Tracking Our Children’s Well-Being

EXPERTS from Melbourne University’s positive psychology department will be conducting a study of children’s well-being in the Upper Hunter, in conjunction with the Where There’s A Will foundation.

The study will determine what mental health and well-being programs are best suited to local children and will form part of a long terms study to track changes in well-being.

The will be conducted during school time next term, take approximately 30 minutes to complete, are anonymous and for children 10 years of age and older.

Pauline Carrigan, founder of the Where There’s a Will Foundation, urged parents to give their permission.

“So often we have people wanting to know what they can do to help Where There’s a Will and to help their own child’s well-being.  Well this is it. Please hunt down these permission slips and sign away,” Mrs Carrigan said.

“We all want our kids to be thriving and flourishing and the information we gain from these surveys will really help us understand how we can best make this happen,” she said.

“We want to ensure every programme we deliver reflects the uniqueness of our rural community and the challenges that can come with that,” she said.

“Importantly, the responses will also provide data so we can lobby government agencies for more urgently required services to Upper Hunter,” she said.

“It’s no secret that we are lacking in this area compared to our city counterparts and these survey results will help strengthen our argument; Kids need to access services right here when they are needed,” Pauline Carrigan said.

The Foundation also plan a survey later in the year for youth aged 18 to 25 years.