Dear Parents and Carers,

I am delighted to share some fantastic news and updates from across our school community.

Firstly, we are incredibly proud to announce that Yeronga State High School has been named the National Winner for Student Voice by the Australian Council for Student Voice. This is a wonderful recognition of our ongoing commitment to genuinely listening to and acting on student perspectives. Our students are at the heart of everything we do, and this award reflects the strength of their voices and the inclusive culture we foster at Yeronga SHS.

A huge thank you and congratulations go to the nine Yeronga teams who took on and completed the Kokoda Challenge this year. This was a fantastic addition to our extracurricular calendar and a testament to our staff and students’ resilience, teamwork and dedication.

It’s also great to see such strong interest in our upcoming trips. Our 2026 Ski Trip has already reached full capacity, and we are now counting down the weeks until our Study Tour to Japan, which takes place in Week 10 of this term. These experiences provide our students with valuable opportunities to explore the world and grow as global citizens.

As we enter the middle of term, students are also approaching a busy assessment period. We encourage all students to stay focused, manage their time well, and reach out for support when needed.

Congratulations to all students who participated in our recent Athletics Carnival – it was a fantastic day of school spirit and healthy competition. A special congratulations to Avoca for taking out the win!

Finally, a reminder as the weather cools that students are expected to wear the approved Yeronga SHS winter uniform. Please ensure your child is wearing the correct uniform items each day – this helps maintain a sense of pride and belonging in our school.

Thank you for your continued support.

As Term 2 draws to a close, it’s a perfect moment to pause, reflect and celebrate the growth and achievements of our Year 7 and 8 students here at Yeronga State High School. From engaging classroom learning to co-curricular experiences and a strong sense of connection to the wider school community, our junior secondary students have embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm and resilience.

Term 2 Wrap-Up: A Season of Growth and Engagement

Term 2 has been filled with energy, curiosity, and connection.

Year 7 students, having now settled into secondary school life, have shown great progress in their learning routines, organisation, and personal development. This term, they’ve been supported through targeted pastoral care lessons focusing on developing positive relationships, time management, and emotional regulation.

Our Year 8 students have taken on increased responsibility as they’ve built on last year’s foundations. Many have stepped into leadership roles across classrooms, sporting teams, and lunchtime activities. Their growing maturity has been evident in how they contribute to classroom discussions, collaborate in group tasks, and support their peers.

Looking Ahead to Semester 2: Opportunity and Celebration

Term 3 is traditionally a busy and exciting term, and our junior students can look forward to a range of activities that continue to strengthen their academic and personal growth.

Key Events & Dates:

• Term 3 Begins: Monday 8 July
  Students should return ready to learn, with fully stocked pencil cases, charged laptops, and a mindset focused on striving for personal best.
• Year 7 & 8 Parent-Teacher Interviews: Early in the term (dates to be confirmed), parents and carers will be invited to meet with teachers to discuss academic progress, celebrate successes, and identify strategies for continued improvement.
• Royal Queensland Show (Ekka) Public Holiday: Tuesday 12 August
  This mid-term break provides a great opportunity for students to rest and reset before the second half of the term.
• Student Leadership Opportunities: We will begin the process of identifying potential leaders for Year 8 into Year 9 roles. Students will be encouraged to step up and show how they live our school values of Respect, Responsibility and Resilience in daily life.
• Yeronga Celebrates is a vibrant and inclusive event that brings our school community together to honour the rich diversity, talents, and cultural heritage of our students. Held annually, this signature celebration showcases student-led performances, art displays, food stalls, and cultural presentations that reflect the many identities within our school. For our Year 7 and 8 students, it’s a joyful opportunity to share their backgrounds, learn from others, and build a stronger sense of belonging and pride in the Yeronga SHS community. The event is a powerful reminder of our shared values—respect, inclusion, and unity—and is a highlight of the school calendar.

We’re incredibly proud of the way our Year 7 and 8 students have embraced their learning and contributed to the life of Yeronga SHS. Term 3 brings new opportunities for connection, celebration, and continued development—both in and outside the classroom.

