Service Spotlight: Supporting confident starts to secondary school

Starting high school is an exciting milestone in life, but it can also bring its share of nerves.

Aiming to help young people make the jump successfully, Council’s Youth Development team delivers an annual program of Year 6 Transition Wellbeing Workshops in local primary schools.

Pictured: Jack (left) and Damian (right) from the Youth Development team

The workshops provide students with practical strategies to build confidence and manage worries associated with leaving their familiar primary school environment for the next step in their education.

Now in its fifth year, the program was developed by the Youth Development team using evidence-based strategies and is delivered to students without cost thanks to funding from the Victorian Government's ‘Engage!’ program.

Youth Development Team Leader Jack Pearson said his team recognised a clear need and has set out to address it.

"We know that statistically, the transition from year 6 to year 7 is a really stressful time for young people – that comes through in lots of different surveys,” Jack said.

“And we know that in Surf Coast Shire, particularly if you live in a regional town like Winchelsea  for example, the students are going off to lots of different high schools, which can add to the stress."

Delivered in primary school classrooms with the assistance of much-loved therapy dog Larry, the workshops create a safe and welcoming space for students to talk about their hopes and concerns around starting high school.

Through interactive activities and discussions, students learn to understand that feelings of nervousness and uncertainty are normal, and develop practical ways to look after their wellbeing.

"We teach them, first of all, to recognise if they're feeling stressed, and then they learn some actions they can take that will help them feel better," Jack said.

"For example, ‘If I'm feeling sad, if I can dance to my favourite song or if I kick the footy, that will help me feel better.’

“So we're helping to identify things that bring them joy. And then they learn that in times when they're feeling upset or stressed, if they do those things, it will help."

The impact of the workshops is measured through surveys completed before and after each session.

“A lot of students coming in will say they're feeling nervous or stressed about transitioning to high school,” Jack said.

"And for the most part, we see that young people record that they're more confident in going to year 7 after doing the workshop.

“By helping students build resilience, strengthen their support networks and develop those positive wellbeing habits, we’re trying to give them the tools they need to make a confident start.”

The team delivers the workshop to around 150 students each year and will soon begin this year’s program in primary schools across the Surf Coast.

Visit the Surf Coast Youth page to learn more about how our Youth Development team supports local young people.