Literary legend
MEMFOX
Physio takes on BIRTHTRAUMA TABOOS
Hoppers Crossing author shares
HOPEFORKIDS
Summer sun’s no match for UV tech About Us
I’M going to be honest: I’m not a summer gal.
Give me the (theoretically) more moderate weather of autumn or spring any day.
But my active, outdoorsy daughter loves the warmer months.
For her, this time of year means holidaying by a creek and spending hours in the water with family and friends.
For me, it means seemingly endless sunscreen application and reapplication, reminders to put on her hat, and chasing shade.
Having live UV level readings at my fingertips is - and I’m reluctant to use this ubiquitous term, but I think it’s appropriate - a game-changer for someone with my pale complexion, and unblemished porcelain skin like my strawberry-blonde daughter.
CONTENTS
IT’S YOUR LIFE
Steve Biddulph: We can beat anxietyhere’s how
PAGE 4
A Mindful Moment: Why mindfulness? The facts and figures
PAGE 4
Preparing bodies for birth: Mum and physio breaks taboos
PAGE 5
West Footscray Neighbourhood House: ‘We do incredible things’ PAGE 6
Heartland Support Services: your partner in empowerment
PAGE 6
‘Cancer made our bond stronger’: Myrniong mum’s battle months after giving birth
PAGE 7
Holding onto hope: Hoppers Crossing psychologist keeping kids on track
PAGE 7
Kids in the Kitchen: Chocolate crackle slice
PAGE 8
Run a successful family day care with Windermere
PAGE 9
Windermere Plan Management: Trusted and consistent support
PAGE 10
For those not in the know, iPhone users can add a widget to their lock screen that displays the live UV rating for your location. Perhaps androids have the same capability? Please let me know!
Visiting arpansa.gov.au also provides UV measurements in real-time alongside predicted levels across the day.
What incredible tools to have at our disposal in such a sundrenched state.
It’s a far cry from the guessing game our parents - and our younger selveshad to play.
How often I assumed I wouldn’t get burnt on an overcast or cooler summer day only to discover patches of angry red skin after I returned indoors.
Now I relish the rays in the early hours - when the sun is yet to unleash its full fury - and soak up the gentle evening sunshine sans hat and rashie.
I celebrate the final sunscreen application for the day and feel grateful for the technology that helps me better protect my daughter not just from painful sunburn, but from skin damage and - most importantly - skin cancer.
I know I probably look a little overprotective when I call my daughter out of the water for her two-hourly sunscreen reapplication, and regularly receive a sideways glance for seeking shade while others soak up the sun, but having lost a loved one to melanoma these are sacrifices I’m very willing to make.
Kids West Today magazine is a Star News Group publication. Kids West Today will be published quarterly prior to each of the school holidays.
Kids West Today Unit 6/1-9 Thomsons Road, Keilor Park Phone: (03) 8318 5777
Sales Manager Gayle Williams gayle.williams@starweekly.com.au
Editorial Casey Neill casey.neill@starnewsgroup.com.au
Group Advertising Sales Manager Mandy Clark mandy.clark @starnewsgroup.com.au
The Meadows: A hidden family dining experience
PAGE 11
EDUCATION
Easing the high school transition
PAGE 12
‘Yes’ is the default at Global Village Learning
PAGE 13
Dive into a safer summer at Paul Sadler Swimland
PAGE 14
North Lalor Secondary College: Different to make a difference
PAGE 14
RETIREMENT LIVING
Lifestyle Brookfield: Live life unlimited
PAGE 17
Independent retirement with Centennial Living
PAGE 18
REALITY BITES
Literary legend Mem Fox: “I‘ve been given a gift. I feel that I have to use it until the last.”
PAGE 19
BOOKS
Embracing a brighter future with Nicho Hynes
PAGE 21
Discover new book releases for all ages
PAGE 21
Published by Star News Group publication ACN 99 006 310 498.
Publisher/Managing Director, Paul Thomas. All material is copyright to Star News Group Pty Ltd. All significant errors will be corrected as soon as possible.
