Initial outcomes and impact of Be You, Australia’s National Mental Health in Education Initiative
Tracks
Prince Room
| Monday, March 20, 2023 |
| 11:25 AM - 11:45 AM |
Overview
Jina Tanton, Beyond Blue & Katherine Dix, Australian Council for Education Research
Speaker
Katherine Dix
Australian Council for Education Research
Initial outcomes and impact of Be You, Australia’s National Mental Health in Education Initiative
Abstract
Be You is Australia’s national mental health in education initiative delivered by Beyond Blue, in collaboration with Early Childhood Australia and headspace. Developed in response to ongoing national concern about the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, Be You equips educators to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people from birth to 18 years, providing a whole of learning community approach for early learning services, primary schools, and secondary schools across Australia.
The proposed presentation will share initial insights with regards to the outcomes and impact of Be You on Educators, and Children and Young People, including educator knowledge and confidence, the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people and academic attainment, and will discuss key learnings identified through undertaking an independent evaluation of the Be You initiative involving evidence gathered from over 6000 participating educators across Australia.
Key Learnings
Early evidence indicates
1. Be You is increasing the mental health knowledge and competence of Australian educators to promote resilience and support mental health and wellbeing in children and young people.
2. Be You is supporting whole learning communities to embrace and build capacity around delivering evidence-based mental health promotion, early intervention, and postvention support.
3. Highly engaged Be You learning communities and individual educators are making a difference to student wellbeing and academic outcomes.
The proposed presentation will share initial insights with regards to the outcomes and impact of Be You on Educators, and Children and Young People, including educator knowledge and confidence, the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people and academic attainment, and will discuss key learnings identified through undertaking an independent evaluation of the Be You initiative involving evidence gathered from over 6000 participating educators across Australia.
Key Learnings
Early evidence indicates
1. Be You is increasing the mental health knowledge and competence of Australian educators to promote resilience and support mental health and wellbeing in children and young people.
2. Be You is supporting whole learning communities to embrace and build capacity around delivering evidence-based mental health promotion, early intervention, and postvention support.
3. Highly engaged Be You learning communities and individual educators are making a difference to student wellbeing and academic outcomes.
Biography
Dr Katherine Dix brings diverse experience in project managing and evaluating national education programs that embed mental health promotion. She previously directed the national Be You Evaluation 2018-2021 and is currently conducting its next evaluation. She has undertaken investigations into persistent absenteeism and completed international reviews for VicHealth and UNICEF into effective programs that promote student mental health and wellbeing. Her earlier work into early-career teacher development and current work as National Project Manager for the OECD Teaching and Learning International Study TALIS 2024, are broadening her interests into the educator wellbeing and teaching workforce space.
Jina Tanton
Beyond Blue
Initial outcomes and impact of Be You, Australia’s National Mental Health in Education Initiative
Abstract
Be You is Australia’s national mental health in education initiative delivered by Beyond Blue, in collaboration with Early Childhood Australia and headspace. Developed in response to ongoing national concern about the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, Be You equips educators to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people from birth to 18 years, providing a whole of learning community approach for early learning services, primary schools, and secondary schools across Australia.
The proposed presentation will share initial insights with regards to the outcomes and impact of Be You on Educators, and Children and Young People, including educator knowledge and confidence, the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people and academic attainment, and will discuss key learnings identified through undertaking an independent evaluation of the Be You initiative involving evidence gathered from over 6000 participating educators across Australia.
Key Learnings
Early evidence indicates
1. Be You is increasing the mental health knowledge and competence of Australian educators to promote resilience and support mental health and wellbeing in children and young people.
2. Be You is supporting whole learning communities to embrace and build capacity around delivering evidence-based mental health promotion, early intervention, and postvention support.
3. Highly engaged Be You learning communities and individual educators are making a difference to student wellbeing and academic outcomes.
The proposed presentation will share initial insights with regards to the outcomes and impact of Be You on Educators, and Children and Young People, including educator knowledge and confidence, the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people and academic attainment, and will discuss key learnings identified through undertaking an independent evaluation of the Be You initiative involving evidence gathered from over 6000 participating educators across Australia.
Key Learnings
Early evidence indicates
1. Be You is increasing the mental health knowledge and competence of Australian educators to promote resilience and support mental health and wellbeing in children and young people.
2. Be You is supporting whole learning communities to embrace and build capacity around delivering evidence-based mental health promotion, early intervention, and postvention support.
3. Highly engaged Be You learning communities and individual educators are making a difference to student wellbeing and academic outcomes.
Biography
Dr Jina Tanton completed her PhD, a longitudinal study examining the prevalence and clustering of lifestyle risk factors including stress and worry in British university students in September 2021. Alongside completing her PhD, Jina developed, delivered, and evaluated several evidence informed physical activity-based health and wellbeing initiatives in a university setting.
