Narrogin Senior High School students learn about local services at health and wellbeing expo

Narrogin Senior High School students learnt about the mental health and wellbeing services available to them in the southern Wheatbelt during a school showcase. NSHS school health nurse Kate Furphy and student support officer Narelle Penny organised the biennial Koorlongka Health and Wellbeing Expo on October 14. Representatives from the region’s major health and wellbeing organisations — such as South West Aboriginal Medical Service, Cancer Council WA and Act Belong Commit — set up stalls in the NSHS gymnasium. Community organisations Shooting Stars, Clontarf Foundation and Rainbow Women’s Centre also attended. Students were able to access information and take part in organised activities such as trying alcohol impairment simulation goggles. “The aim was to showcase what is on offer in town and the resources available to students that might quietly be struggling,” Ms Penny said. “It provided information about mental health checks, sports, gardening, recycling, healthy eating, skin checks, epilepsy, life saving, Indigenous health and more. “All the stalls were interactive and lots of the students got to take home plants, lollies, skin care and information.” Guest speaker Jo Woodruf spoke about Within Reach Wheatbelt, which is a social media platform of health information and support for young people. SWAMS’ Alan Little spoke about his childhood and his studies to be a nurse. Ms Penny said the expo was well received by the school community and she wanted to thank the stallholders for their efforts. “The feedback was awesome and there were lots of positives, such as students getting to talk to professionals one on one,” she said.