Cover Officer toddler Iyra is all smiles in the summer sun.
We can beat anxiety IT’S YOUR LIFE
STEVE BIDDULPH
explains how our wild animal side helps us feel calm and strong.
THIS month I am travelling to China at the invitation of my Chinese publishers.
I am very happy to go because, just as there are in Australia, there are huge anxiety problems happening with children and something has to be done to save these kids.
Anxiety is a horrible and upsetting thing.
I have had it myself and many readers will have too.
Since my new book came out I have had hundreds of conversations with people - in airports, on trains, in taxis, or online - and everybody knows someone whose life has been affected.
In the world we live in today, it is hardly surprising that children, teens, and adults feel anxious; there are so many real dangers, from the coming effects of the climate emergency to the meanness of people towards each other in politics, on the news, and on social media.
As parents, we are waking up to not having the TV news blasting in our living rooms, and not letting kids have social media or internet in their lives until well into their teen years.
Something we might also have to address is how to lower our own anxiety levels, since children are very sensitive to how we are faring.
In short, if we are anxious, they will know it and this will make them uneasy too.
So here is a simple strategy to use, from my new book Wild Creature Mind, to lower your own anxiety so it doesn’t affect your kids.
The neuroscience behind this is described in the book, but here in a short column, I want to give you a tool to get started.
Think first of how we tend to describe our mental state in everyday language.
We nearly always say ‘I AM anxious’ or ‘I AM angry’ and so on.
When we say it this way, it sounds, and feels, very total. Like every cell of my being is affected.
But here is something to try.
Instead of ‘I AM’, try saying ‘SOMETHING IN ME is anxious’ (or angry, or whatever it is).
Notice that as soon as you say it this way, there is a kind of space around the feeling; that it’s there in you but is not ALL of you.
This wording is actually more objectively true, since mental states like anxiety are actually located somewhere in your body.
If you then direct your attention to WHERE you feel anxious, a very interesting thing happens.
It will start off quite hazy but within seconds you will notice ‘It’s in my tummy’ or ‘My heart feels tight’, or ‘It’s in my throat’.
Everyone feels it slightly differently, and it moves about too.
Something very interesting is going on as your body is trying to get your attention.
A part of you is where the bad feeling
lives, and you can send it a message of kindness and give it some room.
It is trying to tell you something. And you are starting to listen.
So now we go to the next step.
Now, the mental hack that therapists are finding quite amazing is to try and put words to the sensation you have noticed.
Is it tight or churning or thumping or hard? A friend of mine who had just suffered a very major grief experience described his heart feeling like a stone.
As you describe in words the sensation, an amazing thing starts to happen.
The ‘wild creature’ part of you which has been ignored up until now starts to soften and move, and the anxiety begins to dissolve.
If you are in a safe place - your home or in bed - then your body will automatically soften and begin to relax.
If you are in an unsafe place, then it will actually begin to mobilise so you can fight or flee, but either way you will have broken the frozen anxiety state and know what you need to do.
My book Wild Creature Mind starts with a teenage girl called Ellie who is blitzed with anxiety, found by her mum sobbing on the bathroom floor in the middle of the night.
With the right help, contacting her wild animal wisdom, Ellie discovers she is really furiously angry at the boys who have been sexually harassing her and her friends at the bus stop, and she and her friends take action to get the school to deal with them.
Her anxiety was frozen anger and she was able to set it free.
My friend who had the stone in his heart paid close attention to it and felt it move to his throat, and then pour out of him in tears of release.
His anxiety was frozen sorrow and it was so healing to let it go.
Our bodies are very wise and capable.
For now, just try out this ‘hack’ yourself. Next time you feel bad, say ‘something in me is…’ anxious, or depressed, or angry, or sad, and go and find where inside you it lives.
Describe it to yourself, feel it start to change, and see where it goes.
Soon you will find anxiety lessens in your life and, despite the awfulness of the world, you will be a safe harbour for your children and a fierce panther or tiger when you have to be.
Steve Biddulph is a retired psychologist who campaigns for a better life for parents and kids. For climate action. And for solving the worldwide epidemic of anxiety.