We thank all parents and carers for your continued partnership and look forward to an engaging and successful Term 3.

Year 10 – Careers and Senior Education and Training Planning (SET planning)

Key dates in Terms 2 and 3 for SET PLANNING – What has already happened and what is coming up in the near future.

Wednesday 14 May: Parent information session – Pathways, QCE, ATAR

Tuesday 3, Tuesday 10 and Tuesday 17 June:   HODs Subject talks about 2026 Subjects.

Term 2 Week 9 – A forms survey will be emailed to all Year 10 students to they can indicate the subjects they would like to study.  Students must consider their pathway and select subjects that they have demonstrated they can achieve success.

Term 3 Week 1: Subject Selection lines confirmed for students to select their 4 electives and 2 back up preferences in the OneSchool SET planning tool.  Students will need to select their Pathway, ensure that they meet the pre-requisite knowledge through demonstrated ability in subjects in Year 10. 

Term 3 Week 2: Student complete their SET planning presentation documenting their strengths, acknowledging their past and present performance through their Track Ed profile, documenting their pathway portfolio from their One School SET plan and their preferred subjects for 2026.

Term 3 Week 3:
Thursday 31 July:  SET planning day.  Parents and Carers will have an appointment with your child and their LA Teacher / School Leader where they will present their SET Planning presentation indicating preferences.  These should consider the Pre-requisite subjects for courses they wish to pursue in Tertiary Study, or skills and Vocational qualifications that will prepare them for further training and employment.  Invitations to book times for these interviews will be sent out at the same time as Semester 1 reporting.

QTAC Applications for 2026

The 2026 QTAC Guide is now available on the QTAC website. We are incredibly proud to share that the cover design was created by our very own talented Year 12 student, Sally—a wonderful recognition of her creativity and hard work!

This edition marks the final printed version of the QTAC Guide, as QTAC will transition to a fully digital format from 2027.

QTAC applications officially open on Tuesday, 5 August. Students are reminded not to submit their application until they have had a meeting with their allocated QTAC support staff member at school. The Guidance Team will be in touch to coordinate these appointments.

Important QTAC Application Fees:

• Early Bird Fee (before 1 October): $70

• Standard Fee (after 1 October): $150

We strongly encourage students to finalise their applications before 1 October to avoid the higher fee.

Link and Launch – Post-School Support

At Yeronga SHS, we understand that every student’s journey after school is different. Some will step confidently into their next chapter, while others may take a little longer to find the right path—and that’s perfectly okay.

To support our graduates, we’re fortunate to have Serena Camilleri, our dedicated Link and Launch Officer, based at the school. Serena works with young people who have completed Year 12 but are not yet engaged in work, training, or further study.

Later this year (Terms 3 and 4), Serena will speak with our current Year 12 students to introduce the Link and Launch Program and the personalised support available through it.

Assessment Expectations

As we approach the assessment period, students and parents/carers are reminded of the expectations outlined in the YSHS Assessment Policy. Senior students are expected to:

• Actively engage in learning for each subject or course

• Demonstrate academic integrity by submitting work that is their own

• Submit assessment tasks by the required checkpoints and due dates

Extensions and Absences – Year 11 & 12

If students are absent due to illness, emergency, or misadventure and need to request an extension or change in assessment dates, the following procedures must be followed:

1. Discuss the absence with one of the following staff:

• Guidance Officer

• Head of Special Education Services

• Deputy Principal – Senior School

• YSHS AARA – Confidential Student Statement

• Supporting documents such as the QCAA Confidential Medical Report signed by a registered medical practitioner, a police report, etc.

Important: Medical certificates must clearly state the reason for absence (e.g., cold, fever). Certificates that simply say “unfit to attend school” are not sufficient.

For planned absences such as sport, cultural commitments, or travel does not meet AARA requirements. For more details, please refer to the QCAA website.

Queensland Philanthrophy Awards

On Friday, I had the privilege of accompanying a group of our First Nations students to the Queensland Philanthropy Awards at Brisbane City Hall — an inspiring event that celebrated generosity, resilience, and the power of giving back.

