By LOTTE REITER

A steering committee has revealed plans to spread a holistic mental-health and well-being movement across the Ararat municipality.

Central Grampians Local Learning and Employment Network hosted a launch event last week to provide residents insight into the approach, which is set to extend across a period of up to three years and incorporate workshops, expos and themed wellbeing days.

Network executive officer and steering committee member Jess Paterson said the movement was based on The Resilience Project’s programs and mission to build people’s resilience, mindfulness, gratitude and empathy.

She said this would build on Ararat schools’ groundwork in driving interest and bringing The Resilience Project and its ideas to the area in recent years, by expanding it to the whole community.

“The Resilience Project in Ararat has really been led by Ararat College with the support of our local primary schools,” she said.

“And really now we’re focused on widening that to the entire Ararat community.

“So, we would really like to integrate the involvement of as many community organisations as possible in working with the schools to really reiterate that message of resilience to students.”

Ms Paterson said the movement would start with The Resilience Project’s Martin Heppell leading school and community workshops in February next year.

“We’ll then work to roll-out resilience in a series of different events and activities in the next two to three years,” she said.

“This will be alongside continued support for the schools in implementing a resilience-based curriculum.

“It’s going to be fantastic for the community. 

“I think it’s a real opportunity for us to come together and work together to really focus on something that is as important as mental health in our youth, and really ensuring that they are equipped to be resilient going forward and can work towards the best possible outcomes for them and the community.”

Ms Paterson said the committee was still developing its long-term plans, and would incorporate ideas and feedback of The Resilience Project’s team when they visit next year. She said she felt positive about the movement’s success in Ararat.

“After the event, I really think it will be embraced,” she said.

“I’ve taken away a lot of positive feedback from the launch. 

“The Resilience Project has demonstrated that the concept is pretty universal, so if you take a small community like ours and apply it, I think there could be some really great things come out of it.”

The entire December 18, 2019 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!

The entire December 18,, 2019 edition of AgLife is available online. READ IT HERE!