Connection and community

2023 has been off to an enthusiastic start, as we welcomed our largest cohort of new and returning students since before the pandemic.

Wellbeing support has been a focus from day one, as we know that each year our new students are faced with a multitude of stressors as they enter college – from the transition to a new environment, to leaving home for the first time, and the challenges that come from forging a new and independent life.

We began the year with a full Orientation Week designed to help our first-year students navigate their new home at UC. To support student wellbeing, we engaged in many discussions around mental health, how to look out for each other, and how to live as respectful members of our community.

We also brought back Consent Labs to conduct training on topics such as foundations of consent, drugs and alcohol, and how to be an active bystander. Many students gave rave reviews about the Consent Lab training, stating they provided some of the best sex and relationship education they have ever received.

Our Wellbeing Committee elected its new members for 2023 and has got off to a fantastic start under the leadership of our Student Wellbeing Representative, Maddie Coldham.

This year, due to overwhelming student interest, we chose to expand our committee to include the UC student Equity Representative, Indigenous Representative, and an additional two student members.

The theme for this year’s committee is ‘Connection and Community.’ With this in mind, we organised a very successful Wellbeing Week including a movie night, trivia night, a Pleasant Friday Afternoon (PFA) of music performances, and afternoons of games and entertainment in the park. Many new connections were made as a result of these events, which was wonderful to see.

The Wellbeing Committee has also organised yoga and mindfulness sessions, a staff ‘bring your dog to work’ day, mindful colouring stations encouraging students to take a break during their studies, giving out messages of kindness, and other small initiatives that make a really big impact.

Mental Health is always a topic that our students are passionate about, and this semester we offered 20 spaces for interested students to take a mental health first aid training course. These students developed the awareness and skills to support fellow residents and community members, and now also have a tangible skill and certification that they can add to their CV.

Our fortnightly Wellbeing eNewsletter continues to cover timely and important topics such as Healthy Boundaries in Relationships, Budgeting and Financial Stress in College, Vaping & E-Cigarette Use through a Health and Sustainability Lens and Tips for Wellbeing During SWOTVAC and Exams.

Students are gearing up for a busy end to Semester 1, so wellbeing check-ins will be a priority to ensure our students are maintaining their wellbeing as they head into exams. There is always a lot happening within this space, and we have many great ideas planned for later this year – so keep an eye out for more to come!

Katie Saya Student Wellbeing Coordinator