The day began with a warm and engaging ice-breaker activity, where students connected with others from across the state. They then wrote heartfelt cards for families in need, demonstrating empathy and compassion through their words. One of the most meaningful moments came when each student made a personal philanthropy pledge — a powerful act that encouraged them to reflect on how they can contribute positively to their communities now and into the future.

The event featured incredible guest speakers, including Olympic gold medallist Natalie Cook and decorated Paralympian Curtis McGrath, who shared moving stories of perseverance, purpose, and the importance of giving back. Acclaimed author Trent Dalton, in conversation with Christina Ahern, offered a heartfelt account of how acts of philanthropy helped shape his life and lift up his family during difficult times.

It was a truly memorable day — one that inspired students to think deeply about leadership, kindness, and the impact of their actions. We are so proud of the way our students represented themselves, our school, and their communities.

Reconciliation Week

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of accompanying four of our First Nations students to Milpera State High School for a powerful day of cultural exchange and connection.

The experience was centred on fostering understanding, respect, and empathy among students from diverse backgrounds. Sharing stories of culture, identity, and history is a vital step in building strong, positive relationships between different groups of people — and this day exemplified that beautifully.

Our students had the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations with peers from countries including China, Iran, Afghanistan, Vietnam, Eritrea, and many others. Through respectful dialogue, they explored each other's cultural perspectives, traditions, and lived experiences. These interactions were rich and thought-provoking, helping to build bridges of understanding and a shared sense of community.

The pride and confidence shown by our First Nations students as they spoke about their heritage was inspiring, and the curiosity and open-mindedness of everyone involved made for a truly uplifting and educational experience.

It was a reminder that when we take the time to listen, learn, and connect, we create the foundations for a more inclusive and harmonious future. A big thank you to Milpera SHS for hosting such a meaningful event.

Under 8s Days

Throughout May, our Year 7 students had the wonderful opportunity to attend Under 8s Day celebrations at Yeronga State School, Junction Park State School, and Salisbury State School.

These visits were more than just a fun day out — they were a chance for our students to reconnect with their former primary schools, engage with younger children, and give back to the communities that helped shape their early learning journeys.

Our Year 7s assisted with activities, games, and story time, acting as positive role models for the younger students. It was heartwarming to see them step into leadership roles, showing patience, kindness, and enthusiasm as they supported the day’s events. For many, it was a full-circle moment — returning to familiar playgrounds and classrooms, now as mentors and role models.

Under 8s Day is a celebration of early childhood, but it also highlights the importance of community, connection, and continuity in education. We are incredibly proud of how our students represented Yeronga State High School and the maturity and care they demonstrated throughout each visit.

Hello everyone.

The next P and C (Parents and Citizens) meeting will be on Monday, 23 June 2025. This will be an online-only meeting. Everyone is welcome, and we will be discussing many items, including the upcoming trivia night on Saturday, 2August, and Yeronga Celebrates on Friday, 15August. If you cannot attend the meeting but would like to become a member, please complete the membership form and return it to pandcyshs@email.com

YSHS P&C Membership Form

Get Involved, Make a Difference: Join the Yeronga SHS P&C

1. Be Actively Involved in Your Child’s Education

Joining the P&C gives you a direct connection to the school community and allows you to stay informed and engaged in your child’s learning environment.

2. Help Shape School Decisions

Members have a voice in key decisions about school policies, priorities, and funding that impact students, staff, and families.

3. Build a Stronger School Community

The P&C helps foster a sense of community among families, students, and staff. It’s a great way to meet other parents and work together toward common goals.

4. Support School Improvements

Through fundraising and advocacy, the P&C contributes to facilities upgrades, classroom resources, and extracurricular opportunities that directly benefit students.

5. Flexible Involvement – Contribute as Much or as Little as You Like

There’s no need for a big time commitment. Whether you attend a meeting, help at one event, or just stay informed—every bit of involvement helps and is appreciated.

