If you’ve been thinking about volunteering, that’s great! There are heaps of places out there that are always looking for keen helpers, and many of them welcome volunteers from ages 16+. Before we get into some places where you might like to volunteer, let’s have a quick look at the benefits of volunteering. What’s …
Lifeline Australia has launched the first national support line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in crisis called 13YARN. The 24/7 phone line will give First Nations communities access to culturally responsive and safe support for social and emotional wellbeing when and where they need it. If you, or someone you know, are feeling …
13YARN – National Support Line for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People Read More »
Volunteering your precious free time to help worthy causes is a really noble undertaking. You won’t earn big bucks, but there are plenty of other ways that becoming a volunteer could be of value. Learn new skills No matter where you decide to volunteer, there will always be an element of training. While …
Thinking of working or volunteering with children or young people? Great! You may need to get a Working With Children Check (WWCC) before you can start. What is a Working With Children Check? A WWCC is an assessment of your character and your background. They’re there to make sure that you are a responsible, good …
How do I get a Working With Children Check in Australia? Read More »
Sitting down at your desk and studying has probably never ranked top of any high-schoolers favourite things to do list…. ever. Sometimes there’s just no getting away from the fact that you have to knuckle down and do the hard yards. But there are ways that you can study and learn whilst having a bit …
Helping anyone tackle the temptations of procrastination can be a challenge, particularly when those in need are young people. These days we are bombarded by distractions, notifications and different disruptions nearly constantly and sometimes I feel this is turned up to eleven for young people. When I was younger I would constantly fall into the …
Creating positive habits in secondary school and beyond Read More »
Discussions about the merits of homework and how much or how little you should be doing have been raging for decades, but there is no one definitive answer about what the optimal amount of homework is or should be. But you’re not here to hear how hard it is to work out how much homework …
How much homework should you be doing at high school? Read More »
If you’re struggling to be productive, finish assignments, meet deadlines, or get your revision going smoothly, the Pomodoro Technique could make a difference. A time management hack, it’s all about breaking tasks (and time) down into shorter, more manageable chunks and taking regular breaks. Developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s, when he used …
World Challenge provides educational expeditions in exciting environments, which teach life skills and expand minds outside the classroom. Their bespoke 1 to 6-week student travel itineraries foster team spirit and leadership skills. There are a wide range of domestic and international school travel opportunities for both Australian and New Zealand schools. These trips are packed …
It can be hard to stay focused when studying. From the itch to check Instagram to staying comfortable in your chair, there can be lots of distractions keeping you from getting the job done. Luckily, there are plenty of tools and tricks out there that can help you stay focused and study hard. Here are …
A WEP student exchange is the opportunity for students to exchange their school, culture, family and possibly language for a selected time period in another country. It could be more rewarding than simply being a tourist, as you’ll live like locals and acquire knowledge not available to the general traveller. It is a once in …
Lots of people in Australia and around the world are facing tough times at the moment. If you know someone who has been affected by a natural disaster, you might be wondering how you can help. While we can’t all get out there with shovels and sandbags, there are other ways you can support your …
Supporting someone affected by a natural disaster Read More »
Feeling anxious is unproductive and let’s face it pretty unpleasant. Taking a few minutes out when you start to feel anxious and following the breathing tips in the article below, could help you to overcome the feelings you experience when anxiety starts to build. Simple abdominal breathing exercise for relaxation. If breathing exercises aren’t enough, …
Unfortunately there have been lots of natural disasters happening recently, and over the past few years in Australia. If you’re wondering how you might be able to help, there are lots of jobs and volunteer roles where you can make a difference. Jobs in Disaster Relief If you want a career in Disaster …
Applying for jobs (and sometimes when you’re applying to tertiary education), you’ll need a resume. A resume or CV (Curriculum Vitae), is a document which details your work and study history, including all of your achievements and skills so far. You’ll need to provide all the essential details in a professional looking, easy-to-read format. Keep …
The average Australian consumes 19 serves of junk food a week, and far fewer serves of fibre-rich fresh food and whole grains than recommended. This leaves us overfed, undernourished and mentally worse off. Find out which foods could improve your mood or help combat depression.