His book Wild Creature Mind is out now in shops, online, and in audiobook.
Why mindfulness? The facts and figures
DESPITE our society having much more awareness of the need to support our emotional and mental wellbeing, why are we still struggling?
The wellbeing industry has seen extraordinary growth over the past decade, particularly post-Covid, and we are all much more aware of the importance of self-care and the need to prioritise our emotional and mental wellbeing.
Programs have been designed to support wellbeing in the workplace, more and more people are seeking professional support, there are wellbeing coaches, school-wide programs are being implemented, and so much more.
But, despite all this, the data shows that the area needs much more focus and attention.
While not wanting to alarm readers, I do want to share a few important statistics.
Half of all the mental health conditions experienced in life will have started by age 14, according to Beyond Blue.
The most common disorders children experience are attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and anxiety.
Another study conducted by Beyond Blue found that one in seven young people aged between 4 and 17 years
experience a mental health condition in any given year.
However, the good news is that Smiling Minds says ‘evidence shows that prevention can reduce the prevalence and impact’.
While some mental health conditions require treatment by experienced, trained professionals, I believe that simple prevention strategies - such as mindfulness and meditation - at a young age can play a pivotal role in preventing some emotional problems further down the track.
Even starting with a small step as a family by sitting still for one minute and listening to the sounds around you, or having a ‘mindful moment’ once a week, such as being aware of doing a certain activity like brushing your teeth, can be a positive start.
If you’re not convinced, a study conducted by Harvard University found that people are at their happiest not
when their mind wanders to pleasant thoughts, but when the mind is focused on what they are doing in the present moment!
I realise that prevention strategies are not for everyone, and that serious emotional and mental health conditions require expert and professional help, but isn’t it worth at least giving mindfulness and meditation a go?
If nothing else, it could be a nice habit to form with your family - one that you might even enjoy.
Fiona is an experienced primary school teacher with a passion for student wellbeing.
She runs a variety of mindfulness programs for primary school-aged children.
Each session is designed to equip children with a toolkit of mindfulness strategies to help them lead healthier and happier lives.
IT’S YOUR LIFE
Preparing bodies for birth
By Casey Neill
MELBOURNE mum and physio Alex Lopes is arming women with ‘taboo’ knowledge around pregnancy and birth.
“It’s not talked about enough,” she said.
“Modern science can’t protect us from potential trauma during childbirth; things can go wrong.”
Alex knows this first-hand.
The director at Altona North’s Pelvic Health Melbourne worked as a sports physiotherapist before a traumatic birth ‘ripped (her) in two’, causing bladder, bowel, and prolapse issues.
“There’s a journey of feeling disfigured, feeling damaged,” she said.
“I did not feel supported in my recovery so I retrained in this field.
“A lot of physios have gone into this field because of their own childbirth experiences - some from very positive experiences, others less so.
“After my own experience, I wanted to create a safe space for women in my community to be looked after.”
This was the impetus behind Pelvic Health Melbourne, which has evolved to offer pelvic health services to men, women, kids, and all genders.
Alex became the National Chair of the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s Women’s, Men’s, and Pelvic Health Group.
During her term she was passionate about establishing a consistent national physiotherapy training pathway, which has now been developed and rolled out across Australia.
She’s has run post-birth education sessions for 10 years, reaching out to community health centres, working with maternal child health nurses and helping women to understand the birth risks and their rights and choices.
Alex hosts free Body After Baby events, which include ultrasounds for participants, and her presentation is available on the Pelvic Health Melbourne website under ‘pregnancy services’.
“This class has been based on filling in the gaps I’ve seen in the pregnancy and postnatal education healthcare space,” she said.
“I wish we could get together and develop a national online education program so that we have consistent comprehensive education to all parents across Australia.”
She turns to humour to share her message; her aim is to normalise the language around pelvic health concerns.
The good news? We’re getting more comfortable talking about birth injuries, bladder, bowel prolapse, and intimate concerns.
“I’m really hopeful for the next generation,” Alex said.
“My friends, in their fifties? I can still see them squirm.”