6. Make a Meaningful Contribution

Your time and input can make a genuine difference. By getting involved, you’re helping to create a positive and inclusive school culture for all Yeronga SHS students.

STATIONERY STASH: Donations needed now please

STATIONERY STASH IS HERE

What is the Stationery Stash?: It is a trolley containing donated new or lightly used, good quality stationery supplies - for all students and staff to use as needed.

Donations needed year-round please

(only donate new or good quality slightly used items please)

Donation boxes are near Student Hub and at Admin reception

Items needed/ available:

• Exercise books
• Grid books
• Visual Art diaries
• Pencils (lead and coloured)
• Pens (ballpoint in red, blue and black)
• Highlighter pens
• Erasers, sharpeners, coloured textas
• Whiteboard markers
• Calculators
• Rulers
• Pencil cases

Where: Outside Ms Haswell-Smith’s office near the Student Hub

When:  Monday to Friday during school hours

Why:  Some families struggle with the cost of book lists each year, while other families end up with an excess of stationery that may end up being recycled or dumped when it still has a lot of life left. It’s a win-win for these items to be donated and used as support for YSHS students & staff plus the environmental benefits of less going to landfill.

• Students may occasionally forget to bring an exercise book, or their pen runs out, and they can then quickly grab one from the Stationery Stash to use that day and have less disruption to learning
• New students may arrive with little to no stationery and can quickly get the essentials to avoid barriers to settling in and learning

Who: run by parent volunteers and SRC students with Ms Haswell-Smith

Please contact Jae (Olly P’s mum) if you have any questions jspinaze47@gmail.com

Soooooo – please check at home for stationery that needs a new home and let’s get the YSHS Stationery Stash up and running for everyone!

Considering a new ride or know someone who is? Exciting news! Yeronga SHS P&C is now a proud partner in a Community Program with Motorama Toyota Moorooka. When you purchase a vehicle and present our referral voucher, Yeronga SHS P&C receives $300 upon completion of the sale. Email us at PandCExecutiveTeam@yerongashs.eq.edu.au for more info. Your support drives our school forward!

Year 7 HPE – Serving Up Skills in Volleyball

This term, Year 7 students have been developing their volleyball skills through a practical unit focused on movement, teamwork, and respect. As part of their assessment preparation, students completed a peer feedback activity using a checklist to reflect on skill execution, collaboration, and behaviour on the court. It’s been great to see students encouraging each other and showing real improvement in their gameplay.

Year 11 Recreation – Emerging Trends in Action!

As part of their Emerging Trends unit, Year 11 Recreation students planned and ran a Speed Climbing Competition for a Year 7 HPE class. Each student took on a specific role—such as safety officer, event MC, timer, judge, or set-up crew—gaining hands-on experience in leadership and event organisation. The event was a fun and active way to engage younger students while showcasing senior student initiative.

Year 11 Hospitality – Brewing New Skills

Year 11 Certificate II in Hospitality students recently took part in a Coffee Making Incursion as part of their practical assessment. Each student was tasked with preparing six different types of coffee, developing their barista skills in a real-world setting. Plenty of teachers lined up to support—and get their caffeine fix—making it a valuable and rewarding experience for all involved.

Korean Study Tour – Aussie Cooking Masterclass

We were excited to welcome the Korean Study Tour students into our Food & Fibre kitchens for a hands-on Aussie cooking masterclass. Students prepared a classic two-course meal of egg and bacon pies followed by pavlova. The experience was full of laughter, learning, and delicious results—an excellent cultural exchange through food!

On Saturday 7 June, Yeronga State High School proudly took part in the 2025 Kokoda Challenge for the first time. Eight dedicated teams took on the gruelling elevation of D'Aguilar National Park, with seven teams conquering the 30km course and one team bravely tackling the 48km route. After seven weeks of training, planning, and fundraising, every student (and teacher) who started the challenge crossed the finish line, their faces beaming with a mixture of pride, exhaustion, and relief. Our 8 teams collectively raise just shy of $10,000 for the Kokoda Youth Foundation, contributing to life-changing youth programs across Australia. This remarkable achievement not only highlights the dedication and resilience of our students but also the strength and unity of the Yeronga State High School community. A special shoutout to Reuven Pe’er ($1,419) and Thomas Ferguson ($1,195) for coming second and third respectively for their fundraising efforts out of 519 participants.

