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Bright Minds, Bright Futures: Enhancing Child and Adolescent Wellbeing Through Life-Long Learning

Bright Minds, Bright Futures: Enhancing Child and Adolescent Wellbeing Through Life-Long Learning

At Albany Senior High School (ASHS), while we are leaders in teaching and learning, we are also lifelong learners.

Just last week, ASHS kaimahi (staff) attended the Building Resilient Futures: Youth Mental Health Reimagined Child & Adolescent Mental Health (CAMH) Conference on the Gold Coast.

The conference brought together leading CAMH sector professionals, mental health practitioners, and dedicated leaders from Australia and Aotearoa for three days of in-depth kōrero and learning. Key topics ranged from school-based mental health strategies to the challenges faced by neurodivergent youth. The event also explored the lasting effects of trauma on young people, the intersection of mental health and disability, and the complex influence of technology and social media on youth well-being in today’s digital world.

(L-R: Christine Graham – Head of Department, Upskill, Emma Sentch – Senior Nurse,
Cristina Casey – Deputy Principal, Catherine Thomson – Senior Counsellor)


Cristina Casey, ASHS Deputy Principal, emphasizes the school’s commitment to student well-being and evidence-based practice. “The well-being of our students is a signature practice at ASHS, and we are continuously seeking to bring research into practice. By attending this conference as a team across our Well-Being Department, the Learning Support Department, and the Senior Leadership Team, we’ve come together to do some mighty good learning to better serve our students,” says Cristina.

Emma Sentch, Senior Nurse at ASHS, highlights the importance of continuous learning and collaboration in supporting student well-being – “Our young people face a number of challenges in a rapidly changing world, and at ASHS, our strong focus on student well-being is a strength. Participating in the CAMH25 conference has led to greater understanding of young people’s needs, reinforced the importance of our work in this area, and generated some exciting conversations about how we can continue to work together across our different departments to support our students.”

“Immersing ourselves in youth well-being across the many facets of our modern world has been beneficial for us to understand how we can better meet our ākonga’s needs. It has enabled us to work collaboratively within our respective school roles to consider how we can continue to support the growth and development of our young people,” reflects Catherine Tomson, Senior Counsellor at ASHS.

For Christine Graham, Head of Department for Upskill, being part of the team attending the CAMH Conference was an incredible opportunity to learn together. “Our learning and valuable discussions reinforced the importance of collaboration, a core value at ASHS. The insights from the conference will help us strengthen our approach to student support—both academically and in overall well-being. We look forward to working together to apply these insights to support our young people at ASHS to thrive,” says Christine.

By engaging with the latest research and best practices in youth mental health, ASHS staff are deepening their knowledge and strengthening their collective commitment to student well-being. The insights gained from the CAMH Conference will play a key role in shaping the school’s ongoing efforts to support and empower every ākonga to succeed.

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