I grew up in the Atherton Tablelands and became an educator with Life Ed Qld in 2014. I love the organisation’s mission to provide vital health and wellbeing education to generations of children.
As a teacher, I want the best for the students I see. I want them to grow up to be healthy and strong and gain the social and emotional strategies to take on the world with confidence. Life Ed, through its partnerships with schools and community groups, helps students achieve these goals and is such an amazing experience for young people.
Far North Queensland is a huge place, so we cover a large area. One of the best parts of my job is bringing the health and drug education program to students at such a wide variety of schools. We may have a set number of modules, but every educator will tailor their lessons to the needs of the schools, and students within those schools. We change activities and think of new ways to deliver messages.
I love seeing the smiles on children’s faces, hearing their questions, and seeing them get so involved in the program. I get asked so many fascinating questions, like “how is the human brain just an organ, but is able to do so many things?” I enjoy seeing children apply the strategies from the program to solve problems in the playground and I especially enjoy hearing them talk about Healthy Harold.
If kids could remember just one thing from the Life Ed program, I hope it would be to look after their bodies and make good choices. It is amazing how these principles can help you through the toughest of times.
