state schools

Documents released under FOI have revealed that one in 10 classrooms in NSW schools are demountable and more than a third have been in place for over a decade.

"NSW schools will need to accommodate an extra 269,000 students by 2031, 164,000 of whom will be in the public system. More than 80 per cent will be in Sydney," said Ed Minister Rob Stokes. Read More

Most adults don't know how to treat an allergic reaction
New research reveals four out of five Australian adults wouldn't be able to recognise if someone was having a potentially fatal allergic reaction and the majority wouldn't know how to help.

It is estimated that more than 650,000 Australians have a diagnosed food allergy with around 30,000 new cases in Australia every year. Read More

More Victorian families don't send kids to local schools
The Victorian Auditor–General has released a report Managing School Infrastructure to assess whether the DET is effectively planning for and managing school infrastructure.

The report reveals that over half of parents are choosing to send their children to government schools outside their designated neighbourhood school catchment. Read More

Sporty kids have physically active parents who volunteer in sports
New data released by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) highlights the strong link between physically active parents and their children's involvement in sport and their physical development.

Almost 90% of children are involved when a parent is physically active and volunteers in sports. Read More

Study: reduced exposure to pokies needed for children
A study examining kids' attitudes to electronic gambling machines found more than half the children interviewed wanted to try pokies when they were older.

The report, published this week in the Harm Reduction Journal, recommends children be better protected by developing school-based education, independent from industry, about electronic gambling machines, particularly in communities where there are high concentrations of clubs. Read More

Chinese language experience for third year SA trainees
Sixteen University of South Australia third year Bachelor of Education students chosen to undertake international pre-service teaching placements in China are currently completing their 20-day program in Shanghai.

The UniSA Shanghai Xiehe International Placements are the first of a three-year project. Read More