A heartfelt thank you to all involved—students, parents, and our amazing teachers—for their unwavering support and commitment to providing our students with such positive and rewarding experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime. We are looking forward to being part of the Kokoda Challenge again in 2026!

Some of Yeronga’s Year 11 and 12 Screen and Media students attended the Bond University and Essential Screen Skills Student Conference at the Gold Coast.  This was a jam-packed day of workshops and career presentations giving insights into the current and future trends within Screen and Media in South East Queensland.  For a day, we stepped into the world of professional Film and TV making and heard from industry experts like the screenwriter and director of The Inbetweeners and Head of Film, Television and Creative Media Dr Darren Paul Fisher. We heard the journey behind Logi winning producer of Google box, ABC’s Storytime and many more Natasha Pizzica and explored the future of technology with Founder and CEO of Myriad Studios Duncan Jones plus so much more.

In Term 2, students in ENG081A brought poetry to life—literally—by transforming stanzas into strategy and figurative language into fun.As part of our My Place unit, students worked in collaborative groups to deepen their understanding of poetic forms, devices, and famous poets.

Each group was challenged to research, design, and create an original game. The result? A creative collection of board games, card games, and digital showdowns that tested players’ ability to recall definitions, analyse language features, and apply poetic devices in spontaneous and meaningful ways.

Once complete, we held a class-wide game rotation so every student had the chance to play each group’s creation. This hands-on experience was not only full of laughter and lively debate, but also cemented students’ understanding in preparation for their culminating multimodal assessment: a poetic justification based on an original poem.

Ms Marshman was incredibly proud of the enthusiastic engagement and creative thinking demonstrated by her students. It was a wonderful way to synthesise knowledge and build confidence before diving into their own poetic expression.

We are proud to announce that Yeronga State High School has won the Australian Council for Student Voice – Student Impact Award for 2025! This prestigious national recognition celebrates the outstanding efforts of our students in creating meaningful change through leadership, advocacy, and action.

Our win reflects years of intentional work to elevate student voice at Yeronga—from schoolwide student summits tackling racism, gender equity, and school policy, to powerful initiatives like the Horizon Women’s Hub, where students co-design programs that address the real-world challenges faced by young women in our community.

The award also recognises how our students have not only contributed ideas but driven action—leading peer education sessions, influencing school policies, and creating inclusive spaces where every student feels heard, valued, and empowered.

This achievement belongs to every student who has spoken up, stepped forward, and shown what’s possible when young people are given the platform to lead.

Congratulations to all our student leaders, facilitators, and supporters—your impact is real, and now, it’s nationally recognised!

This term, Yeronga SHS student leaders—alongside passionate future leaders—have begun an exciting partnership with global citizenship educator Lottie Dowling from Inspire Citizens. This collaboration is part of the Melbourne Graduate School of Education’s New Metrics for Success initiative, which focuses on redefining student achievement through real-world impact, wellbeing, and active citizenship.

Through a series of workshops running from now until our Yeronga Celebrates event, students will develop their active citizenship skills—including collaboration, empathy, ethical decision-making, and civic agency. With Lottie’s expert facilitation, students are working through the process of identifying local and global issues that matter to them, planning meaningful actions, and preparing to showcase their voice and vision as part of this year’s Yeronga Celebrates.

This initiative reinforces our belief that student voice is not just heard at Yeronga—it drives change. The work being done now will not only elevate a powerful student-led presence at Yeronga Celebrates but will also serve as a model for embedding student impact into our school culture year-round.

Stay tuned as our student changemakers continue to grow, lead, and inspire.

A big thank you to everyone who supported our Mother’s Day Stall, proudly run by the Yeronga SHS Interact Club. With your help, we raised $118, which will go to a women's outreach centre.

