10 Tips For Preventing Burnout

The following article is from the Generation Next Blog. Click on the link for the full article

Burnout occurs when a person has experienced prolonged and excessive stress. It builds up over time, and the individual may find themselves:

• Feeling overwhelmed
• Physically and emotionally exhausted
• Isolating self from others
• Forgetting why you do your job, de-motivated
• Questioning themselves
• Experiencing an increase in illness/aches and pains
• Having an increasingly cynical and negative outlook

While many of us feel some of these things from time to time, if it is all-encompassing it may be burn out. The good news is, there are things that can be done to treat and to prevent burn out.

Read the full article on the Generation Next blog 

Sleep And Technology: 10 Golden Rules

With the final Semester in play for our year 12 students,  while school, work and socialising are important, it is essential to sleep. Please see the following article and link which are from the Generation Next Blog.

As many young adults now own a smartphone or tablet, there is a wealth of information at their fingertips and a limitless supply of social media messages, games, music and TV intruding into the sleep cycle.

Evidence suggests that social media and smartphones can have a negative impact on our health with increased smartphone use associated with poor sleep outcomes, and higher scores on depression and anxiety scales (Demirci, Akgonul & Akpinar,2015).

As we snuggle up in the warmth of bed, our IT use can even promote the illusion of unwinding for bedtime as we play candy crush, check Facebook, listen to music or read. This can be a problem as circadian rhythms alter as young people mature, meaning they are inclined to sleep less, and our IT use can interfere with this process making healthy sleep patterns even harder to establish.

Read the full article at the Generation Next blog »

Plan My Gap Year

The following information has been forwarded from "Plan My Gap Year" for students:

Plan My Gap Year (PMGY) is an award-winning international volunteer placement organisation based in the UK. We provide the world’s most affordable, need-driven and supportive short-term volunteer programmes in Africa, Asia and Eastern Europe. Our programmes start from just two weeks in duration right up to six months. You can join us throughout the year as we have two start dates per month.

So if you’re looking to travel on your vacation period, or even take a gap year to explore the world – you should consider volunteering abroad and doing something really special during your travels. We have a range of opportunities to suit people of all backgrounds and interests. Check out our website and start your adventure today – www.planmygapyear.co.uk'

This is a video overview of our setup in Sri Lanka and it gives a really great overview of how we work - https://vimeo.com/171630276

ADF Work Experience

A couple of Defence work experience placements are coming up in August and there are still positions available. The Australian Defence Force have asked that we provide the following information to our students:

3 Combat Engineer Regiment (Mechanic & Logistics roles) - 15th - 19th August - Lavarack Barracks, Townsville

Placement focusses on the roles of Mechanics and Logistics personnel in Army.

An 'all-round' type placement that will expose students to many aspects of the Army working conditions and lifestyle.

Interested students can find further information and apply online via this link:3CER Mechanic/Logistics

4 Regiment (Artillery) - 22nd - 26th August - Lavarack Barracks, Townsville 

Placement focusses on Artillery (big guns!) and students will have an opportunity to travel to High Range to watch artillery live fire, as well as gaining great understanding of the Army lifestyle and working conditions.

Interested students can find further information and apply online via this link: 4Regt Artillery

Please note that for students outside of the Townsville area, we cannot assist with travel and accommodation, so their parent/guardian would need to be willing and able to organise these aspects.

If you would like further information about these opportunities, please don't hesitate to contact me.

The Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE)

The following information has been forwarded from The Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE):
The Australian College of Physical Education (ACPE) offers bachelor degrees in sport, fitness, health, science, community health, dance and physical education. Established in 1917, our vision is to continue to be recognised as a leading national provider of innovative career education in sport, physical activity and health. ACPE's bachelor degrees and graduate diplomas are nationally accredited programs. ACPE is a private higher education institution registered with the Tertiary Education Quality Standards Agency (TEQSA) and part of Study Group Australia. Study amongst the sporting elite on our new purpose-built campus in the mecca of sports excellence, Sydney Olympic Park. The campus has brand-new facilities and equipment, including multipurpose indoor sports courts, state-of-the-art dance studios, an expanded gymnasium and heaps more! 

Click here to find out more

ADF Careers Breakfast

The aim of the Annual Defence Force Careers Breakfast is to raise awareness of career opportunities with the Defence Forces.
In order to place a deposit with the Rydges Hotel, bookings and payment must be finalised by
9^th August 2016.  The Rydges Hotel can only cater for 160 persons, hence we urge you to book early.
Details are as follows: -
DATE:              12^th August 2016
TIMES:             8.30 am Registration
                         9.00 am – 11.00 am Breakfast and Guest Speakers
VENUE:            Rydges Tradewinds Hotel, The Esplanade, Cairns       
TOPIC:             Careers Opportunities within the Australian Defence Force.
COST:              $28.00 per person – includes breakfast and Certificate of Attendance (Tax Invoice can be provided if required)
Please note students must be under the supervision and care of teaching staff during the morning.  Students must have mobile phones switched off or on ‘silence’ throughout the Breakfast.
Certificates of attendance will be organised for those requesting them.  These will be mailed after the event.  Could teachers please provide a NEATLY PRINTED OR TYPED LIST OF NAMES on the morning.
There will be Raffle Prizes sponsored by local business houses.  Please encourage students to bring some extra money to support raffle as proceeds are used to donate to HEADSPACE (Support Youth Mental Health)
This year 50% of proceeds will go to HEADSPACE

Information from QTAC

Please see the following information from QTAC:
QTAC has a remedy... desktop notifications.
Do your students suffer from Fear Of Missing Out?
Our new desktop notification system is the perfect solution.
Simply ask your students to go to www.qtac.edu.au (on both their home and school computers) and select the bell symbol in the bottom right hand corner.
By subscribing, they'll receive the latest key dates and information vital to their QTAC application.
They won't need to visit our website, we'll deliver messages straight to them.
Never have a student worried about missing out again. Ask them to subscribe today.

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