Deputy Principal - Students, Ms Gabby Smith
Save the Date – Year 10 Dinner Cruise, Thursday 13 June 2024
The Waverley College Year 10 (2024) Dinner Dance provides a formal social opportunity for boys to host a partner at a dinner cruise on Sydney Harbour. This is a part of our Wellbeing Framework promoting respectful relationships.
Date: Thursday, 13 June 2024
Time: 5:45pm – 10pm (meet at Star City Casino Wharf at 5:30pm)
Venue: Bella Vista Cruise Ship
Embark/Disembark: Star City Casino Wharf, Pirrama Road, Pyrmont
Dress: Smart formal attire for all guests – boys to wear suit with jacket, tie and trousers
Cost: $105 per person, which includes four hours of cruising, a three-course meal, unlimited soft drinks/juice package, DJ and security
RSVP: Essential. Bookings open at 6pm on Friday, 24 May 2024.
If you have any further questions, please email Ms Suzi Sucur (Administrator Wellbeing Centre) at ssucur@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Dr Zac Seidler – Better Understanding the Impacts of TikTok Content on Young Men’s Mental Health
Dr Zac Seidler is a clinical psychologist, researcher and leading expert in men’s mental health. He currently holds dual roles as Global Director of Men’s Health Research at Movember and Senior Research Fellow with Orygen at the University of Melbourne.
Dr Seidler’s work has focused on issues of masculinity, fatherhood, mental health challenges experienced by men and the advocacy for inclusive and sensitive approaches to men’s mental health.
Currently, Dr Seidler’s team is undertaking research to better understand the impacts of TikTok content on young men’s mental health and are looking for men aged 16-25 to participate.
Recent data shows, based on time spent utilising the app, TikTok is now the most popular social media app in Australia, with social media users spending an average of 42 hours and 13 minutes each month on TikTok. (We Are Social/Meltwater, 2024). Many of our young people are now opting to use TikTok for not only entertainment, but also as a search engine and source of information. Whilst being online can offer numerous benefits like facilitating connection, communication, and learning, there are a range of potential negative impacts including comparisons with others, poor self esteem, cyberbullying, #FOMO (fear of missing out!), feelings of isolation and alienation, over exposure to current affairs and screen addiction. This research is relevant in understanding how we may support our youth as they navigate the online landscape. (Khalaf A M, Alubied A A, Khalaf A M, et al. (August 05, 2023).
This research has been ethically approved by the University of Melbourne in collaboration with the charity Movember and your son’s data will be stored safely and securely.
If your son is interested in partaking in Dr Seidler’s voluntary research, you may access information via the link below.
Hey, are you a man ages 16-25 living in Australia, the UK, or the US? Do you frequently use TikTok? We want to hear from you. We’re a research team exploring TikTok’s impact on young men. Our study includes a 15-minute survey and sharing TikTok data now and in three months’ time. Your information will remain anonymous, won’t be shared beyond this study, and you can opt out anytime.
You’ll be compensated AUD$100 (around US$65/£50) for your time – AUD$40 after the initial survey and data share, and AUD$60 for the follow-up.
Interested? Sign up here: AUS LINK: https://unforgettable.me/projects/user/d2e04e60538c6b397f513addf66d64aa
First payment is immediate upon completion of the initial survey.
Tips for Navigating Social Media
Do you have conversations with your children about social media? As parents/carers, social media can be a difficult topic to navigate with your children. However, facilitating open and non-judgemental conversations around online engagement can be an important step in better understanding and supporting your child’s digital journey. This may entail asking your child about his screen time including any perceived positives and negatives, setting boundaries collaboratively with your child about their usage, as well as modelling appropriate online usage as parents/carers.
If you require further assistance in guiding your child’s screen time or have concerns regarding their mental wellbeing, our Psychology team is readily available to provide support and guidance.
Junior School Psychologists
- Ms Alexsandra McCredie (Year 5 students) amccredie@waverley.nsw.edu.au
- Ms Dawn Young (Year 6 students) dyoung@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Senior School Psychologists
- Ms Samantha Jessen (Lacey, Quinn, Conlon and Green House students) sjessen@waverley.nsw.edu.au
- Mr Greg Cameron (O’Connor, Brennan and Aungier House students) gcameron@waverley.nsw.edu.au
- Ms Olivia Stelling (Tevlin House students) ostelling@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Ms Olivia Stelling
College Psychologist
ostelling@waverley.nsw.edu.au
Changes to Vaping and the Law – Update
Australian regulators have introduced new vaping reforms through changes to the therapeutic goods and customs regulations. These reforms aim to address the rising health concerns associated with vaping, while maintaining access to vapes for therapeutic use such as helping existing smokers quit under medical supervision.
On 1 January 2024, Australia banned the importation of disposable vapes, with few exceptions, regardless of their nicotine content or therapeutic claims. This means importing disposable vapes is illegal in Australia.
Therapeutic vape importers and manufacturers are required to notify the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) about compliance with the relevant product standards before importation to Australia or release for supply in Australia. The prohibition extends to personal imports of disposable vapes for therapeutic purposes, with an exception for international travellers who may bring a small quantity for personal treatment.
In addition to these importation bans, the government has also introduced further legislation to prevent the domestic production, promotion, supply, and commercial possession of disposable vapes.
Health practitioners, including doctors and nurse practitioners, can prescribe therapeutic vapes without needing TGA pre-authorisation, simplifying the prescription process for medically supervised smoking cessation.
The reforms also ban importing non-therapeutic vapes, prohibiting direct overseas orders for patients, even with prescriptions.
New pre-market standards for therapeutic vapes require importers and manufacturers to adhere to new TGA compliance standards, including flavour restrictions (mint, menthol and tobacco flavours are allowed) and device specifications. These reforms, part of a broader government strategy to reduce tobacco and vape use, do not criminalise personal vape possession or use, but aim to regulate vaping more stringently to protect public health.
Opal Card Compliance
We would like to take this opportunity to reinforce the topic of Opal Card Compliance for school students. It is a condition of the Student Code of Conduct when travelling that students must Tap On and Off with their School Opal Card or Child/Youth Opal Card every time when using public transport. This is so that Transport for NSW can understand customer travel patterns and adjust the services provided, if necessary.
If students do not meet these criteria, they will need to carry a Child/Youth Opal card with funds loaded onto it. If a student’s School Opal Card has expired or been damaged, lost or stolen, please visit transportnsw.info/school-travel-apply to reapply.
Transport NSW will continue to conduct random visits to school bus stops to reinforce this message to students throughout the year.
Ms Gabby Smith
Deputy Principal – Students
gsmith@waverley.nsw.edu.au
