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…

THERE IS MORE TO THE BREATH WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT I worked as a nurse a long time ago, and one of the areas in which I specialised was the ICU. If you never need to go to ICU for care, that is good. The ICU is the place you go when you need…

FINDING EASE IN THE RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR CHILD – IT DOESN’T HAVE TO BE A TUG-OF-WAR! The game of tug-a-war  Do you remember the game ‘tug-of-war’? You probably have some idea of what it is. I remember playing it in sport.   We were divided into two teams of equal numbers. Each team was positioned along…