Our wellbeing can change moment to moment, day to day, year to year, and can be influenced by what’s happening in a specific moment and the actions that we take.
As an educator, your wellbeing is important. Looking after your wellbeing puts you in a better position to support others in your care.
There is a wide range of online apps and resources that you can use to support your mental health and wellbeing. This collection of online resources offer guidance and practical strategies for educators.
You may also find these tools useful to pass on to other members of your learning community, including colleagues, children and young people, and their families.
Your wellbeing practice
Online resources can help you practise the thoughts, feelings and behaviours of good mental health. This can include:
- using apps for developing skills such as mindfulness
- online courses to manage challenges such as anxiety or depression
- tracking your progress on the things that may positively impact your mental health (for example, exercise, nutrition and mood).
Useful resources and apps include:
Be You Wellbeing Plan for Educators
This resource will help you to consider strategies and resources you can use to promote and protect your wellbeing at and outside work, and address the unique challenges you may experience as an educator.
Be You Wellbeing Plan for Education Students
This plan is designed to help education and early childhood students support their own mental health and wellbeing while studying, and address the challenges they may experience during their career as an educator.
Be You Planning for Wellbeing: mine, yours, ours
This link is for an online flipbook for early learning educators. This resource will support educators to reflect on their stressors, as well as provide information on how to engage in conversations with colleagues and support wellbeing in their learning community.
Beyond Blue's Personal best
Suggested activities, guidance and inspiration to help you find the balance in all areas of your life while navigating the ups and downs.
Black Dog Institute – Digital tools and resources
Collection of quizzes for self-assessment and apps to help with mild to moderate conditions.
Black Dog Institute – My Compass
The My Compass program supports you to track your wellbeing over time.
Smiling Mind
Smiling Mind is a free app designed by psychologists to support you in adopting a mindfulness practice. There are programs for stress, sleep, attention and concentration, and wellbeing among other topics.
THIS WAY UP
Developed with funding from the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, these online courses have been clinically proven to lessen anxiety and depression.
Information about mental health and wellbeing
The online space offers a wealth of information, which can make it challenging to find and interpret the best evidence-based information to build your knowledge of mental health and wellbeing.
These resources and apps help you to explore your understanding of wellbeing and mental health, and find the best strategies for you.
Black Dog Institute – Wellbeing
Information and resources on how to achieve and maintain a state of wellbeing.
Black Dog Institute – Workplace wellbeing
Information on what a healthy work/life balance looks like and how to establish this.
headspace – Tips to keep good mental health
This link provides tips and advice on strategies you can implement to maintain good mental health.
Head to Health – Rural and remote Australia
Head to Health is a national government directory of digital mental health resources and supports. This page provides information and resources specific to people living in rural and remote areas.
Health Info Net
The Australian Indigenous Health Info Net has information and resources specific to Indigenous Australian social and emotional wellbeing.
Wellbeing Australia
A not-for-profit network of people and organisations committed to developing individual and community wellbeing, especially in education.
Work and mental health
Practical information and resources to help you understand mental health and support you to manage stress in the workplace.
Tools for communication
Technology can help you to connect with others, share your thoughts and reach out for the support you need when you need it.
Online communication support tools include forums, phone and online chats and email, as well as crisis support. You can also find translation services online, and where to go for help for people who have a hearing or speech impairment. Use mental health and wellbeing communication tools to:
- gain access to trained mental healthcare professionals
- connect with others through online forums, and express your thoughts and ideas
- be guided in how to have conversations in your learning community about looking after mental health and wellbeing.
Here are some useful resources and apps that provide opportunities for communicating about mental health and wellbeing.
Beyond Blue online forums
An online community open to anyone residing in Australia with forums on topics related to mental health and wellbeing.
Beyond Blue Support Service
Access a range of free supports seven days a week. All calls and chats are one-on-one with a counsellor.
Suicide Call Back Service
24/7 crisis support and counselling service for people affected by suicide.
MensLine
MensLine is an online counselling and telephone service for all men in Australia looking for support with their wellbeing.
Life is a telephone and web chat service for members of the LGBTI community across Australia, available from 3pm – midnight every day.
Downloadable free resources to help you meaningfully connect with people around you and support anyone struggling with life.