Alex said most event attendees had already given birth and she hoped to see more attend prenatally so they could be better prepared.
“I don’t use fear tactics - it’s about putting it in perspective, saying ‘these are things to be aware of’,” she said.
“They tend to cope so much better with things that may not have gone to plan if they’ve been informed.”
She covers episiotomies, epidurals, forceps, suction, caesareans, pushing and all after-birth care, which is often missed.
“The birth is only one day and we want to make it as efficient as possible,” she said.
The post-birth complications, though, can last a lot longer.
One of the complications can be pelvic organ prolapse. Alex said 50 percent of women would develop an anatomical prolapse over their lifetime, but it might never have any impact.
“Only 23 percent will develop symptoms,” she said.
What is a prolapse? Your pelvic floor muscles support your organs from below.
Throughout pregnancy and during birth the ligaments supporting the organs can stretch and the organs - the bladder, bowel, or uterus - can fall into the vaginal space.
Prolapses are usually felt as bulge or heaviness, not pain.
Having a prolapse and increased vaginal laxity can “throw your sense of identity as a sexual being”.
“But there is hope,” Alex said.
“We look at how to reduce your symptoms.
“See a pelvic health physio for any symptoms that persist.
“As a general rule, if you’ve got persistent leakage, bowel or pain complaints after three months, see someone.
“In an ideal world, pelvic health physios would see every woman at six weeks post-birth.”
She said seeking help put women in a vulnerable position, but that it was a less intimidating prospect after birth.
“You’ve lost a little bit of the prudishness,” she laughed.
“You’re a little bit more open to people looking than you were before having kids.
“If you go into a space and you know that’s all they do, you feel safe.”
She often hears, ‘Wow, I wish I had come in earlier’ and ‘I felt so heard, so understood’.
Alex said that in the ‘old days’ and in other cultures it was common for women to have 40 days of confinement post-birth.
“We’ve lost our way, caring for our women,” she said.
“You’re left to fend for yourself.
“So many women struggle.
“You’re still recovering from passive whole-body trauma and then you’re sleep-deprived and trying to cook, clean, and do everything else.”
Body After Baby also covers breastfeeding and attachment, particularly blocked ducts and lymphatic drainage.
Alex is a strong advocate for teaching women to feed lying down.
She said it was ‘everything’ in the 1940s but fell out of favour with the advent of bottle feeding.
“The muscles of the pelvic floor are stretched to three times their normal length and suffer microscopic tears,” she said.
“The only way to rest is lying down, not sitting.
“I guarantee you women suffer back and shoulder pain from feeding upright.
“I haven’t had any woman who feeds lying down and didn’t enjoy it.”
Alex Lopes, standing, is passionate about pelvic health.
IT’S YOUR LIFE
House does ‘incredible things’
By Casey Neill
WEST Footscray Neighbourhood House is so much more than just a building.
The hive of activity fosters community connection and helps local families give their kids a leg up.
The house offers enriching children’s programs, from the Maribyrnong Toy Library to community childcare, Saturday playgroup, a coding club, and more, all under the same roof as the West Footscray Library and other services.
Community engagement manager Shannon Snowdon’s passion for the house is palpable.
“We work with small funding and budgets and we do incredible things,” she said.
The West Footscray Sensory Library is one of the most recent additions to the Barkly Street hub.
Membership lets parents borrow sensory toys and resources from 11am to 1pm on Wednesdays.
It’s geared for children aged 3 months to 6 years with sensory processing issues, autism, and developmental delays and includes fidget toys, weighted blankets, textured objects, light-up toys, and sound-producing items.
“They can figure out what works before they make a purchase,” Shannon said.
The Maribyrnong Toy Library has more than 520 members and is open 10am to noon Tuesdays and Saturdays, and 2pm to 4pm Thursdays.
“We’re always looking for donations,” Shannon said.
“They need to be good quality and they can’t be soft toys - we need to be able to clean them.”
West Footscray mum Kayla Robertson has been bringing one-year-old daughter Aubrey to the library since she was about three months old.
