Student representatives were a special addition to this year’s Manningham Principals’ Breakfast, providing an essential voice on the issues important to local young people.
We hosted the breakfast on 27 July and it was a great success. It removed social barriers and created common ground for attendees to exchange ideas, experiences and create a unified approach to supporting the region’s young people.
Manningham Youth Advisory Committee member and local student, Berry Eain, said she got a lot out of the “eye opening and insightful” event.
“The fact that Council invited young people to this event was very special. You got to sit with people you had never met before and probably wouldn’t have an opportunity to meet - from different industries and professions, like the police force,” Berry said.
The Principals’ Breakfast provided an important platform that fostered connections between Manningham Council, principals, welfare teams, student representatives, and community organisations, including EACH, Doncare, Victoria Police, Aligned Leisure, Eastern Volunteers and Scentre.
“Your title didn’t matter; all the people there had the same desire to see improvements for young people through so many different perspectives and ideas,” Berry said.
The breakfast generated important conversation about critical issues such as mental health, anxiety, and burnout in young people. In addition, the participants delved into emerging concerns in 2023, highlighting technology addiction, teacher shortages, substance abuse, and behaviour regulation.
Manningham Mayor, Cr Deirdre Diamante, emphasised the significance of collaborative events like this in building a strong and united community.
"The annual Principals’ Breakfast provides an invaluable opportunity for our children, young people, their educators and Council to come together and work towards the common goal of nurturing a supportive environment for our children and young people.
“By strengthening our connections and understanding what is impacting them, we can effectively address the challenges and create brighter futures for our youth," Cr Diamante said.
At the heart of the breakfast was the keynote speech by Rachel Shankland, Manager of the Alcohol and Other Drugs team at Access Health and Community. Their insightful presentation focused on trauma-informed approaches, equipping schools with strategies to support students and create emotionally safe classrooms. The emphasis was on building safe and caring environments for children to thrive and succeed.
Following the keynote, a panel of subject matter experts, including Rachel, Amy Marshall from EACH’s Manningham Youth Services and Lane Stretton, Chair of Sport and Life Training (SALT), shared their expertise on local support, community perspectives, and broader assistance for parents, teachers, and young adults.
Manningham Council remains dedicated to collaborating with schools, service providers and community organisations to ensure the well-being and success of younger residents.