The Centre for School Anxiety Newsletter
Sharing news, inspiration and collaboration, because all children deserve school success
11th June 2024
In this Issue
Quick update
I've been furiously updating my website on The Centre for School Anxiety and creating the Parent Guide to School Anxiety. And then wham, about 10 days ago I was sidelines by a case of shingles. Not recommended. Seems like my body didn't want to wait for my week of leave coming up, but decided to floor me. Cross fingers, I'm out the other side and eager to pick up where I had left off.
??The 1000 Voices Project
The #1000VoicesProject encourages students, teachers, parents and allied professionals to share their experiences of School Stress and School Success within the education system. Here is one below.
I am a student.
Completing VCE music and all the performance components was incredibly stressful for me.
A combination of class performances (with peer and teacher comments afterwards) and performance evenings had me feeling like I wasn’t good enough and brought on anxiety attacks.
So incredibly grateful for my wonderful mother, teacher, and classmates for their unending support in pushing me to try my best and feel proud about my accomplishments.
I invite you to help shine a light on the reality of the education system and share your experience, whether it be something small or something larger with the 1000 Voices Project. Anonymity is guaranteed.
?? In the News - Recent research on school attendance released by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority
I was at an event recently and someone told me they would do anything in their power to ensure their child did not have to attend a government school. It’s a horrible indictment of our education system, and unfortunately, the research consistently shows that there is a divide between the benefits that arise from different types of schools. The most recent research on school attendance just adds more impetus to a sacrifice drive for school choice.
In government schools, almost 25% of students who start year 10 do not go on to complete year 12. In non-government schools, it's about 12%
Research by the Australian Curriculum Assessment and Reporting Authority shows that in 2023 the attendance rate for students in Years 1-10 was 88.6%, up from 86.5% in 2022, but not back at pre-COVID levels. Furthermore, it was 84% for government schools and 90% for non-government schools
The socio-economic divide is evident with attendance rates increasing with the level of socio-educational advantage of the school
Nothing screams fairness about this.
As the debate about funding continues, let's keep in mind that all our students and children have a right to experience school success.
领英推荐
** Note - attendance rate is defined as the number of actual full-time equivalent student-days attended by full-time students in Years 1-10 as a percentage of the total number of possible student-days attended over the period.
??Become a CSA Member
Foundational memberships are available until the end of June
If you are an allied health professional working with school-aged children, you are warmly welcome to become a foundational member.
You can join now, or contact me for more information.
?? Tips & Tricks - An Action for Today
Practice a perspective shift.
Feeling overwhelmed by the challenges in the education system is easy (that is one of the reasons why I created the Centre for School Anxiety, so you don’t have to carry these challenges alone). In contrast, doing individual work with clients brings home the power that simple actions have for individuals.??
What do I do when I’m feeling discouraged, I practice perspective shifting.? I bring my mind back from the what ifs, the maybes and the cant’s, to the here and now. To what matters to me and do that to the best of my ability.?
Who is in front of me / near me?? What do they need? If you prefer a physical embodiment, look all around you, at all the things, then allow your eyes to rest on one thing, and notice what happens when you do.? Sit with this focus for 10-20 seconds.? Frequently when I do this I will sigh deeply or notice my breathing slow, without a conscious effort.? I’m not saying this will happen to you, but incorporating this as a mindful practice won’t hurt.
Until next time
Kim Ross
Psychologist
B.A. Psych; M.Psych (Ed & Dev); AAPi
ps Please share this with others who share our passion.
?? FinTech Innovator | White Label Payment Systems | Cross Border Payments | Payment Orchestration | ?? TEDx Speaker | Women Empowerment | Influencer Leadership
5 个月Empowering insights amid challenges - appreciate vulnerability shared. Kim Ross