“I’m trying to take a low-waste approach to parenthood,” she said.
“We can get new toys every two weeks without buying them.”
And they’ve discovered toys they wouldn’t have otherwise come across.
Educator Belinda Khalifeh runs the playgroups, including the fortnightly Saturday session that brings dads together.
“The parents get to know each other,” she said.
“It’s all about the community.”
Shannon said many of the dads worked during the week and their wives took shifts on weekends.
They appreciate having a safe space to take their kids with toilets, baby change facilities and an experienced facilitator, all for a gold coin donation.
The weekday playgroup is helping “lonely” mums make connections.
Shannon said many second-time mums had moved since having their first baby but weren’t given a second mum’s group, so they turned to playgroup.
Children who attend the occasional childcare service also pop into the playgroup to form friendships, and even test out the toy library wares.
Lily runs the childcare and has 39 years of experience in the industry.
“She’s the childcare queen of West Footscray,” Shannon said.
“She’s been in the industry forever.”
She said the service filled a gap, helping parents to juggle work and sessional kinder.
“And everyone says that it’s so nice to have something close to home,” Shannon said.
Lily said long daycare was “hard yakka for the kids and the staff”.
“This is more like a family daycare,” she said.
Visit www.wfnh.org.au, call 9687 3345, email enquiries@wfnh.org.au, or follow www.facebook.com/ westfootscrayneighbourhoodhouse for more information.
Where people are at the heart
HEARTLAND Support Services is not just a service provider - it’s your partner in empowerment!
Its mission? To inspire individuals with disabilities to thrive and live their best lives.
As a passionate NDIS provider, Heartland offers an extensive range of personalised services designed to meet the unique needs of each participant.
From assistance with community access and personal care to support
coordination, psychosocial recovery coaching, allied health services, supported independent living (SIL), respite care, and its vibrant day program in Werribee, Heartland has you covered.
The dynamic day program is a hub of engagement and inspiration.
With enriching activities focused on skill development, social interaction, and fun, there’s something for everyone.
Whether you’re into arts and crafts, physical activities, gaming, or exciting
community outings, Heartland’s programs are crafted to create joyful experiences and unforgettable memories.
The Heartland team believes in the power of connection.
What truly makes the organisation special is its unwavering commitment to building genuine relationships between participants and their support workers.
Its dedicated team carefully matches participants with the right support workers, blending professionalism with companionship.
Heartland also proudly offers a free service for individuals seeking to access the NDIS. If the application process feels overwhelming, Heartland is here to guide you every step of the way with hands-on support and expert advice.
Call 1300 175 547, email info@thehss.com.au, or visit www.thehss.com.au for more information.
(Damjan Janevski)
‘My son got me through it’
MYRNIONG mum Lynn Burgess found a lump in her armpit when she was eight months pregnant.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer when son Oakley was three weeks old.
“The hardest part was seeing my loved ones really sad,” she said.
“It’s easier for you to go through it than watch people you love go through it.”
Lynn endured a mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy.
“I lost all my hair, I gained weight from being pregnant and gained more weight from steroids,” she said.
“I didn’t really look in the mirror that
much; I had no idea who I was.
“I just kept reminding myself that, internally, I am the same person.
“My son got me through it because I woke up in the morning and he just wanted me to be a mum, so that’s what I did.
“Even after my mastectomy, I developed a way to get him out of the cot with one arm.
“I made sure I was there for that baby every single day.
“He had no idea that I had cancer and he didn’t care that I was huge from steroids or bald.
“Cancer made our bond stronger because he just loved me for who I was.”
Lynn had tough days where she feared the worst, and shared her negative feelings with family and friends to get it out of her system.
“If you don’t have that, write it down and burn the piece of paper,” she said.
Lynn urged anyone supporting a woman battling cancer to simply listen.
“If it is your wife, your sister, your auntie, your mum, just tell them they’re beautiful,” she said.
“Never tell them, ‘your hair will grow back’ or ‘it’s just a boob’ or ‘you don’t need a boob’.
“Just say, ‘I don’t understand but what can I do to help?’.”