The City of Hobart’s Youth Advisory Squad, otherwise known as YAS (or Youth Advisory Committee), is a group of young people between the ages of 12 – 25. YAS is a great outlet for young people in the community who wish to engage with the City of Hobart to make the city a more youth …
Want to learn how to run a skate competition? Learn the ins and outs of putting on a multi-discipline skate event by helping Launch Darwin run Street Heat 2022, on Saturday 9 April as a part of Northern Territory Youth Week. Learn the basics of: Project planning including working with deadlines and timelines Creating a …
If you’re passionate about having your voice heard, in helping other young people to have positive experiences online, and in working as part of a team, then this is the perfect opportunity for you! eSafety is looking for 20 young people aged from 13 to 24 years to be part of an Online Safety Youth …
FIRST Australia engages young people in exciting mentor-based programs that build science, engineering, and technology skills, inspiring innovation, and fostering life skills including self-confidence, communication, and leadership. If you love STEM and want to get involved, check out their programs and events. You could also consider volunteering for a FIRST event. Not only could you …
Persistence It sounds a bit boring really. Like it’s a personality trait that’s not going to find itself on a motivational poster anytime soon. (I actually searched for motivational posters with ‘persistence’ and found ones with frogs, pencils, and rocks. Not exactly inspiring.) Persistence noun continuing in an opinion or course of action …
A lot of the time you might not think twice before posting something on social media. But your social media accounts can become an “online resume” that employers, universities and other people can easily look up, and it could affect your reputation. Why not do a quick Google search of yourself and see what comes …
Whether you’re already living out of home, or are looking to move in the next few years, one important skill you’ll need to learn is how to cook for yourself. It can be tempting to just buy takeaway every night, but that’s not good for you in the long-term – for your health or your …
Healthy eating on a budget – tips from the CSIRO Read More »
Do More With Your Life When you’re at school, you have plenty of opportunities to be involved in things that aren’t just school work. You can play music or sport, work at a part-time job, get involved in the school production, volunteer, and plenty of other things besides. Once you leave school, though, …
A big part of our lives is the things that make us happy. If we didn’t have things we enjoy, life would be pretty boring, right? So it makes sense that we want our future goals and career to align in some way with the things that make us happy. Thinking about the things that …
Ball boys and ball girls are an important part of the professional tennis scene. Responsible for picking up used balls and providing new ones to the players out on the courts, they keep the game going safely and smoothly. If you’re thinking about a future career in Tennis or another sport, or you’re just really …
Be a Ballkid at International Tennis Tournaments Read More »
In our previous blogs, we’ve looked at why you’d want to set goals as well as how to go about it, but it’s not always that easy. Stuck for ideas It may not be New Year’s Eve but that’s not the only time you can set goals and resolutions, but sometimes settling on your goals …
Spending your time doing the things you love Unfortunately, there is only so much time a week to fill in with all the things we enjoy. There are 168 hours in a week, and assuming you’re asleep for around 56 of them, and spending around 12 eating/washing/getting out of bed, that leaves you with …
It’s hard to keep up with Covid-19 rules and regulations, and even when you finally think you know what’s going on, everything changes again. Recently, there have been reports that some employers are requesting that their employees turn up to work, even if they have Covid-19 or are a close contact. Unless you are a …
Goals are good Going through the process of setting goals could help you to combat anxiety, improve your mental focus and increase your chances of successfully getting what you want. Let’s face it, if you don’t know where you’re going, it’s unlikely you’ll get anywhere. Imagine hopping in the car or on the bus without …
Who am I? It’s a pretty scary question – who am I? Before you can start looking towards the future, you need to know what stage you’re at right now. Doing a bit of introspection can actually be quite useful when it comes to deciding your future goals. It can help us see the …
Goal setting… Some of us love it, some of us would rather pull our own teeth out. Goals are important though. Nearly every successful person has goals (and it’s how they became successful). They give us a path to follow and something to aim for. As humans, we always work better when we have a …
Already doing ok at school but want some hacks to make life easier? Maybe you’ve made a resolution to do better at school this year, or your parents would like you to achieve more. It might not be about your ability, but more about your approach. Changing your habits or routine could make all the …
