Teacher Wellbeing

You are almost at the end of the weirdest, most challenging term ever. Just in case you haven’t paused to acknowledge yourself, take a moment to do so now.This last term has been the biggest disruption to Australia’s education system in history. Twice. Across Australia, teachers have never worked harder or had to be more flexible, adaptable and cooperative in the face of some huge challenges and rapidly changing circumstances.Yet, here we are. Just a week or two left until holidays (depending where you are in Aus) and you did it. You have been an integral part of getting this nation through the health, social and economic crises that we are still in the midst of.Join me for this free live workshop series, screening on Facebook. If you can't make it when I go live, then you can watch the replay in the Facebook event.Take The Australian Teacher Health and Wellbeing Survey: www.selfcareforteachers.com.au/surveySign up for the free Teacher Resilience and Wellbeing Workshop Series here: https://www.facebook.com/ev

In this episode I want to explore two myths that are sabotaging your health and wellbeing, and those are the ideas that health and wellbeing is binary and linear. Now, when I say myths, I’m not necessarily talking about mythology, as in The Greek Gods and Goddesses, Hercules and Zeus and Athena and Aphrodite. That’s not what I mean.I’m talking about that other definition of myth, which is a widely held belief or idea that is actually a misconception. However, all myths have some truth to them, but to believe them literally is problematic.So, these two myths that I want to share with you today, about binary and linear health and wellbeing outcomes, are things that our culture, our Western Industrial culture really socialises or conditions us to believe as true.We have been taught for our whole lives that life, the world, relationships, health, everything, is binary and that it’s linear. And it's not!Links mentioned in this episode:The Australian Teacher Health and Wellbeing Survey: www.selfcareforteachers.com.

Support the podcast today via Pozible: https://www.pozible.com/project/teacher-wellbeing-podcast-season-6This is a longer episode, and it’s a really really fantastic teacher story. I also share my ongoing commitment to anti-racism work and unpacking my privilege as a teacher and a coach.There are just SO many learnings and I’m so grateful that Tina shared her story with us. Now, like many of my episodes this season, it was recorded before COVID so there’s no mention of that at all, but we do talk about people pleasing, boundaries, the challenges of moving away from your support networks for a job, and the challenges and opportunities of living and working in a small town. The two big themes from this episode are around having a safe workplace, and taking care of physiological needs, that bottom level of Maslow’s Hierarchy. So Tina shares her experience of being bullied at work, and how as an early career teacher she didn’t necessarily know that that wasn’t normal, and it was thanks to an older, wiser, more ex

This interview is with Katrina Bourke of Katrina Bourke coaching, who you may remember from way back in Series 2. We talk about schools around Australia returning to on campus learning for all students, and the way that transition is playing out for teachers and leaders and school staff, and what we can do individually and collectively to support ourselves and each other during that transition and the challenges of the ongoing uncertainty around the way the school system and the COVID-19 crisis will continue to unfold. I really wanted to release this episode this week because I believe it’s important, timely conversation for educators as schools navigate this current transition, which is happening right now.But before we get to that interview, I want to take a moment to pause and acknowledge something else happening right now. If you’re listening to this episode at the time of its release, in the first week of June 2020, there are protests in the USA this week following the murder of George Floyd in police cu

In this episode, I interview Melissa, a teacher with a powerful story about taking back control and power and responsibility for own health and wellbeing. Contribute to the Crowdfunder for Season 6 here: https://www.pozible.com/project/teacher-wellbeing-podcast-season-6I’d love to hear your questions and comments! All the details about how you can leave me a voicemail are here.Links mentioned in this episode:The Pozible Crowdfunding campaign: pledge today!Teacher Health and Wellbeing Survey coming soon: listen to the podcast episode about the 2018 survey results here.Replay Week of the Teacher Wellbeing and Resilience Free Workshops: starts 29th June. It’s free, sign up here.Fatigue Resilience Masterclasses 3 on STRESSFatigue Resilience Masterclass 4 on SLEEPReplays of Fatigue Resilience Masterclasses 1 and 2 can be purchased through the Pozible campaignDid I mention that you should pledge your support for the Pozible crowdfunding campaign for the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast today?