We’re especially grateful to the generous students, families, and staff who donated items and helped run the stall. Your contributions made it possible for many students to pick up something special for the important women in their lives—while also supporting a good cause.

Thank you for helping us celebrate kindness, gratitude, and community spirit.

Strengthening Reading in Year 9 History

At Yeronga SHS, we’re passionate about ensuring every student has the literacy tools they need to succeed, not just in English, but across all subjects. As part of the Department of Education’s Reading Through the Curriculum (RTTC) priority, we’ve been working closely with teachers to strengthen students' reading and thinking in subjects like Health and Physical Education, and now, Humanities.

This term, our focus turned to Year 9 History, where students are exploring the causes, experiences, and impacts of World War I. In partnership with Humanities teacher Michael Kowalczyk, we’ve co-planned and co-taught a series of lessons that help students read, analyse, and write like young historians.

A key part of this work involved helping students develop strong historical hypotheses — educated guesses or arguments based on their inquiry questions. To support this, students worked through hands-on activities where they:

• Examined real examples of weak and strong hypotheses
• Learned the importance of using historical vocabulary and specific evidence
• Practised building their own arguments with guidance and support

This explicit approach made a considerable difference. Many students were able to turn simple facts into powerful, well-argued historical statements. For example, one student transformed:

Gas was used in World War I.
into:
The use of gas was significant in WWI as it impacted soldiers and forever changed the way battles were fought.

These lessons aren’t just building reading and writing skills, they’re also boosting confidence. Students were proud to speak, write, and think more like historians.

This work highlights the power of teacher collaboration, explicit instruction, and a shared focus on reading strategies that support learning across the curriculum.

To our wonderful parents and carers supporting learning at home, or for those simply curious about what’s happening in our classrooms, know that Yeronga SHS teachers are committed to building strong and critical readers, thinkers, and communicators across every subject.

Karen Caslin, Petrina Zagami, Lauren Askin

RTTC Leaders

Korean Study Group Visit – A Week of Cultural Exchange and Lasting Memories

In Week 6, our school had the pleasure of hosting a Korean Study Group as part of a vibrant cultural and educational exchange. The group, consisting of 20 students and 4 chaperones, joined us from Monday to Thursday and left with many memories that will last a lifetime—for both our Yeronga students and our overseas visitors.

The week began on Monday, 26 May, with the Korean students being paired with Yeronga student buddies. Together, they attended classes from Periods 2 to 4, offering the visiting students a first-hand look at daily school life in Australia.

From Tuesday to Thursday, the group participated in a series of personalised VET experience classes, showcasing the strengths of our vocational education offerings:

• Tuesday: VET Cookery with Michelle Hoffman
• Wednesday: VET STEM and Engineering with Karl McIntyre, Susan Gilchrist, Alice Kulbat, and Angel Fitzpatrick
• Thursday: VET Business with Tim Hohenhaus

These sessions were not only informative but also highly engaging, giving the students practical experience and a deeper appreciation of the educational opportunities available at Yeronga.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all staff involved in planning and delivering these sessions. Your dedication, warmth, and enthusiasm ensured the success of the program and made our visitors feel truly welcome.

The visit was a resounding success—enriching for our guests and inspiring for our students. Thank you to everyone who helped make this cultural exchange such a memorable experience.

Please email our Enrolment Officer at enrolments@yerongashs.eq.edu.au if you have any questions.

For enrolment interviews, please bring:

• Your child that is being enrolled
• Birth certificate/passport/travel documents
• Most recent school report card/NAPLAN reports
• Enrolment application documents

To watch the Yeronga State High Video, please click the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxI0tsaM6Ss&t=2s

To watch Y Yeronga (Why Yeronga Video) please click on the link below

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYNam89UzIY

Thank you.

We’re thrilled to share that the Yeronga Stationery Stash has become an essential part of student life at our school. Quietly available in the Hub each day, it ensures that no student misses out on learning because they’ve forgotten or can’t access basic school supplies.

Thanks to the generous donations from our community, the stash is well-used and deeply appreciated. Every day, students drop by to collect pens, pencils, rulers, glue sticks, exercise books, and other classroom essentials—often just what they need to stay on track.

