beyondblue launches new National Education Initiative

beyondblue has launched a new National Education Initiative, in conjunction with delivery partners headspace and Early Childhood Australia, and with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health.

A single, integrated national initiative to support children and young people from birth to eighteen, the initiative will provide participants with:

• Skills to foster positive mental health, to help prevent mental health issues arising, and to recognise and respond to mental health issues when they do occur;
• Online, evidence-based professional learning, tools, and resources;
• A trained national workforce of consultants who provide advice and support to early learning services and schools; and,
• An effective model for implementing whole setting approaches.  

The initiative will integrate and expand on existing mental health initiatives being delivered in education and care settings, such as Response Ability, and KidsMatter Early Childhood. Resources from these programs will still be available until the National Education Initiative launches in late 2018, and services are welcomed and encouraged to join those initiatives during the handover period.

Designed with education professionals in mind, the National Education Initiative has considered the workloads of those in education and care, and the complexities of their roles. The initiative is free to join, and flexible in delivery, allowing participants to move through the program at their own pace. Learning communities will be supported to integrate their priorities and standards, and to build on the current initiatives in practice in their community.

Further information about the program can be found on the beyondblue website, and enquiries about the initiative should be directed to bbnei@beyondblue.org.au