The UNE Residential System ran its annual student leaders’ training program last week. The conference style program involved 112 selected and popularly elected student leaders from each of the UNE Residential System’s colleges – Austin, Duval, Earle Page, Mary White, Robb and Wright College & Village.
The training program had a strong focus on primary prevention and followed the Residential System’s ‘Three Pillars’ for safe and healthy college environments:
- Respectful Relationships
- Responsible Consumption of Alcohol and Zero Tolerance of Illegal Drugs
- Mental Health and Wellbeing
UNE Residential System Director, Mr Ashwin Bhutani noted that the training drew further upon the findings and recommendations handed down by The Australian Human Rights Commission report ‘Change the Course: National Report on Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment at Australian Universities (2017)’.
“An important objective of the training is to resource our student leaders with the knowledge, skills and confidence to positively influence their peers during a time of major change from high school to adulthood,” said Mr Bhutani. This training is imperative as research shows young adults are reporting significant levels of psychological distress during such major transitions, as recently highlighted by the Australian youth organisation headspace.
Key leadership training topics covered over the 11 day program:
- Mental Health First Aid Training
- Physical First Aid Training
- Alcohol and other Drug Education
- Student Wellbeing: Diet, Exercise and Sleep
- Presentations addressing aspects of community living in a residential system:
- Leadership attributes and skills
- Sexual consent, harassment and assault focusing on education and primary prevention
- Hazing awareness and primary prevention strategies
- Confidential reporting avenues for students impacted by negative behaviours
- Bystander intervention awareness and training
- Professional, free and confidential counselling services available to all students
- UNE Safety and Security Systems.
Academic support is an integral part of resources provided for college residents commencing university. The training program equips student academic leadership teams with some key tools required to assist first year students and the wider college community to study effectively.
“It is well recognised that training programs must be supported by ongoing education,” said Mr Bhutani. Heads of College will consult with their student leaders from early 2019 to ensure ongoing support and learning opportunities across the new academic year.
Mr Bhutani commended the 2018 leadership teams for their outstanding work over the past year and welcomed the newly appointed student leaders.
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