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HEADSPACE MOUNT GAMBIER MONTHLY NEWSLETTER - APRIL 2017
Imogen, Youth Worker, Cody, helper and Jess,
Senior Practitioner handing out hot chocolates!
LOUD in the Library launched a huge week of
activities for young people for National Youth
Week. headspace and the Mount Gambier
Council are official partners for this year’s
celebrations. headspace kept busy at LOUD
handing out free hot chocolates in this year’s chill
zone.
The theme for Youth Week is youTHRIVE,
highlighting the importance of young South
Australians physical, mental, emotional and social
wellbeing. All young people aged 12-25 are
invited to participate in the following events this
week….
Youth band, Skyline Haze, soothed the crowd in
this year’s chill zone at LOUD in the Library
Metro Hangs
Wednesday 5 April
3pm – 5pm
Deck at Metro
You’re invited for a free drink and cake at Metro. Come and chill together in the funky new deck area, have genuine chats, listen to live music by Bella & Cameron, and hear from Mount Gambier Young Citizen of the Year Bhavani & headspace volunteer Elizabeth.
Amazing Race
Friday 7 April
4pm – 6pm
Various locations
Are you ready for a race around Mount Gambier? Major prizes to be won! This race includes pit stops, challenges, clues and pit stop prizes. Form your own team of up to 4, or let us and make new friends. Race information and registration form at https://headspacemtg.typeform.com/to/asgymR.
Yoga at the Lakes
Sunday 9 April
2pm – 3pm
Valley Lakes
Take in the elements and beautiful surrounds of Browns Lake with a yoga session run by Kath of Simply Yoga. Beginners welcome, this will be a gentle, relaxing class. No equipment required. Places are limited, register at https://youthyoga.eventbrite.com.au.
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COPING WITH STRESS
headspace workers Mikarla and Imogen have just finished five weeks
of meeting with all the students in year 11 and 12 at Mount Gambier
High School to talk about stress. In small groups, students learnt more
about what stress is, how to recognise the signs and symptoms of
stress, and how to manage it. Check out some more tips from
headspace here on how to survive school exams and stress.
OH HAPPY DAY!
On Monday 17 March, students at Grant High School enjoyed a BBQ, fruit and
ice cream to celebrate International Day of Happiness. Talented Grant High
School musicians impressed the crowds with live music.
headspace staff and volunteers handed out free ice cream and hundreds of
smiling emoji stickers. The most common answer to the question, ‘what
makes you happy’ among students was family and friends. It was a good
reminder about the importance of stopping to reflect on the important things
in life, and being grateful.
Jade Lock, Grant High School Wellbeing Coordinator said, ‘wellbeing is critical
to student development and engagement with learning. Days like today are
so important for our students, helping to build a greater sense of 'community'
and a sense of belonging.’
International Day of Happiness was introduced by the General Assembly of
the United Nations in 2012 with the aim to educate and increase public
awareness of the benefits of happiness.
FREE HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
Can you believe it’s almost school holidays already?! The team are busy getting ready for a number
of exciting activities. See back page for full listing. To register for an activity, call headspace on
8725 0443, or email [email protected]. All activities are free and
you do not need to be a headspace client to attend, all welcome.
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MARCH NATURE IN MIND
*Music workshop with Courtney Holmes *Dingley Dell tour with Allan, caretaker
*Walk with Peter, Port MacDonnell Landcare *Herbariums with Bryan, Nature Glenelg Trust
headspace MOUNT GAMBIER
We held our first all staff planning day in March, celebrating and reflecting upon 12 months
of service provision to local young people and their families, and planning for the future.
The day highlighted that what makes headspace successful is the contributions from the
community. Centre Manager, Tasja Barelds, extends a big thanks to the highly motivated
and committed Youth Reference Group, an equally passionate core team of clinicians and
administrative staff, plus the valued expertise of CAMHS, MifSA, CHSA Youth Mental Health,
WISE employment, Mount Gambier City Council, Life Without Barriers and private
practitioners who work with headspace.
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OPENING HOURS
Monday: 9:30am - 5:30pm
Tuesday: 9:00am - 8:00pm
Wednesday: 11:30am - 5:30pm
Thursday: 9:00am - 8:00pm
Friday: 9:30am - 5:30pm
Keep in touch with what’s happening at the
centre, and receive health and wellbeing
updates by liking our headspace Mount
Gambier Facebook page.
Schedule boredom these school holidays!
Article by Michael Ungar Ph.D. Find the full article here.
What exactly is boredom? When it is a temporary state, it is a lack of stimulation and the unpleasant
feelings that come along with it. In most cases, individuals who become bored are motivated to find
something stimulating to do. Still, as parents we worry about a child who is slunked in the living
room, watching television on a sunny day, complaining “There’s nothing to do.” In fact, the
experience of being bored for a time may be exactly what the child needs “to do”.
Children who experience a lack of programmed activity are given an opportunity to demonstrate
creativity, problem solving, and to develop motivational skills that may help them later in life. Are we
really doing our children a service by removing quiet, unstructured time from their lives? When we
endlessly program them with activities, show them videos while driving, insist on being their
playmates when other children aren’t available, and buying them amusements like video games,
have we overlooked the amazing opportunities for psychological growth right there in the quiet of
our own homes?
The antidote to boredom is to provide children with an environment that lets them experience
autonomy (the ability to work a little on their own), control (the right to have a say over what they do),
challenge (a small push beyond their comfort zone), and intrinsic motivation (the motivation comes
from inside them). Notice that the antidote to boredom is not an environment that programs children
or removes responsibility from children to solve the problem of under-stimulation themselves.
Schedule boredom!
It is important to build into our children’s routines times when there is no planned activity, and when
the television, gaming station, computer and cell phone are turned off. Well, maybe not the
computer, if it being used as a creative activity. There are many children who will teach themselves
to type, or create an amazing video, if given the chance to play the artist rather than the passive
audience to the efforts of others.
Challenge your child to create the next viral video. Encourage them with a carton of arts supplies to
design their own birthday gifts. Gently push them outdoors and don’t let them back in for 2 hours
and see what friendly mischief they can get into.
They may not thank you at first, but they will, if you’re lucky, experience a period of
self-reflection and calm.
PLEASE NOTE WE ARE CLOSED ON PUBLIC HOLIDAYS
FRIDAY 14, MONDAY 17 AND TUESDAY 25 APRIL
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