As demand continues to grow, we’re reaching out to ask for more donations to help us keep the shelves stocked. If you have any new or gently used stationery items, please consider donating them to the stash. Items in high demand include:

• Blue, black, and red pens

• Pencils and erasers

• Exercise books

• Highlighters

• Glue sticks

• Rulers and sharpeners

Donations can be dropped off at the school office at any time and outside my office at D29. Your small gesture can make a big difference.

Thank you for continuing to support our students in practical and powerful ways.

Name: Haruto Ito - Year 10

When did you arrive in Australia, and how long will you study here?

I arrived in Australia on 21 January, 2025, and I’m going to stay here until 6 December, 2025. I’m going to study here just one year.

Please tell me about your time with your host family.

My host family is made up with me, host mother, host father, and host brother. My host mother is Andrea. She is from Hungary, and she have lived in Australia for long years. She likes natures and motor bikes. She owns her motor bike which can run fast. My host father is Stuart. He is from the U.K. He likes boat very much, so last holiday, he took me to selling. My host brother is Arthur, he is from Brazil, and he is also a student of Yeronga SHS. Sometimes, my host sister comes to our house. She is Veronica. She studies legals at the university to be a doctor. Andrea and Stuart like natures and dancing very much. Last week, they took me to the mountain in Brisbane, and we visited coffee shop.

Men’s Mental Health Week – 2025
9th June – 15th June

Men’s Mental Health Week is an important reminder that mental health challenges affect everyone, regardless of gender. However, men are often less likely than women to seek help when they’re struggling. This is largely due to stigma and social expectations around masculinity, which can make it difficult to acknowledge when things aren’t going well—and even harder to reach out for support.

Social norms encouraging men to ‘tough it out’ can prevent open conversations about mental health. Unfortunately, this contributes to alarming statistics in Australia, including:

• Around 43% of Australian men will experience anxiety or depression at some point in their lives.
• Approximately 26% admit to delaying seeing a GP when they needed help.
  (Source: Beyond Blue — beyondblue.org.au)

Men’s Mental Health Week aims to change this by raising awareness, encouraging connection, and promoting the importance of seeking support. It’s a timely opportunity to check in with the men in our lives and remind them that looking after mental health is a sign of strength—not weakness.

Why is mental health important?

Your mental health is a vital part of your overall wellbeing. Good mental health helps you to:

• Manage life’s challenges and develop healthy coping strategies
• Build and maintain strong relationships
• Enjoy life to the fullest

Just like physical health, your mental health needs regular care and attention.

How can I improve my mental health?

There are practical steps you can take to support your mental wellbeing:

• Develop resilience: Learn to handle tough times with self-awareness and confidence.
• Stay engaged: Achieve small goals and participate in activities you enjoy.
• Build connections: Invest time in relationships to feel supported and energised.
• Stay active: Regular physical activity improves sleep, energy levels, and stress management.
• Prioritise sleep: Good quality sleep supports concentration and mood.
• Eat well: A balanced diet boosts energy, sleep quality, and focus.
• Reduce screen time and limit sugary or other addictive substances: This can help clear your mind and improve motivation.

If you’re trying these strategies but still finding it hard to cope, it’s important to seek professional support. Speaking with your GP is a good first step—they can develop a mental health plan and refer you to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or counsellor.

Where to find support

Many organisations offer mental health support and information via phone or online, which can be especially helpful if face-to-face support is difficult to access:

• Lifeline (crisis support): 13 11 14 or online chat
• MensLine Australia (counselling for men): 1300 78 99 78
• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467
• Australian Men’s Shed Association (AMSA): https://mensshed.org/ 
• Dads In Distress (peer support for separated dads): 1300 853 437
• Medicare Mental Health (advice and referrals): 1800 595 212
• SANE Australia (support for mental illness): 1800 187 263 or online chat
• Beyond Blue (men’s mental health resources): 1300 22 4636 or beyondblue.org.au
• MoodGYM (free online CBT program)
• 13YARN (support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people): 13 92 76
• Brother to Brother (crisis line for Aboriginal men): 1800 435 799
• Embrace Multicultural Mental Health (services for culturally diverse communities)
• Qlife (LGBTIQA+ counselling and referrals)
• The G’Day Line (support for older Australians): 1300 920 552

Remember, seeking help is a courageous and an important step towards maintaining your mental health.