Hello everyone and welcome back to Season 6 of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast! I’m so excited to be here and back on your airwaves and in your earbuds every week for the next 10 weeks at least.Today I’m excited to share with you the voicemails that I have received since I asked for listeners to call in and Leave me a voicemail for Season 6 of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast answering this question: “Thinking back on your first year of teaching, what did you learn about staying healthy and cultivating wellbeing as a person and as a teacher? Put another way, what advice would you give your first-year teacher self about staying healthy and cultivating wellbeing as a teacher?” https://www.selfcareforteachers.com.au/voicemailContribute to the Crowdfunder for Season 6 here: https://www.pozible.com/project/teacher-wellbeing-podcast-season-6Dear listener, you can still call in and leave me your voicemails because I have loved hearing these answers:You can ask a question that you’d like me to answer on the showYou can an

Support the podcast today via Pozible: https://www.pozible.com/project/teacher-wellbeing-podcast-season-6Other podcasts I've been featured on recently:The Reflective Teacher PodcastThe Youth Mentor Podcast Ideas into Reality PodcastWhat She Did Next Podcast (coming soon)Links mentioned in this episode: This article and this article about the Satir Change ModelFatigue Resilience Masterclasses 3 on STRESSFatigue Resilience Masterclass 4 on SLEEPReplays of Fatigue Resilience Masterclasses 1 and 2 can be purchased through the Pozible campaign

Last week our Prime Minister recorded a message for teachers and I think it's fair to say it had a mixed reception.Today I have a message for teachers that I hope will resonate. I have been hearing from a lot of you in comment sections, in PMs and DMs, and in coaching sessions over the last month and I’m seeing some themes arising that I want to speak to.Some of you began Term 2 last week, some begin tomorrow, some have another week or so to go. In any case, you don’t need me to tell you that Term 2 this year is going to be unlike any term ever before...There are A LOT of mixed emotions flying around, and anxiety in particular is contagious. I ask you to be careful and gentle of your hearts and minds, and your social media use. Be mindful of where, with whom and in what digital forums you share and engage with your own and each others' anxieties at this time. In many ways this is a delicate time in terms of teacher status and public perception of the profession. As much as we hope people behave respectfully a

Hi everyone and welcome to this bonus episode of the Teacher Wellbeing podcast. Today I’m talking about teaching in the time of covid-19.So I am recording this not with my regular mic and it’s just raw, imperfect, in-edited and un-produced, because I want to get it into your earbuds as soon as possible.This is being recorded at a very particular moment in history. It’s lunchtime, Monday 23rd March 2020 and I’m in Queensland Australia. The Covid-19 pandemic has devastated or is in the process of devastating many countries around the world, including China, Italy, France, Spain, the US and the UK. Here in Australia we have now got more than 1200 cases, are being directed to practice social distancing, various states and territories are closing their borders domestically, and there is a petition of doctors raising concerns that we are heading for the same fate as Italy if something doesn’t change dramatically in our response, and yet schools remain open. Last night our Prime Minister held a press conference wher

The Teacher Wellbeing podcast turned 3 last week! And to celebrate I released a bonus episode of the podcast this week, detailing 4 things I’ve learned from 3 years of hosting the show! I also talk about the things I’ve learned about myself and running Self-Care for Teachers in the process. Plus, I share an amazing story about some action a teacher took after listening to the podcast last year that I think you’re really going to want to hear.Exciting things coming soon:Crowdfunding Campaign for Season 6 - make sure you're subscribed to find out about that when it happens. Fatigue Resilience Masterclass on 28th March 2020Other links mentioned in this episode:Follow Self-Care for Teachers on Facebook hereSign up for the Freebies Library here or the SC4T Advocate hereBook a Discovery Call hereList of Employee Assistant Programs here

Hello everyone, and welcome back to the teacher wellbeing podcast, and welcome to 2020!The new school year is about to begin and I know that means many of you are in the midst of inservice, professional development, student free days and setting up your classrooms.We're still between seasons of the podcast but in this bonus episode, I am sharing with you the audio from a Facebook live video I did last week. If you’re not following me on social media and you’re not subscribed to my Self-Care for Teachers newsletter, The Advocate, then you might have missed the free video workshop series I did on Facebook last week.I’m sharing the audio from the first of those workshops here and now on the podcast because I think it’s crucial information for all teachers to have in their heads and in their hearts as the school year begins.Catch the Replays of the 5 workshops before they expire here: https://www.facebook.com/1055664167826942/posts/2848161048577236/Sign up for the Freebies Library here: www.selfcareforteachers.co

Recently on the Teachers Thriving Lounge Facebook Group, Trudy from TeachersThriving.com and I spent a good 45 minutes discussing the very important but under-researched topic of teacher sleep, and some strategies you can use to help you get a good night's rest.As Trudy says, "Sleep is the sleeper topic for educators. No-one really is talking about it but it is a big issue."So we know it's a huge problem, but what can you do about it?Well, the bad news is that there are no overnight solutions (pun very much intended!), but the good news is there is a lot you can do to reclaim your sleep and take control of your rest.All you need is your phone or computer and you can leave me a voicemail. You can ask me a question, make a comment about any past episodes, or suggest a topic for a future episode.However, what I'd really love is for you to answer the question below for a special project I'm working on for Season 6 of the podcast. In 3 minutes or less, answer the following question:Thinking back on your first year

