Help for Kids with Fears and Worries.

Do you know a child who is constantly

· afraid of trying anything new?

· scared when you aren’t with them?

· worried that they will make a mistake?

· avoids activities like sleep-overs, school, parties or unfamiliar situations?

· able to worry about anything and everything?

The Emotional Health Clinic at Macquarie University is conducting research on using self-help materials and    telephone contact with a psychologist as a way of helping anxious rural children overcome anxiety. Children and their parents can choose to participate in a formal assessment and free 12 week treatment program for anxiety     without needing to leave home. As part of the research, assessment of progress will be made on completion of   treatment and after 6 months. Parents and children who complete these progress assessments will be given a gift voucher. Children must be 8 years or older, and in primary school.

More information about child anxiety & the Child Anxiety Rural Outreach Program (CAROP) can be found by calling us on (02) 98509706. From our website www.psy.mq.edu.au/carop or by email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

MACQUARIE  UNIVERSITY

Chaplain's Corner

The SOAR adventures team has

been meeting on Tuesday mornings

since the beginning of this term.

The group of 10 male students had

been participating in games designed

to build up teamwork and leadership

skills in preparation for the first of

four adventure camps throughout the

year. Last Wednesday that time had

finally come...

SOAR is an initiative of Scripture

Union Victoria and aims to use

adventure camping to help students

become more engaged at school and

achieve goals which have been set

prior to the commencement of the

programme. SOAR is based on a

concept that has been very

successful in Queensland, but MEC

is one of four initial schools in

Victoria to be part of the programme

and was actually the very first

Victorian school to attend an

adventure camp.

Four beasts of the road arrived early at MEC that day and students were forced into an excruciating decision of

whether to travel in a swish 100 series Landcruiser, a decked out troop carrier (complete with bar fridge and pop

out LCD monitor) or a truck-like V8 Landrover. Once positions had been decided and CV radio names

established (such as Big Ben and Barbie Boy) we were on our way to the wilderness of Mount Cole.

Mount Cole is a beautiful setting with pristine waterfalls, huge caves and wildlife such as wedged tailed eagles a

common sight. The group enjoyed activities such as hiking, four wheel driving, raft building and cooking in a

camp oven. Meals were fantastic – we had a beef roast on the second night and a bacon and egg breakfast on the

last morning which the boys organised.

The activities were designed to build up trust within the group and allow the boys to exhibit responsibility,

leadership and teamwork. The group also has a ‘five finger contract’: thumb = encouragement; index = listening;

middle = no put downs; ring = commitment; pinky = sticking up for the little guy. We encouraged the boys to

remind each other of these and pull each other up if needed. At the end of each night we had a ‘circle time’

around the campfire where we could debrief about the day and share how it had gone. We also talked about the

importance of trust, humility and forgiveness in these sessions.

Overall the camp was a huge amount of fun and the boys are a great

Above L:R: Louise Wolff - Visiting Psychologist, Helen Harley - Speech Pathologist, Barney
Healy - MEC Principal and Simone Fraser - Speech Pathologist.

As part of a regional restructure our Student Support Staff (Speech Pathologists, Guidance Officers and Social
worker) have changed Schools that they are attached to.
Recently staff and students farewelled Speech Pathologists, Anna Clark and Erin Fisk, Social Worker Ken Smith,
and Guidance Officers Sue Inglis and Mary Gibbs. All of these staff have worked at MEC since its inception and
have made a difference in the lives of many of our students.
We are now able to welcome our new Speech Pathologists, Helen Harley and Simone Fraser. Helen and Simone
both have a wealth of experience in the Speech Pathology field. Our new Guidance Officer is Louise Wolff, who
also has a great deal of experience as a Psychologist.
The Speech Pathologists and Guidance Officer will be attending MEC on Mondays at present. Students need to be
referred for these services. If you believe your son/daughter requires either of these services please don’t hesitate to
contact your child’s Home Group teacher or Deputy Principal.

Welcome back everyone to MEC, and a special welcome to those coming to the school for the first time. I thought it was a good opportunity to explain the role of the Secondary School Nurse (SSN). Most people hear the word nurse and think hospitals, illness and bandages. However the SSN has quite a different role, which involves working as part of the school welfare team. Students are better prepared for learning when they are healthy, safe and happy, and the school nurse is involved in assisting with health education, health promotion and one on one health consultation with individual students or small groups. MEC students, staff and parents can be involved in helping with what they see as the current health issues affecting the school community. I can provide information, guidance and support about a range of issues that may include:

· Relationships

· Self esteem

· Loss and grief

· Adolescent health concerns

· Bullying

· Safe sex

· Smoking, alcohol and drug use

· Managing stress and anxiety

· Healthy weight

· Problems at home.

Being informed helps students make better health choices. If necessary, the SSN can also help students get in touch with other health providers, such as local doctors and pharmacists, community health services, psychologists, student support service officers, family planning services and more.

The service is free, friendly and confidential. I usually work at MEC on Monday and Tuesday, and can be contacted by phone: 5461 7900 or mobile 0408 302 287, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . My office is in Majorca block, and students can make an appointment to see me (urgent cases will be seen as soon as possible), or call in during morning recess.

This the first in a series of information articles from the school welfare team.

Cheers. Sue Tarrant Secondary School Nurse, MEC