She also urged women to be vigilent about their health.
Helping parents to give kids hope
By Casey Neill
A Hoppers Crossing psychologist says a little bit of hope can keep kids on track.
Dr Lyn O’Grady has dedicated more than 30 years to enhancing mental health and wellbeing for children, young people, and their families. Her new book, Keeping Our Kids Hopeful: Parenting Children During Times of Uncertainty, delves into what drives us to face each new day - hope and confidence in the future.
“A loss of hope is where we become most stuck,” she said.
The book explores how this sense of hope can be fostered in children, even amid uncertainties and challenges.
“It’s for parents of primary schoolaged children, really aiming to help parents understand the uncertainty and all the different things their kids might be facing, and to bring an element of hope to that,” Dr O’Grady said.
“How do we be hopeful in this space and work out how we can be hopeful as role models?”
In 2020, Dr O’Grady wrote Keeping Our Kids Alive: Parenting a Suicidal Young person.
Then she took a step back. Why wait until teens were at breaking point?
“I was very aware from my work that sometimes children had been aware of suicide but it didn’t become apparent to their parents until they were teenagers,” she said.
So she set out to provide parents with early intervention tactics and a preventative approach.
Dr O’Grady said suicide represented a loss of hope.
“It made sense to be thinking of how to embrace hope,” she said.
A consistent theme throughout the book is adults listening to children, giving children hope they’re being heard.
She said kids had lots of ideas that adults - parents, teachers, etcetera -
weren’t really tuning into or really hearing. Tune into your child and work out what to do together.
“That again makes people feel hopeful,” Dr O’Grady said.
Modelling confidence is another key way to give children confidence in themselves.
“Parents have to work out this stuff first,” she said.
“If they get their own support then they’re better equipped to support the child.”
Acknowledging a child’s concern is also key.
“Sometimes parents can be dismissive of what children’s worries are,” Dr O’Grady said.
“It is about validating these worries and trying to make sense of it for yourself and being able to face it together.
“What are some of the things we can do as a family? What are some actions that we can take?”
“I did the genetic testing and it came back negative,” she said.
“I thought it had to be in your family to get it and I learned fairly quick that it was the roll of a dice and it just picked me for whatever reason.”
Western Health breast care nurse consultant Sue Komp urged women to prioritise their health.
“The most important thing is being aware of your own body and then acting on it as soon as you’re concerned,” she said.
“So if you feel a lump or you feel something is not right, see your GP as soon as you can.”
- Afraa Kori
Parents need to acknowledge that the big things exist.
“Deaths, separations, can create feelings of being less hopeful, or uncertain, or stressed,” Dr O’Grady said.
“It’s about normalising that distress and recognising children’s responses to it as being really normal.”
Chocolate crackle slice
CHOCOLATE crackles were possibly my favourite party food as a kid and when it came to my birthday, I don’t know what I enjoyed more: making them with my mum or eating them.
It’s these fond memories that inspired my chocolate crackle slice.
I’ve given it a nourishing twist but kept the nostalgic flavour and texture and, as always, made it easy enough for kids of all ages help to make.
In place of rice bubbles I’ve used puffed brown rice, but any puffed grain will do.
I’ve added some seeds for fibre, protein and extra nutrients; pumpkin seeds for zinc and immune support, sesame seeds for calcium and healthy bones and teeth, and sunflower seeds for cell protective antioxidants vitamin E and selenium.
In place of copha I’ve used a little coconut oil, as well as nut butter to add more protein – yes, we want to focus on getting adequate protein into all our kids’ meals and snacks as this is what is going to keep them feeling fuller for longer.
Any nut butter will do; I like to vary it each time I make this. It’s an easy way to offer kids a variety of different nutrients.
The slice is sweetened with honey and, honestly, the chocolate layer on top really is optional but I think it makes it feel a little special.
If you wanted to make this slice caffeine-free and more toddler-friendly, you could replace the cacao powder with carob powder and reduce the honey to taste.
Visit www.lucystewartnutrition.comor find @lucystewartkidsnutrition on Instagram for more content.
