Raising Learners

When you’re active in your school community, your child gets many academic and social benefits. Being active at school is also good for you.It gives you the chance to contribute to the school and meet other parents in your local area. In this episode of Raising Learners, Professor Julie Green talks with Gail McHardy, Executive Officer of Parents Victoria, about how you can be engaged at school. Parents Victoria is a state-wide democratic organisation representing parents of students in Victorian government schools.

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Missing a day of school every now and then is normal. But sometimes children and teenagers become disconnected from learning. They might even avoid school or refuse to go. It can be a serious issue. In this episode of Raising Learners, Genevieve Higgins, head of the Jesuit Social Services’ Navigator program, joins Professor Julie Green. They discuss how parents and schools can work together to help children and young people reengage and reconnect with school and learning environments.

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• School refusal: children 5-8 years
• Truancy and school refusal: 9-15 years
• School problems: helping children 9-15 years
• Anxiety at school: autistic children and teenagers
• Talking about school
• Building a relationship with your child’s school
• Problem-solving strategies for parents and teachers
• Communication with school: autistic teenagers

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• Victorian Department of Education and Training

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Supporting your child’s social and emotional development is an important part of being a parent. It’s also an important part of school and learning for children. In this episode of Raising Learners Vikki Ryall, Executive Director, Clinical Practice at Headspace and Mary Sayers, CEO Children and Young people with Disability Australia join Derek McCormack to discuss what’s important for social and emotional development at different ages and stage and how parents can play a supportive role with that development.

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• Emotions and play: school-age children
• Social and emotional changes: 9-15 years
• Autism: social & emotional development
• School-age: development tracker
• Pre-teen development: what to expect
• Teenage development: what to expect
• School-age friendships: how to support them
• Teenage friends and friendships
• Friends and peers: autistic children and teenagers

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• Victorian Department of Education and Training

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Aboriginal perspectives are increasingly reflected in today’s education system. This is good for Koorie children, and good for all children too. In this episode of Raising Learners, Gunditjmara man Mark Rose speaks with Julie Green about ways Aboriginal parents and kinship carers can get involved with their children’s education and support their dreams.

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• Building a relationship with your child’s school
• Working with teachers and schools

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• Victorian Department of Education and Training
• Victorian Aboriginal Education Association
• Victorian Aboriginal Education Association – Koorie Academy of Excellence
• Victorian Aboriginal Education Association – Launch: Koorie Outreach Support Program
• Alpine School Campus

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Adolescence is a time of major development inside the teenage brain. And changes in the brain drive changes in teenage emotions, thinking and behaviour, including the desire for more independence. If you feel that you’re less important to your child now, it might help to know that your child needs your love and support to navigate changes in adolescence and grow a healthy brain. In this episode of Raising Learners, David Collins and Colette Davis join host Derek McCormack to explore these issues.

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• Brain development: teenagers
• Social and emotional changes: 9-15 years
• Independence in teenagers: how to support it
• Staying connected: you and your teenage child
• Relationships with parents and families: why teenagers need them

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• Victorian Department of Education and Training

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Children with disability can get a range of support for their primary school education. You can help your child get the most out of school by working closely with the school on support options and adjustments that will suit your child. In this episode of Raising Learners, Dr Tim Moore from the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and Dr Kerry Bull from Noah’s Ark join Julie Green to talk about how to make it happen. 

For more information on the topics discussed in this episode visit: raisingchildren.net.au 
education.vic.gov.au 
acd.org.au 
cyda.org.au

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You can support your child to learn well by focusing on their strengths, making the most of everyday learning opportunities and activities, and working with them to set achievable learning goals. In this episode of Raising Learners, Professor Harriet Hiscock and primary school principal Hayley Doyle join Professor Julie Green to discuss these and other techniques that can help your child learn and thrive. 

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• Learning: primary and secondary school years
• Literacy activities for children
• Learning maths at school
• About gifted and talented children and teenagers
• Activity guides

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• Victorian Department of Education and Training

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Autistic children often do well with routine, structure and predictability. But family life can sometimes involve changes in routine and unexpected events. In this episode of Raising Learners, I CAN Network’s Chris Varney talks with Julie Green about how parents can help their autistic children through change. They also discuss how autistic children’s interests and strengths can be a great basis for connecting with others.

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• Changing routines: children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder
• Family life with autistic children
• Friends and peers: children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder
• Healthy school relationships: children and teenagers with autism spectrum disorder
• Thinking and learning strengths in children with autism spectrum disorder

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• Victorian Department of Education and Training
• I CAN Network
• I CAN Network – Awetism 2020
• Amaze
• MyTime

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Good mental health is key to children’s overall development. It’s also very important in helping children and adults adapt to change and deal with life’s challenges. You can promote mental health in your family with positive relationships, a healthy lifestyle and more. In this episode of Raising Learners, psychologist Meredith Rayner and Derek McCormack discuss different strategies for building family mental health, wellbeing and resilience, especially when times are tough.

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• Good mental health for children: 3-8 years
• Pre-teen and teenage mental health

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• Victorian Department of Education and Training
• Beyond Blue
• Smiling Mind

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Did you know that boredom can be good for children? When children are bored, they’re forced to use their problem-solving skills, creative thinking and imagination to play. In this episode of Raising Learners, play specialist Cat Sewell joins Professor Julie Green to discuss creative ways to turn boredom into an opportunity for exploration, connection and learning.

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• Boredom: how it helps children’s play and development
• Why play is important
• Free time to play: why it's important for children
• Imagining, creating and play: school-age children

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• Victorian Department of Education and Training

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