Health and Wellbeing

A School Nurse, Wellbeing Coordinator, and Psychologist and a weekly on-site GP Clinic with a female doctor ensures that the students’ health needs are addressed and that their education also extends to areas of personal health and development. The College has professional partnerships with a range of community organisations to deliver a comprehensive combination of on-site and external health services in medical, dental, hearing, vision and mental health services to support students to enable them to focus on education. The health education program includes active lifestyle, good nutrition and healthy diet and links to the College’s Healthy Eating Plan.

Nutrition and Physical Activity

Students nutrition is considered important and students have a menu designed by a dietician and during the week do not have ‘sometimes foods’, such as junk food, lollies or soft drinks. On weekends students are guided with moderation in regard to buying and consuming ‘sometimes foods’. Students are encouraged to play a sport on the weekends, such as netball, soccer, basketball, softball and more, to gain fitness, reduce stress, develop team skills, build school pride and increase social confidence. Students are able to access programs such as ‘Love the Skin You’re In’ and a body image program has also been implemented with students aiming to build body confidence and allow students to critically analyse depictions of women in media and popular culture.

Strengthening Student Practice in Wellbeing

There are a number of ways in which Worawa approaches supporting young Aboriginal women to develop skills and confidence in practising wellbeing in everyday life. Some of these are ongoing programs at the College while other initiatives have provided skills through shorter-term projects.The impacts of trauma, abuse and disadvantage have a profound effect on the ability for young people to take advantage of educational opportunities. For this reason, there is an inclusion of program activities selected as a therapeutic means of addressing the prevalence of emotional and psychological distress and need among Worawa students, arising in part from a direct or indirect experience of family violence and its consequences.

Wellbeing Assessments

A wellbeing and health assessment is conducted with every new student and with students returning to the school from holiday breaks. This practice normalizes for students paying attention to physical and emotional wellbeing. The initial wellbeing assessment focuses on the student settling into the school and providing a space for students to bring up any issues they may be having. Often wellbeing issues will arise as the student builds trust with Worawa staff and feels safe to disclose information or concerns. If required counselling with the school psychologist or a specialist service, such as CASA house is provided.