9 quick tips to make life at school easier in 2022 Read More »
It’s recommended that in your teens you average between 8-10 hours per day of good quality sleep. But recent studies have shown that Aussie teens are only getting 6.5-7.5 hours a night. Why do you need sleep? Sleep is good for your overall physical and mental health. Your body repairs itself and carries …
New Year is usually a time for celebrating. A New Year symbolises fresh starts, new beginnings and looking towards the future with hopeful optimism. You could make this New Year’s the year when you begin to turn your dreams and aspirations into reality. Setting goals is one way that could help you to achieve success. …
Summer holidays are the best, aren’t they? But how can you make sure that at the end of the summer, you’re feeling on form and ready to kick goals in 2022? We’ve got a few ideas that could help. The physical stuff Catch up on your sleep – it can be good for …
The importance of rest It’s been another huge year. We’ve all been through a lot, and it’s understandable if you’re feeling a bit worn down. Thankfully, the holidays are here, and it’s a great time to wind down and catch up on some much-needed rest. The benefits of rest We all know …
Summer should be fun. Isn’t that the law? But have you ever thought about using your summer to learn something… expand your mind, build new skills and gain experience. The idea is you’ll enjoy doing it too. Before you switch off (I feel like I can already hear you groaning), you could have a quick …
Traditionally the New Year is a time for reflection. What’s happened over the last year, good and bad. What would you do differently if you had your chance again? Well guess what – you have the opportunity to start fresh and make 2022 your best year yet. What’s a resolution? Resolutions are people …
There’s no doubt that this has been a big year. You’ve probably overcome lots of obstacles and kicked some goals, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Looking back and reflecting on our achievements helps us feel fulfilled. We get to see what we found meaningful throughout the year, and start looking ahead at ways …
As ATAR Release Day approaches, bear these points in mind Just finished Year 12? Nervous about your ATAR? Let’s do some deep breathing together – Breathe in… Breathe out… Feeling better? It’s normal to feel stressed out Let’s be honest, waiting to find out the single score that’s supposed to define your future isn’t …
FACT – Exams suck. And they’re stressful. But… they’re over now. You can relax. Stress is hard on our bodies as well as our minds. That’s why it’s so important that once stressful situations are over, you learn to decompress, shrug it off, and move on. Which is not as easy as it sounds. Here’s …
Most of think of hobbies as fun things we do to pass the time when we’re not at school or work. But did you know that having a hobby can help you become more productive, as well as build other important skills? From cooking to hiking, painting to gardening, there are heaps of hobbies out …
Things you can do right now You don’t need to sit around and wait until you’ve finished school to start getting experience, building skills, and making connections for your future. There are lots of things you can do alongside your schoolwork. Let’s take a look at some of your options. Part-time work …
Traditional schoolies week doesn’t appeal to everyone and that’s perfectly OK. If you’d still like to celebrate this milestone but the busyness of a mainstream schoolies event is putting you off, there are lots of other ways you can have fun and mark the occasion. Our Top Alternative Schoolies Relax Staying at home, organising catch …
At the end of Year 12, you deserve your well earned celebration. Whatever you’ve got lined up, we hope you have an amazing time. Although you probably don’t need reminding, we’ve put together a few tips and resources you might like to read before you head off. Your parents will also feel happier when you …
Not everyone can walk away from the end of a school year and get your head straight into holiday mode. If you’re one of those who needs to work a little harder at stepping back from your responsibilities, here’s our suggestions for 7 quick ways to wind down once school is over for 2021. …
7 quick ways to wind down once school is over for 2021 Read More »
Most of us don’t live life according to the map. We float from one thing to another, which is great, because it gives us the flexibility to move with the flow and make the most of opportunities. There is, however, a downside to making things up as you go. If you ever want to achieve …
Even if you’ve hated every single minute of high school, chances are the thought of leaving high school while exciting might also be a little bit daunting. And if like me, you absolutely loved school, then you could also be really sad to leave. Either way leaving high school is a huge milestone in your …
You’ve worked so hard all year, and now it’s time to show what you’ve learnt. But exam prep can be stressful. That’s why we’ve put together these exam prep tips to follow – they could help you to keep your cool and be the Exam Boss you were born to be. The Day Before …
Life can be tough and it can be busy. If you’re feeling exhausted, demotivated, or just plain down in the dumps, then you might need to make some changes. When you feel like you can’t go on Burnout can be experienced by anyone at any time. “Burnout is a state of emotional, physical, …