This is a replay of a Facebook Livestream I did today, which I wanted to share with you because I know some of you are only following me on the podcast, and may not get updates otherwise. The audio quality isn't amazing, but it's good enough and the episode will self-destruct in about a week so listen now while you can!I have half updated my website with my new programs, but the tech is causing me some little issues and I don't want to break the whole website (again ha!) so I will finish updating gradually over the week.In the meantime I wanted to come here and tell you about my three new coaching packages (plus the one old one that has been given a new name!)- Happy Habits Accountability Coaching (same as before!)- Nourish and Nurture Life and Wellbeing Coaching- Teacher in Transition Coaching- Teacher-preneur Online Business ConsultingI will honour the old prices for anyone who books a Discovery Call today (as in, you make the booking today, for a time that suits you in the coming months) and then goes on t

First up, this episode will self-destruct in about 7 days, so you wanna listen right now while it's available in your player. I have a couple of time-sensitive updates and then a special invitation for you.Teacher Self-Care September. If you're not already playing at home, join in at Facebook or Instagram and see the overview post hereSupporting resources for the #teacherselfcareseptemberchallenge can be found in the Freebies LibrarySign up for the Cultivating Extraordinary Wellbeing Webinar this Wednesday 18th September at 6pm AEST. Remember you must be signed up to get the replay as it won't be added to the freebies library afterwards. Sign up here.Leave me a voicemail for a Super Special Season Six project I'm working on! Leave me a voicemail here!As always remember you're a person first and a teacher second and you are SO worthy of your own care x

Lessons from 4 years of Self-Care for Teachers, and my vision for the future (Season 5 finale) is an adaptation and update of of this blog post. Find all the links mentioned there. See you next season!

In this episode I have a brilliant conversation with fellow teacher wellbeing enthusiast, Jessica Terlick from Lead and Inspire Community. Jessica shares her story with us and it’s one I think you’ll relate to. She tells us about her experiences as a preservice and early career teacher and how she fell into the trap that so many of us fall into, which is living and breathing the job and letting work take over life as well. It’s obvious she’s done a lot of self-reflection and can see how some of her patterns were contributing to that. Jessica shares with us in this episode how being so driven to achieve and succeed, while on the surface is a great trait, ended up undermining her health and wellbeing as a person because Jessica the teacher became the sole focus. We also discuss how her partner Ben helped her find more work-life balance, and what led her to creating the Lead and Inspire Community. Jessica also shares some brilliant tips to help you thrive in the classroom and in life. You can find Jessica at htt

I’m deliberately doing this episode directly after Gabbie’s 2 part episodes because I know they may have stirred up a lot for some of you. The content of Gabbie’s book Teacher and the content of our conversation, while really important, also touches on some real sore points for teachers. I know because you tell me and I know because they’re sore points for me too. So I want to say right up front that this episode is as much a note to self as it is a message to you. I hope that this episode it brings you as much comfort as it did to me in writing it and putting it together.X

I think this week’s episode is an absolute must-listen for any teacher today. It’s Part 2 of my conversation with Gabbie Stroud, author of the best-selling book ‘Teacher’, and if you haven’t yet, I do recommend you go and listen to Part 1 of this interview which is the previous episode on the podcast. In that episode Gabbie told us a bit about her story, we talked about the expectations on teachers and the state of education in 2019 and the visible and invisible work of the job. Plus Gabbie told us how writing the book was cathartic for her and she shared some of her recovery process too.In Part 2, we talk about the ‘soldier on’ culture in our schools and why that’s so dangerous, and how important but also how difficult real rest is. Gabbie also shares very honestly her grief over leaving teaching and the struggles that she’s had since then, plus we have what I think is possibly the most important conversation of the year when it comes to teacher health and wellbeing and burnout, which is around financial sec

I’m so excited to bring you this episode of the podcast with a woman who I’m sure needs no introduction!Gabbie Stroud is a freelance writer, novelist and recovering teacher. Her critical commentary of Australia’s education system was published in Griffith Review’s Edition 51 Fixing The System. Links to the essay went ‘viral’ on social media and the essay was viewed 24 000 times within the first two weeks of publication. ‘Teacher’ is Gabbie’s memoir, expanding on that essay and bringing readers into today’s challenging classrooms.So in this episode of the Teacher Wellbeing Podcast Gabbie shares with us a bit about her story and we talk about her brilliant book, and how it has really lifted the lid on the conversation around education in the Australian media landscape. We talk about the shifts Gabbie has seen in education in the last 20 years, and the shifts in her language and feeling and life that eventually led her to making the decision not to teach anymore in this current system.We ended up having such a g

It is great that schools are providing wellbeing strategies and services to their staff, but they often seem to cover only half of the wellbeing equation. Positive Psychology + Positive Physiology = Wellbeing