More than 170 grade six girls from across the Surf Coast Shire came together on Tuesday for ‘The Power of Connection’ – Grade Six Girls Empowerment Day.
The students, representing eight local primary schools, converged on Torquay’s Banyul-Warri Fields for a day of health and wellbeing activities to help prepare them for the transition to secondary school.
Torquay Ward Councillor Martin Duke said the event was a collaborative and proactive approach to teenage health and wellbeing.
“This is the first time we’ve held this event. The idea was for the girls – who came from all parts of the shire – to connect with others whom they may end up at the same secondary school with, and to teach them about the importance of looking after their health and wellbeing.”
“Activities included yoga and meditation as well as a sustainability initiative, where they learned how to make a reusable beeswax wrap that they could take home and use to pack their lunches,” he said.
“Starting high school is a big transition for a young person so we want to help give them a head start and make sure they look after themselves and know about all the local health and leisure services they can access.”
The students will also receive information about the youth lounge at Kurrambee Myaring Community Centre, which is open 3pm until 5pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
“The youth lounge is a chill out space for young people, but next year our plan is to also run facilitated programs like yoga and cooking classes,” Cr Duke said.
‘The Power of Connection’ event is part of Council’s Engage youth program, which is funded by the State Government.