Look after yourself and prevent burnout – 7 tips Read More »
Citizen scientists are normal people who volunteer to contribute to scientific experiments and research. It’s a great option for anyone considering a STEM career – get out there and take part in a real-life project to help you make a more informed decision about science as a pathway. You won’t just be volunteering as an …
Halogen Australia have put together a collection of short videos to give you just a little bit of life wisdom without interrupting your day. You can find the full collection here – youtube.com/playlist. Here are some of our favourites: Bindi Irwin Rove McManus Eamon Sullivan Cal Wilson Erin Molan Leisel Jones Dr Fiona Wood
Allity Aged Care are interested in hearing from people with all kinds of life experiences. If you bring a special skill or experience that their residents might enjoy, they would love to talk with you about how they can best utilise your experience. Support their lifestyle programs & help residents stay socially connected Sing, dance …
The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for managing our mental health. Lockdowns, social distancing requirements, travel restrictions, and the constantly changing position we find ourselves in is stressful. This makes prioritising our mental health and wellbeing more important than ever. This year, World Mental Health Day is on October 10. The message is …
Term 4 is that last long haul before you’ll be rewarded with summer break and Christmas – that’s worth getting excited about. It also means exams, reports and preparing for next year. If you’re in Year 12 with finals coming up, you might be feeling the pressure more than ever. Hopefully you’ve already started revising, …
The Girls in Engineering Club is a fun, inspiring community for high school girls who are interested in STEM, study maths or science at school, or who just want to explore what engineering is all about. You can connect and share ideas with fellow high school girls who are also discovering the possibilities of a …
Life is a balancing act, and high school students need to become master acrobats in order to navigate their menagerie of tasks and roles. Between school, study, work, chores, family, friends, and maintaining a social life, there’s a lot to keep track of each week. It’s easy to fall out of balance – the evidence …
Findex’s Young Money podcast explores essential skills around common money experiences and helps empower young people to take control of their finances. Our host and a variety of guests cover a range of financial topics impacting the day-to-day lives of Gen Z, including: Basic financial literacy Buy-now pay-later Starting casual work Taxes Superannuation Budgeting Personal …
The Sydney Morning Herald has released their HSC Study Guide for 2021. It is packed with information including key dates, what’s changed in 2021, study tips, advice from former students, practice exam questions, and more. Check it out here: https://www.smh.com.au/hsc-study-guide-2021
Lockdowns are tough on everyone, but if you’re at school – particularly in senior high school, then you’re probably having a harder time than most. We get that, we really do. Unfortunately, we can’t make the pandemic or the restrictions go away, but we can find ways to help you support yourself and make the …
Wellbeing and study tips for teens during lockdown Read More »
What is tax? It’s not the most fun subject to talk about, but it’s an important one – tax. If you’ve got yourself a part-time or casual job, even if you’re still at school, chances are you’ll need to know about tax. But what even is tax? Think of it this way. Tax is …
Have you had a look at our Goal Generator yet? It’s a free tool we’ve created to help you decide where you want to go and make the most of your goals. If you have, you’re now the proud owner of a set (or maybe just one) of “SMART” goals that are: Specific Measurable Achievable …
Men’s Health Week this year ran from 14 – 20 June, if you missed it that’s OK, it’s never too late to start looking out for yourself or those around you. The theme in 2021 is Connections. Encouraging men and boys to connect with their families, community, culture and of course your mates. All this …
Developed by Beyond Blue, NewAccess is a free and confidential mental health coaching program for anyone feeling stressed or overwhelmed about everyday life issues, such as work, study, relationships, health or loneliness. If any of these feelings are getting in the way of you living your life, then NewAccess could be right for you. The …
Teenagers, you have a lot going on. We’re not just talking about at school or in your social lives. There are all kinds of things happening from physical changes, mental developments, as well as managing expectations of you as you finish high school or start work. Amongst all of that you’re also probably dealing with …
If you’re looking for a way to volunteer and make a difference to people’s lives, then you could try out the Be My Eyes app. It’s free app and has been designed to connect blind and low-vision people all around the world, with sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video …
