More than 400 local primary school students will benefit from a 12-month program aimed at building resilience and supporting their mental health and wellbeing.
Highly regarded school wellbeing program, the Resilience Project, will be delivered to all Gladstone Central State School students in 2024, after the school secured more than $14,000 in funding from Santos GLNG.
Gladstone Central State School Acting Principal Dave Romagnolo said the Resilience Project would enhance the school’s existing well-being program, by providing students with essential tools and resources to navigate life challenges.
“The Resilience Project’s evidence-based, positive wellbeing strategies have now been delivered in over 1,500 Australian schools and are proven to prevent mental ill-health, and build young people’s capacity to deal with adversity,” Mr Romagnolo said.
“We’ve seen encouraging results of the program being rolled out in schools, with positive impact across key mental health and wellbeing indicators including depression, anxiety, engagement, life satisfaction and hope.
“With a range of resources, including digital presentations and live webinars, we expect our whole school community including teachers, parents and caregivers to benefit, and we are pleased to be able to deliver it at no additional cost to families.”
Santos GLNG CEO Stephen Harty said one in seven primary school students and one in four adolescents in Australia are likely to experience mental health problems this year, and nearly two thirds of them will not seek help.
“A preventative approach is key to tackling Australia’s growing youth mental health crisis, Mr Harty said.
“Santos GLNG is committed to supporting our people and the communities we operate in and we are proud to fully fund the delivery of this important program.
“More than 90% of our team reside in Gladstone and call it home and we look forward to supporting other local schools in accessing the Resilience Project in 2025 and beyond and continuing our support of other important programs and local groups.
“Our partnership program has a strong focus on the region’s youth, including support of Gidarjil Development Corporation’s Gulya Academy, the community’s Domestic & Family Violence’s Love Bites Program, the Boyne Island Environmental Education Centre, PCYC Deep Blue Line Program and the Gladstone Eisteddfod.”
For more information on The Resilience Project and their School Wellbeing Program head to theresilienceproject.com.au