Wollotuka Wellbeing Program to Support Students Through University and Beyond
Tracks
Ian McLachlan Room East
| Tuesday, October 25, 2022 |
| 10:55 AM - 11:15 AM |
Overview
Phoebe Sanders & Hanna Pipe, The Wollotuka Institute, The University Of Newcastle
Speaker
Miss Hannah Pipe
Student Advancement Coordinator
The Wollotuka Institute
Wollotuka Wellbeing Program to Support Students Through University and Beyond
11:35 AM - 11:55 AMAbstract
Wollotuka Wellbeing at The Wollotuka Institute, University of Newcastle incorporates:
• dedicated professional counselling on campus
• wellbeing resources
• Allow Connect Grow program.
It supports student’s wellbeing in a trauma-informed, holistic and culturally appropriate way. It lies within the existing support of The Wollotuka Institute including the Irru Ballay Program (Back on Track), which identifies students in need of support to get them back on track and achieve their education goals.
Wollotuka Wellbeing was established as a result of the 2019 YLab Indigenous Student Retention Report, which found mental health was the main reason for student drop out.
The resources are based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives of health and wellbeing and contextual behavioural science: bringing knowledge systems together to help students and community.
The uptake of counselling by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students has increased since the establishment of Wollotuka Wellbeing with a dedicated counsellor. Over 100 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students have engaged in counselling with the overall percentage of Indigenous students seeking support for counselling within either, The Wollotuka Institute, or the University’s mainstream Counselling Service doubling since the program began.
A creation of an artwork provided a platform for Wollotuka Wellbeing. Global Indigenous Student, Darleen Cooper, a proud Dunghutti woman created “Stronger Together” as part of Work Integrated Learning for her program, whilst providing research on the concept of the resources. The artwork is a demonstration of living culture and how it can be the foundation of wellbeing and organisational strategy.
Whilst the resources are culturally specific, there is potential to promote them to all students and staff at The University of Newcastle, along with schools and the community to further promote and share existing ancient wellbeing knowledge and contribute to recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and practices.
• dedicated professional counselling on campus
• wellbeing resources
• Allow Connect Grow program.
It supports student’s wellbeing in a trauma-informed, holistic and culturally appropriate way. It lies within the existing support of The Wollotuka Institute including the Irru Ballay Program (Back on Track), which identifies students in need of support to get them back on track and achieve their education goals.
Wollotuka Wellbeing was established as a result of the 2019 YLab Indigenous Student Retention Report, which found mental health was the main reason for student drop out.
The resources are based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives of health and wellbeing and contextual behavioural science: bringing knowledge systems together to help students and community.
The uptake of counselling by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students has increased since the establishment of Wollotuka Wellbeing with a dedicated counsellor. Over 100 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students have engaged in counselling with the overall percentage of Indigenous students seeking support for counselling within either, The Wollotuka Institute, or the University’s mainstream Counselling Service doubling since the program began.
A creation of an artwork provided a platform for Wollotuka Wellbeing. Global Indigenous Student, Darleen Cooper, a proud Dunghutti woman created “Stronger Together” as part of Work Integrated Learning for her program, whilst providing research on the concept of the resources. The artwork is a demonstration of living culture and how it can be the foundation of wellbeing and organisational strategy.
Whilst the resources are culturally specific, there is potential to promote them to all students and staff at The University of Newcastle, along with schools and the community to further promote and share existing ancient wellbeing knowledge and contribute to recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and practices.
Biography
Student Advancement Coordinator, The Wollotuka Institute, The University of Newcastle
I am a Ngemba woman, with family ties to the Brewarrina and Dubbo regions of New South Wales. I have worked in higher education for the past 5 years starting out in enabling education and student support, transitioning over into management of your student advancement team twelve months ago. I am now responsible for the effective management of the team who supports and engages with our Indigenous student cohort across all campuses. I hold a Bachelors in Adult and Vocational Education (Language, Literacy and Numeracy), a Master’s in Education, and am completing a Graduate Certificate in Educational Leadership. I am passionate about the Indigenous student experience in all facets, academic, social and cultural and have a keen interest in inclusive education.
