Two of the most powerful protective factors in mental health are feeling a strong sense of identity and connectedness – the sense of caring for and being cared for by others. Children are more likely to develop both when they feel that they belong, are an active part of their community, are treated equally and feel accepted, respected and included.
Early childhood education and care professionals alongside community-based programs and health professionals are in a powerful position to strengthen these factors as a foundation to lifelong strong mental health.
As a whole community working together, they can create empowering environments and relationships that promote the mental health of children and support them in navigating identity, connection and diversity.

Planning for empowering and inclusive environments requires adults to unpack existing values, beliefs and biases. At Be You, empowerment is seeing and understanding children as competent and capable young citizens who can contribute to their world. This shapes the environments and our relationships with in and throughout these domains.

In this workshop, we will address following key learnings:
1. Reflect your image of the child and how this informs the environments you create and the relationships you have with children.
2. Consider foundational elements of creating empowering environments where children experience leadership and agency.
3. Understand children’s contributions to philosophies, policies and practices as powerful ways for ensuring every child is visible and their family, cultural background and individual uniqueness respected.

Be You is the national mental health in education initiative delivered by Beyond Blue, in collaboration with Early Childhood Australia and headspace. The initiative equips educators to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people from birth to 18 years. Be You supports early learning services and schools to develop a positive, inclusive and resilient learning community.