By YASEMIN TALAT
Two mothers are taking things into their own hands and working toward a positive change for the future.
Lisa Taggart and Janelle Everitt are putting forward a positive learning initiative to all western suburbs schools.
Ms Taggart said Positive Education needs to be part of every school’s curriculum.
“We think that wellbeing is just as important if not more important than the academic side because if you don’t know who you are, you don’t know where you’re going or what decisions to make when you get there,” she said.
The positive education program aims to help prevent mental health issues within teenagers by proactively increasing mental resilience and wellbeing.
“It’s not about a cure it’s about prevention,” Ms Taggart said.
“It is about equipping our children with life skills because at school they focus on getting them ready for work but they don’t focus on life,” she said.
“The stats are there, that’s why we see the connection, so let’s prevent it, we can’t cure depression, we can’t cure bullying it’s going to happen but let’s equip our kids, let’s give them some armour,” she said.
“Our ultimate objective is to see this as part of every school in the western suburbs by the time our children reach high school,” she said.
Ms Taggart is promoting SenseAbility, a free program for all schools developed by Beyond Blue Australia.
The passionate pair of mothers have created the Western Region Positive Education Group and are inviting all parents, guardians and teachers to join.
The first meeting will be held at the Prince Albert Hotel, Williamstown on Thursday 2 May at 7.30pm. For more information contact Lisa 0418 197 200 or Janelle 0422 203 734.
