Throughout the Melbourne trip, I loved when we visited agencies that discussed their work in the schools in Australia. As a future school counselor, it is so important that I gain this insight and learn about new ideas that I could implement in the school that I will work in someday. During our last week, two of these agencies we visited were Batyr and Family Life.

At Batyr, we learned all about the organization and the work that they do for youth across the continent. Their motto is “Giving a voice to the elephant in the room,” accompanied with their elephant Batyr logo. The main goal of Batyr is to break the stigma surrounding mental health, and the way that they send this message is by having speakers go out and tell their stories during assemblies at schools. We learned about the shocking statistic that out of every 30 students in Australia, 7 are having mental health issues but only 2 reach out for any kind of help.

Those who wish to become speakers or just want to practice sharing their story attend a Being Herd workshop where they are encouraged to tell their story with a few others who have also experienced struggles with mental health. Then if they choose, they can go through training to speak at the schools. As a school counselor, I would love to invite young people to come speak at my school. I think that it is so beneficial for students to hear about others who have seen victories with their mental health. It shows them that there is hope for them and they do not need to suffer alone.

At Family Life, we heard a presentation from two women who work in the schools of Bayside and Frankston. Their job is to initiate different school-focused youth services. For instance, we learned about one program that has to do with removing gender stereotypes among young men. This program is designed for boys who may not fit the typical mold of what a man is “supposed” to be like. It seems like a great way to teach the next generation that there is nothing wrong with them if they do not fit that mold that they see expressed in the world. In addition, the facilitators of these school programs conduct trauma workshops for faculty. This workshop is 2 hours long and explains the basic science behind trauma and how best to help students in schools who have experienced trauma in their lives. Another program discussed had to do with recruiting parents to develop a community-based initiative with the school. This idea is a great way to help get parents more involved in the schools.

Through these visits specifically and along with the other agency visits, I have learned so much about ways that I could incorporate different programs as a school counselor. Also, I have learned a lot about mental health and child welfare, in general. The trip to Melbourne was incredible and I am very grateful!

Megan Caldwell

The Great Ocean Road – a drive that anyone should partake in if given the chance! This drive is full of beautiful views that are unforgettable, although taking a few pictures doesn’t hurt either. Built in the early 1900s, the road has a rich history of almost 100 years. It is also the world’s longest war memorial as the entire length of the road – 243 kilometers/151 miles – is dedicated to World War I soldiers.

For our drive, we began in Melbourne and headed through country roads full of cattle for about two hours. Then, we started to see the stunning beauty of the coasts of Australia. We first made a stop at Bells Beach which completely took our breaths away. This spot had a great view of the ocean, full of pretty much every shade of blue. After stopping to get a quick snack at McGains Nursery, our bus headed to Point Roadknight. This stop was extra special because we got to take a moment to reflect and live in the moment. Our tour guide, Katie, told us to close our eyes and pay attention to each of our senses. She encouraged us to recount what brought us to this point of the trip. These moments of reflection allowed us to slow down and take it all in.

Other stops on this first day of the trip included Big Hill, Lorne Spot, Kennet River, and Apollo Bay. Each of these views did not disappoint. Another highlight of the day was getting to look for koalas in the gum trees above. We got to see a few which was exciting! Other animals we saw during the day included a kangaroo, a lot of birds, and a fox. Whenever outside of the big cities in Australia, be sure to be on the lookout for wildlife. The other activities of the day were walking through a rainforest and seeing the 12 Apostles at night.

The next day, we started early in order to see as many views as possible before heading back to Melbourne. Loch Ard Gorge was the first stop of the day, and I highly recommend it – one of my favorite stops of the trip!

We went to the 12 Apostles, this time in daylight, the London Bridge, the Grotto, the Bay of Islands, and the Bay of Martyrs. I appreciate how each of the stops have signs that explain the stories behind them.

The drive along The Great Ocean Road was breathtaking, and I highly recommend the trip to anyone visiting Australia. My words of wisdom are to take the time to reflect on what you are seeing, feeling, and experiencing. Think about what got you there and the people who may have helped you get there. Be present and take in all that is around you. Take the time to reflect on those who have gone before you and the stories that each of these stops hold. I have no doubt that you will have an incredible journey along The Great Ocean Road!

Megan Caldwell

Melbourne has been an incredible journey so far! It is very exciting to get to explore and learn about a whole new city and continent, especially with almost everyone from our group having never been here before. Our first week here in Melbourne had a main focus on its history and culture, specifically that of the Aboriginal population.

On Monday, May 7, we went to the Melbourne Museum where we were able to walk through an entire exhibit on the Aboriginal experience. As we looked at unique artifacts, watched videos of personal stories, and read real documents, I was able to connect with this population on a much deeper level. In addition, I better understand how the Aboriginal people of Australia had such a similar experience to that of the Native Americans in the United States. The exhibit truly exemplified the struggles, encounters, and prejudices that Aboriginal people have faced throughout history, beginning when Europeans came to Australia and took over the continent. The original landowners were often killed, separated from their families, and stripped of every bit of culture that formed their identity.

The next day, we had the opportunity to visit VACCA, the Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency. At this agency visit, our group went through a workshop that helped us to further understand the rich history and culture of the Aborginals that we had began to learn about the previous day at the museum. During this training, we were given a lot of detail about what life was like for these people before European colonization – full of family, tradition, belief systems, initiations, connection to the land, etc. So much of their way of living was taken from them when the Europeans arrived. We also talked about the Stolen Generation which were the children who were taken away from their families just within the last century. Although this history may seem so long ago, it is much more recent than many of us realize. At this visit, we were able to participate in simulations to get a better feel to what the Aboriginal people have experienced.

Aboriginal Flag                         Torres Strait Islander Flag

So what does this mean for me and you? Here are key takeaways moving forward:
1) Ask. Listen. Clarify. Not every Aboriginal, Native American, or other original landowner has had the same history or experience. Seek to understand and avoid making assumptions.
2) Aboriginals and Native Americans, along with other populations, still experience prejudice today. Racism is not just a part of our history – it is still an issue and is extremely relevant.
3) Do your best to learn the true history of our own country. What really happened and what is still happening?

This trip so far in Melbourne has been incredible and I cannot wait to learn more!

-Megan Caldwell