Serves: 18 – Prep time: 10 mins – Cool time: 1 hour
Ingredients:
■ 2 cups puffed grains
■ ½ cup nut butter
■ ½ cup honey
■ ½ cup desiccated coconut
■ ¼ cup coconut oil, melted
■ ¼ cup sesame seeds
■ ¼ cup sunflower seeds
■ ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
■ ¼ cup cacao powder
■ 100g melted 70% dark chocolate
Instructions:
1. Line a 29cm x 18cm baking tray with baking paper.
2. In a large bowl, combine all dry ingredients.
3. In a small bowl, whisk together honey, nut butter and melted coconut oil.
Well Fed Kitchen is a range of healthy snacks for kids that you can make at home.
Created by Nutritionist and mum, Lucy Stewart, they’re made with only real wholefood and plant-based ingredients – no additives, nothing artificial, and without nuts, dairy, soy and wheat.
Well Fed Kitchen provides an easy snack alternative to the sugar-laden, healthy pro- cessed options, guaranteed to fill kids tummies, satisfy their hunger, provide a steady release of energy and some essential growing nutrients too. www.wellfedkitchen.com.au @wellfedkitchen_snacks
4. Pour wet ingredients into dry ingredients and mix until well combined.
5. Spoon mixture into prepared baking tray, spread evenly, and press down.
6. Place in the fridge to set for at least 30 minutes.
7. While your slice is setting, melt your dark chocolate in a double boiler. Break chocolate into pieces and place in a heat-proof bowl over a small saucepan of water. You don’t want the bottom of the bowl to touch the water. Bring the water to a gentle boil and stir your chocolate until melted.
8. Pour the melted chocolate over the slice, tilting the pan to ensure it spreads evenly. Return the slice to the fridge for at least another 30 minutes.
9. Once your chocolate has set, slice into squares or bars and store in the fridge or freezer.
12562706-MS36-22
Family daycare opportunities
FOR educators qualified in early childhood education and care, family day care offers both personal and professional benefits.
The home-based model of family day care allows small group settings and the ability to work from home, set flexible working hours and fees, and have one-on-one interactions with children.
As an accredited family day care provider with more than 30 years of experience, Windermere Child and Family Services is well-versed in working with children.
Educators who partner with Windermere benefit from wide-ranging support including access to an afterhours emergency number.
While Windermere ensures that all checks and balances are in place, their educators receive payment for the hours worked even if families haven’t paid.
This allows educators to focus on delivering personalised care and building positive relationships with families.
Jo Pierce, named Regional Educator of the Year at the 2023 Family Day Care Australia Awards, appreciates this
support, as it enables her to nurture the valued relationships she has built with families.
“I feel very supported and appreciate they handle all the financial aspects,” she says.
“I have the confidence to tell families to reach out to Windermere with any questions.”
On an ongoing basis, Windermere also offers mentoring or coaching to develop knowledge and skills to run a successful and sustainable business, and assistance with marketing and financial compliance.
Aimee Keays, who joined hands with Windermere three years ago, values the collaborative nature of the partnership.
“Windermere handles all the administrative tasks, immunisations, and helps with risk assessments related to allergies and health conditions,” she says.
“Having families enrol through them is an easy process.”
Want to become a family day care educator? Call 1300 946 337 or visit windermere.org.au.
Trusted NDIS support
WHEN it comes to accessing support through the NDIS, financial administration and complex paperwork are unavoidable and time-consuming obligations.
NDIS-registered plan management providers like Windermere Child and Family Services fulfill these tasks in line with NDIS guidelines while supporting families to make the most of their NDIS plans.
As a not-for-profit organisation with three decades of experience in disability support, Windermere offers local knowledge and expertise in NDIS services like plan management.
Providing services across Victoria, Windermere Plan Management offers the added benefit of personalised support through a dedicated plan manager.
“A dedicated plan manager understands a family’s specific needs,” says Eddie Fernandez, Windermere Plan Management team leader.
