Dry July!

It’s Dry July!

Many Australians are forgoing alcohol this month to support fundraising for cancer support services. This is a great cause and we encourage everyone to get involved. In addition to events like Dry July, we also recommend more consistenly cutting back alcohol intake by having AFDs (alcohol free days). These can be benefical for both your physical and mental health.

Check out the infographic below to find out more about these benefits!

NAIDOC Week!

It’s NAIDOC Week – July 7-14 2024!

NAIDOC celebrations are held around Australia each July to celebrate the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Well Minds Work acknowledge we have alot to learn is this space, and are committed to growing our understanding of the traditions, culture and experiences of the Palawa people here in Lutruwita.

The week is celebrated not just in the First Nations communities but also in increasing numbers of government agencies, schools, local councils and workplaces.

Have a think about how your workplace can celebrate NAIDOC week this year!

For some ideas check out the link below: https://www.naidoc.org.au/local-events/plan-your-own-event

Sleep Hygiene

“Sleep hygiene” refers to healthy habits, behaviours and environmental factors that can be adjusted to help you have a good night’s sleep.

Lifestyle factors such as doing too many stimulating activities close to bed (work, content consumption), consuming excessive caffeine or alcohol, low physical activity and excessively busy schedules pose a risk to obtaining adequate sleep.

Some sleeping problems can be caused by bad sleep habits reinforced over years or even decades. Therefore keeping these sleep habits up can help prevent the onset of common sleep problems such as insomnia which is reported in around 20% of Australians (AHIW). If you do develop sleep problems, you may need more targeted support.

If you are interested in some of these targeted strategies to address sleep problems get in touch with Well Minds Work at [email protected] to find out about Sleep Workshops!

Fostering Independence

Well Minds Work get a lot of questions asking how to support children who have anxious temperaments or who may be apprehensive about trying new things.

First of all, it is normal for children to have some anxiety when trying new things! New is scary, as we don’t know what will happen next.

When it comes to our little people, having a safe-base (in us as the adults) and supporting them to be “brave” and try new activities can be so helpful in fostering developmentally appropriate independence. Whether this be encouraging and watching them engage with new play equipment, to attending school, making a new friend or starting a new sport or recreational activity.

When it come to fostering independence we need to support children to try things (when they’re ready) and provide validation for their efforts, encouragement for future attempts and reassurance we will be there for support if they don’t get it quite right the first time.

If you would like to know more about Well Minds Work and the workshops we have on offer please feel free to get in touch at [email protected]

Well Minds Work in Focus – TAVRP Annual Dark Side of Rehab Symposium

A couple of weeks ago Well Minds Work were privileged to be invited to present again at the annual Tasmanian Association of Vocational Rehab Providers Symposium – The Dark Side of Rehab.

Em and Jess covered The Big T – Tips for Tacking Trauma as a Rehabilitation Provider, where we looked at signs, symptoms and causes of trauma as well interactive activities focused on trauma informed approaches.

As always we had a a excellent time listening to the many other knowledgeable speakers on the day and were overwhelmed with the participation from Tassie rehab providers across the state. Looking forward to hopefully coming along next year!

National Reconciliation Week

Now More Than Ever!

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia.

The National Reconciliation Week theme for 2024, Now More Than Ever, is a reminder to all of us that no matter what, the fight for justice and the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people will —and must —continue.

Well Minds Work joined Reconciliation Australia at the annual reconciliation week breakfast this morning to show support for the ongoing work which must be done

International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination!

Today is the International Day Against LGBTQIA+ Discrimination!

May 17 marks the date in 1990 that homosexuality was removed from the WHO Classification of Diseases. While Well Minds Work celebrate this milestone and other advancements in LGBTQIA+ equality, the unfortunate reality is that there’s still more work to do!

Check out https://www.idahobit.org.au/ to find out more about how you can be a champion and support the LGBTQIA+ community and the impact of discrimination.

End Violence Against Women

Recently there has been much conversation regarding violence against women, both in the media and in the community. This topic can be uncomfortable, but it is important that we all work together towards reducing the occurrance and impact of this violence.

If you want to learn more, or access support for yourself or someone else, here are some good places to start:
– 1800RESPECT: https://www.1800respect.org.au/
– White Ribbon Australia: https://www.whiteribbon.org.au/
– ReachOut: https://au.reachout.com/challenges-and-coping/abuse-and-violence
– Engender Equality: https://engenderequality.org.au/

depression

Well Minds Work Workshop in Focus – Lady Gowrie

Over the past month Well Minds Work has been completing a series of workshops across Tasmania for Lady Gowrie. These were focused on managing anxiety in children from birth to 12 years old. We were delighted with the knowledge, participation, and enthusiasm by childhood educators and inclusion professionals attending the sessions. Some of the key takeaways for participants were learning what anxiety looks like and how to manage it, as well as where and when to get more support. The UTAS University Psychology Clinic provides low cost therapy and assessment services for children and their families. You can learn more about these services here: https://www.utas.edu.au/health/community-programs/university-psychology-clinic ??‍?‍?‍?

The below image is a snapshot of an article to be included in Lady Gowrie’s upcoming newsletter! ?