For any students that love to run, why not challenge yourself and have some fun by entering the Gold Coast Marathon. Taking place on the 3 and 4 July, you’ve still got a little bit of time to train. You could think about entering the Junior Dash, Fun Run or perhaps some older, endurance, runner …
If you love food and you’ve got entrepreneurial skills as well as a being something of a whizz in the kitchen, then starting up your own foodie business could be heaven for you and your food loving customers. Cordon Bleu have come up with 3 Tips From an Innovation Expert on how to go about …
What is financial literacy? By the time you leave high school and often before, it’s important to learn how to manage your money and make decisions that make financial sense for your situation. If you can budget, manage your money, make wise decisions about your spending and saving habits, then you’re well on your …
Test your endurance and have fun with a team of friends to help raise money for youth programs by taking the Kokoda Challenge. The Kokoda Challenge is designed to give you the experience of Australian soldiers who fought along the Kokoda trail in 1942. Push your physical and mental boundaries to complete the 17km, 48km, …
Challenge yourself to complete 3,318 push-ups over 25 days, putting the spotlight on the number of suicides in Australia 2019. You can aim for 25%, 50%, 75% or 100% of the push-up target. Other exercise alternatives are welcome. Complete your push-ups any time and any place. Track push-ups using our phone app. Each day, you …
Anybody, from any mob, can have eating or body concerns. Eating or body image concerns can weaken your mind, body and spirit. It’s not about your body size – and it’s different for different people. But reaching out to talk it out with friends, family or the Butterfly free Helpline can help – Butterfly is …
Do you struggle to read large pages full of text? Find writing notes in class a bit boring? Consider yourself more of a visual rather than verbal learner? Sketchnoting could be an interesting study technique for you to try out instead. What is sketchnoting? As the name implies, sketchnoting is a way of …
Finding the best study methods in high school that work for you can make your life less stressful and help you to improve your results. Here’s a list of 9 smart study tips to try right now. Don’t cram Study the day before a test of exam of course; you can even go …
Digital Mental Health (e-mental health) is services, programs or applications, delivered via online, mobile or phone based platforms, that may be self-driven or involve real time or delayed interaction with a clinician or other support person. Digital Mental Health services and programs allow Australians to access mental health information and support at any time and …
Digital Mental Health Resources for Young People Read More »
Everybody goes through times when our body, mind and spirit feel weaker. If you feel like you need some support, join headspace’s fortnightly chats for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, led by other young people, and connect with other people like you. Join yarnspace and check out other resources here: https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/spaces/community/673335/ If you need …
A virtual community connecting teens with international experts and youth mentors to build confidence, life skills, creativity and more! Discover more about yourself and connect with other teens in this safe, nurturing and fun online space. Become a member now and get: New live classes each month on Zoom (creativity, productivity, activism, wellness, oh my!) …
Volunteers have been the foundation of our work since the very beginning. Most of our volunteers are based at the Townsville University Hospital and provide an invaluable service to patients and visitors. They drive the buggies, helping patients who need the buggies to travel across the hospital. They provide a warm welcome on arrival, providing …
When it comes to learning, it’s very evident that there is no “once size fits all” approach. So it seems crazy to expect that one set of study tips will work for everyone. We’ve come up with some study tips to complement your learning style. You might find that a mix and match approach …
Consent is permission There’s a lot in the news right now about the conduct of some really influential people, so let’s talk about consent. Just because you’re a certain gender, age, or in a position of power, it doesn’t give you the right to do what you like, when you like. Regardless of who …
We all have different preferences for how we work and learn. Some of us like to gather all the information in the one place before we start making decisions, others like to get started and adjust along the way. Knowing the way you work and learn and finding strategies to incorporate these styles can help …
A Group Chat session is your opportunity to speak online to our mental health professionals and hear from others about a topic that will be discussed. Group Chats run for approximately 1 hour and are hosted by mental health professionals and members of the headspace Youth National Reference Group (hY NRG) and Family and Friends …
Most of us hope we will get a great job and get along well with everyone we work with. And most of the time we do. But sometimes things can go wrong. It’s important to remember that there are places you can get help if something goes wrong at work. If you ever feel like …