Phoebe Sanders
Wollotuka Counsellor
The Wollotuka Institute, The University Of Newcastle
Wollotuka Wellbeing Program to Support Students Through University and Beyond
11:35 AM - 11:55 AMAbstract
Wollotuka Wellbeing at The Wollotuka Institute, University of Newcastle incorporates:
• dedicated professional counselling on campus
• wellbeing resources
• Allow Connect Grow program.
It supports student’s wellbeing in a trauma-informed, holistic and culturally appropriate way. It lies within the existing support of The Wollotuka Institute including the Irru Ballay Program (Back on Track), which identifies students in need of support to get them back on track and achieve their education goals.
Wollotuka Wellbeing was established as a result of the 2019 YLab Indigenous Student Retention Report, which found mental health was the main reason for student drop out.
The resources are based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives of health and wellbeing and contextual behavioural science: bringing knowledge systems together to help students and community.
The uptake of counselling by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students has increased since the establishment of Wollotuka Wellbeing with a dedicated counsellor. Over 100 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students have engaged in counselling with the overall percentage of Indigenous students seeking support for counselling within either, The Wollotuka Institute, or the University’s mainstream Counselling Service doubling since the program began.
A creation of an artwork provided a platform for Wollotuka Wellbeing. Global Indigenous Student, Darleen Cooper, a proud Dunghutti woman created “Stronger Together” as part of Work Integrated Learning for her program, whilst providing research on the concept of the resources. The artwork is a demonstration of living culture and how it can be the foundation of wellbeing and organisational strategy.
Whilst the resources are culturally specific, there is potential to promote them to all students and staff at The University of Newcastle, along with schools and the community to further promote and share existing ancient wellbeing knowledge and contribute to recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and practices.
• dedicated professional counselling on campus
• wellbeing resources
• Allow Connect Grow program.
It supports student’s wellbeing in a trauma-informed, holistic and culturally appropriate way. It lies within the existing support of The Wollotuka Institute including the Irru Ballay Program (Back on Track), which identifies students in need of support to get them back on track and achieve their education goals.
Wollotuka Wellbeing was established as a result of the 2019 YLab Indigenous Student Retention Report, which found mental health was the main reason for student drop out.
The resources are based on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives of health and wellbeing and contextual behavioural science: bringing knowledge systems together to help students and community.
The uptake of counselling by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students has increased since the establishment of Wollotuka Wellbeing with a dedicated counsellor. Over 100 Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander students have engaged in counselling with the overall percentage of Indigenous students seeking support for counselling within either, The Wollotuka Institute, or the University’s mainstream Counselling Service doubling since the program began.
A creation of an artwork provided a platform for Wollotuka Wellbeing. Global Indigenous Student, Darleen Cooper, a proud Dunghutti woman created “Stronger Together” as part of Work Integrated Learning for her program, whilst providing research on the concept of the resources. The artwork is a demonstration of living culture and how it can be the foundation of wellbeing and organisational strategy.
Whilst the resources are culturally specific, there is potential to promote them to all students and staff at The University of Newcastle, along with schools and the community to further promote and share existing ancient wellbeing knowledge and contribute to recognition of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture and practices.
Biography
Phoebe lives on Awabakal country in Newcastle NSW. She has spent most of her working life in education, and is passionate about helping students find their purpose, and to reach their potential in tertiary education, and in everyday life.
Phoebe is a Psychologist and feels at home working with students in the tertiary education sector. She has worked as a TAFE Counsellor for 15 years, working closely with the Purrimaibahn Unit and Aboriginal Learning Circle, before moving to the The University of Newcastle in 2015. In 2020 she commenced working at The Wollotuka Institute to establish Wollotuka Wellbeing, which incorporates a dedicated counselling service for Indigenous students, along with the creation of wellbeing resources. She is a part of the the Student Advancement Team at The Wollotuka Institute and is grateful to be working as a non-Indigenous woman within such a wonderful supportive community.
