Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Daniel Andrews will attend Debney Meadows Primary School in Flemnington on April 1st to launch the ‘Festival for Healthy Living Step by Step Guide For Schools’.

Mr Andrews will join principal Ms Terese Heally, staff and students from Debney Meadows, and staff from Royal Children’s Hospital Mental Health Service to celebrate the launch of this resource for schools.

Students from Maiden Gully Primary School near Bendigo, participants in last year’s Festival for Healthy Living, will also attend and perform at the launch of the guide.

Mr Harry Gelber from RCH Mental Health Service devised the Festival for Health Living five years ago.  It’s an exciting and creative approach to mental health promotion for children and young people.  Since the festival was established, genuine partnerships have developed and grown between the mental health, education and arts sectors

“Through performing arts, the program teaches children the skills to deal effectively with the issues that confront them in everyday life”, said Mr Gelber.  “The ‘Festival for Healthy Living Step by Step Guide for Schools’  assists schools to deliver their own Festival for Healthy Living.  Schools may follow the model and adapt it to their individual environments, thus leading to a celebration of the achievements of students”, he said.

The guide provides schools with access to professional development in areas of the arts and mental health promotion: its purpose is to assist schools to conduct their own successful Festival for Healthy Living.

Terese Heally said Debney Meadows Primary School is delighted to be participating in the festival for the first time this year.  “We have many students from non-English speaking backgrounds and the festival provides them with an opportunity to explore their feelings in a non-verbal way”, said Ms Heally.

Students from Debney Meadows and Maiden Gully Primary Schools will perform at the launch. Harry Gelber and Terese Heally are available for comment.

Media enquiries please contact Julie Webber RCH Public Affairs 9345 5130 or 0407 327 418.