Your journey through high school is just the beginning of your independence. You might be looking forward to moving out, being able to stay up as late as you want, and all of the other benefits that being independent can bring. But, unfortunately, it comes with a lot of work as well. There’s so much …
As part of NBA Together, “Jr. NBA at Home” is an interactive content series providing basketball skills and drills featuring NBA and WNBA players that can be completed individually and in limited space to help young players around the world stay active and develop their game in a safe and healthy way. You can watch …
Just because you might have to stay at home, doesn’t mean you’ll have to turn into a couch potato. Staying active is great for your physical and mental health but it’s also a fantastic way to pass some time. There are tonnes of work out routines already available online, with more being added by the …
With everything going on, you might find that you’re feeling: Overwhelmed Stressed Anxious Angry Emotional Sad Helpless Hopeless Confused In denial If you’re feeling any of the above, or you can’t pinpoint how you’re feeling but you’re not in a good head space and feeling down, now is the time to be brave, reach out …
The Queensland Rural Fire Service (RFS) is always looking for new volunteers to help their brigades running and local communities safe. Being part of the RFS offers fantastic opportunities for self development. Members of rural brigades receive training and skills that assist in all areas of life, such as: Teamwork Incident management Leadership skills Fire …
Did you know that you can access up to $150 to help pay for school-related expenses in Term 1? The Northern Territory government provides assistance for students and parents through the Back to School Payment scheme. You can use the grant for any of the following: school uniform, including hats, book bags textbooks stationery, including …
POWER UP is a set of audio tracks that will help you chill out, calm down, and get the zen-like focus you need to be at the top of your game. It’s a way of practising mindfulness and is a bit like meditation, guiding you to a calmer moment where you can also amplify your …
School holidays are a great opportunity to get some much needed rest and relaxation after a hectic school year. While it might be tempting to sit on the couch binging Netflix the whole time, there are actually some easy things you can do to stay productive and prepare for the new year. You could learn …
Becoming independent from your parents or carers can be exciting and scary at the same time. While it’s nice to have a bit more freedom, there are some responsibilities you will need to take care of as well, like finances and your health. Luckily, there is heaps of support out there for young people who …
Did you know that financial support like Youth Allowance and ABSTUDY aren’t just for university students? If you’re doing a full-time apprenticeship or traineeship, you could also be eligible to receive financial support. You can find heaps of information on the Services Australia website about the payments you might be eligible for and how you …
Yarn Safe is a youth-lead mental health initiative for young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. If you’ve got a lot going on in your life, there are heaps of resources you can check out to help you or someone else doing it tough. There’s no shame in talking it out. Take a look at …
If your child moves away from an outer regional or remote area, they may get the Tertiary Access Payment. This is a one-off payment of $5,000 in 2 instalments to students moving away for tertiary study. You need to be moving from an outer regional or remote area and starting university straight after finishing school. You …
Regional and remote students can get $5k to help them move for uni Read More »
At the start of every new year and school year we often talk about setting goals as a means to help you to achieve more, stay on track and generally be at the top of your game. In order to do that really effectively, it helps to look back on the year you’ve just had …
One simple thing you can do right now to get a head start on 2021 Read More »
Chilled Out is an engaging, interactive online program for 13 – 17 year olds that allows them to learn strategies to help manage anxiety. The Chilled program is a structured, skills-based program that teaches teens how to better manage anxiety. Results show most young people who complete the program experience significant improvements, with decreases in …
There are lots of studies out there promoting the benefits of listening to music while you study. Music could help you to: Feel less stressed Reduce anxiety Perform better Help you to focus Improve your brain function Retain and recall what you’ve learnt more easily Block out distractions Top Study Playlists Here’s our …
Finalise your 2021 study or work plans Now’s the time (if you haven’t already) to finalise what you’ll be doing next year. Planning a gap year? You’re perfectly entitled to take a break and have some fun. Even if international travel isn’t on the cards just yet, there is plenty that you …
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