There are numerous hurdles between waking up and getting out the door on school mornings, whether it is battling with the alarm clock, hunting down the missing (and very important) item or organising a last-minute carpool when the school bus doesn’t show up on time. However, for some families, getting to school can be especially…

You know that uneasy feeling you get when your child is gaming, for what seems like hours? In fact, it is hours. Your parenting mind tells you it’s not good for them, and they should be outside running around, talking to real people, or maybe helping you with dinner.  A friend recently recommended that I…

As parents, we develop a finely-tuned radar when it comes to our children’s wellbeing. That gut feeling that something isn’t quite right shouldn’t be dismissed. Parental intuition is remarkably accurate. This intuition isn’t limited to physical health; it extends to all aspects of your child’s life.  When That Feeling Strikes Perhaps your usually chatty child…

It can be challenging to get a clear understanding of your wellbeing baseline and of how you are truly doing. You may notice specific symptoms, such as constant fatigue, poor sleep, and issues like joint pain or headaches. Additionally, you might recognise that you’ve experienced several stressful events over the past ten years, such as…

In today’s world, the word “wellbeing” seems to be everywhere. Schools run well-being programs, podcasts promise to boost it, and wellness brands build entire identities around it. Addressing wellbeing has become a focus in parenting forums, workplace policies, and government strategies. Wellbeing has become a kind of shorthand, often reduced to things like mental health,…

The COVID-19 pandemic may feel like a distant memory to some, but for many parents, its effects linger in the form of a “pandemic hangover.” This term refers to the ongoing challenges families face as they attempt to rebuild routines and restore a sense of normalcy after years of disruption. From disrupted sleep schedules to…

Bullying in Schools: Then and Now  Bullying in schools is not a new issue; it has existed since formal education systems emerged in the 19th century. In the early 20th century, bullying behaviours were largely unrecognised or dismissed, reflecting the social norms and educational priorities of the time, which often overlooked children’s emotional and psychological…

By ROB MASON As the Team Leader, Social Worker – Student Wellbeing at Virtual School Victoria (VSV), I’m excited to share our school’s unique history, mission, and significant role in Victoria’s education landscape. VSV, formerly the Correspondence School, then the Distance Education Centre Victoria, is now the state’s leading virtual school. While we educate over…

In Victoria, parents have the choice to enrol their children in a registered school, or to register their child for homeschooling with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority (VRQA). Homeschooling regulations permit learning outside of the home, however they do not permit parents to outsource their responsibility to an unregistered school. Recently, the VRQA has…