Men's Health Week focuses on not just physical health, but also men's mental health and emotional wellbeing with this year's theme being 'Shoulder-to-Shoulder, Connecting for Health’.

It is an annual event that focuses on raising awareness about men’s health and to encourage them to prioritise their own wellbeing.

It is important for school communities to pause and reflect on our young men who attend our schools and to offer support if and when it is needed.

For more information, visit: Men's Health Week 2025 - AMHF - Australian Men's Health Forum

To make an appointment to see the nurse, students can:

Email: nurse.yeronga@health.qld.gov.au

Self-Refer via this link: School Based Youth Health Nurse - Young Person Self-Referral (Page 1 of 6) (office.com)

Visit your School Based Youth Health Nurse office on Tuesdays, located in F Block.

For more information, visit https://bit.ly/chqSBYHN

Esther
School Based Youth Health Nurse

The below link from the Black Dog Institute has fantastic free resources and tools that are practical for families and students.  There are apps, interactive websites and creative websites to boost resilience and handle everyday challenges.

https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-services/mental-fitness/

Navigating your post-school plans with confidence 

My Futures Webinar for parents – Wednesday 11 June @ 17:00-18:00 online

https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/8c72fab1-767a-4d19-9d9d-3f38ed509482@59db9cec-f888-461f-add2-60a613c46be5 

Griffith University – Game Design Workshop[ Monday 7 July to Friday 11 July (school holidays) 10am-4pm daily.  Griffith Fil School  - Dock St South Bank Campus.  Cost:$450. Lunch provided.  https://www.griffith.edu.au/arts-education-law/griffith-film-school/griffith-film-school-experience  for more information and registration go the link.

Tertiary Studies Expo – 19& 20 July Brisbane Showgrounds, Free Admission .  Information on tertiary courses , employment opportunites, scholarships., financial help and so much more.

What can you do if you don’t like your child’s friends?

This interesting article was shared to our Guidance Team by our Senior Secondary Deputy Prinicipal, Ms Truong, and I thought it is worth sharing with our Yeronga community.

Many parents will be familiar with this situation: your child has a good or even best friend, but you don’t like them.

Perhaps the friend is bossy, has poor manners or jumps on your furniture.

 Maybe you don’t like the way your child behaves when they are with this friend.

For older children, your dislike might relate to the friend’s language, attitude towards school, or risk-taking behaviours. Maybe the friend is hot and cold and elicits more drama than Mean Girls.

What can parents do?  https://theconversation.com/what-can-you-do-if-you-dont-like-your-childs-friends-257353 

From Monday 30 June, we’ll be introducing Brisbane’s New Bus Network including:​ 

• turn-up-and-go Brisbane Metro services running along the M1 (Eight Mile Plains to Roma Street) and M2 (UQ Lakes to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital) routes every 5 minutes, all-day and 24-hours on weekends​ 

• new bus routes, extended all-day services and improved service frequency in the suburbs.​ 

It will be the biggest uplift to the bus network in more than a decade and will change the way people travel in Brisbane.    

For students using the new bus network to get to and from your school, it may mean they now need to:  

• transfer as part of their journey  

• change where they get on and off  

• travel on a new route  

• use a different bus service  

• check their timetable for changes.  

We have outlined the urban and district (school) routes local to you and noted the changes starting from 30 June: 

Our research team from the University of Queensland is looking for children aged between 10 and 13 years to participate in our project.

We are interested in young people's perspective on screen time and would like to hear their thoughts and wishes for screentime use in everyday life as a young person.

If this sounds like something you’re interested in, please find more information in the flyer attached or follow the link to our website https://exp.psy.uq.edu.au/screentime/.

We would be happy to welcome you to the project.