“It’s a relief for them when information is consistent between their service providers and their plan manager.” Processing payments correctly and on time, maintaining accurate records,
and meeting reporting requirements are among an overwhelming number of tasks plan managers take care of.
What’s more, plan management comes at no cost to participants and is added to an NDIS plan upon request.
Cameron has been using Windermere Plan Management since 2018 and relies on 21 support services for his complex needs.
“It’s just such a relief to have someone we can trust to work out the financial side of things,” says Jenine, Cameron’s mum.
After trying their hand at selfmanaging, Anne and Mark returned to Windermere Plan Management to better support their daughter who has cerebral palsy, visual impairment, and an intellectual disability.
“We are very lucky to have our Windermere plan manager back,” says Anne.
“Instead of carrying it all on our shoulders, we can share it with someone we can trust.”
For more information on Windermere Plan Management, call 1300 946 337 or visit www.windermere.org.au/ plan-management.
IT’S YOUR LIFE
A hidden family dining gem
IF you’ve never been to the Melbourne Greyhounds at The Meadows and dined in the City View Bistro, it’s about time you treated the family.
Aptly named for the Melbourne city skyline views it offers diners, this bistro is a hidden gem (due to it being a little hard to find) and only offers dining on Saturday nights.
Located on Northcorp Boulevard, access is off Camp Road, near the Sydney Road end.
For those who have already dined in this elevated bistro, with its sensational racetrack and city views, you’ll be pleased to learn an all-new summer menu was launched recently, crafted and curated by head chef Steve Collins.
He and the racing association’s hospitality manager Harry Thackray and CEO have all worked diligently over the past 18 months to take the City View’s dining concept to a new level.
Google reviews are already singing the praises of the transformation that’s taken place.
The desserts have received particularly high praise from the dining public.
In case the promise of a great dining experience isn’t enough for you to get off the couch, don’t forget Saturday nights at the City View Bistro revolve around the excitement of world-class greyhound racing.
A 12-race card provides a very unique night of entertainment, whereby your table in the bistro remains yours for the entire evening (seatings start from 5.30pm and races run from 6.30pm to 10.45pm) and
allows you to explore the venue and engage in the racing on offer.
It’s not just dinner, it’s a whole night of fun.
Complimentary track entry and parking are provided, and the bistro dining room bar prices are very easy on the hip pocket.
The more adventurous can also delight themselves with an expertlymade cocktail or a top-shelf spirit.
This bistro is very popular, therefore a table reservation must be made.
Bookings can be made via the new melbournegreyhounds.org.au or calling 9355 5222 during weekly business hours.
Easing transition times
NEW resources are helping students to stay engaged as they transition from primary to secondary school.
Education Minister Ben Carroll in August updated the materials that Victorian schools use to support about 200,000 students every year.
“A student’s transition can have fundamental and long-lasting impacts on their achievement, engagement and wellbeing,” he said.
“We want to make sure every student and their family feels supported and connected as they journey from
primary school to secondary school, which can often be a daunting time.”
It’s also a time with a heightened risk of disengagement from education, poor wellbeing, and a decline in learning outcomes.
Mr Carroll said keeping kids engaged in school helped them to be productive and successful young adults.
A student’s transition experience is successful when they have good engagement with their peers and their families.
This is especially important for students who might be at higher risk of a poor transition, including neurodiverse and autistic students, students with disabilities, and students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.
The updated materials feature internal guidance, resources, and practical examples for schools to use through a four-year staged process from upper primary to lower secondary:
Preparation (Years 5 and 6)
This introduces students to general skills like organisation and time management that will help them navigate in a new environment, like using lockers and having a timetable.
Transfer (End of Year 6)
Students can attend their new school for a day to learn the new layout, attend classes, and meet key staff and future classmates.
Induction (Year 7)
This phase supports new students to develop a strong sense of connection and belonging in their new environment and ease into the new practices, rhythms, and relationships.
Consolidation (Year 8)
This builds on the skills, knowledge, and experiences students have gained in previous phases, with a strong emphasis on supporting their wellbeing and confidence in their learning environment.
EDUCATION
‘Yes’
is the default at GVL
WHAT if school could look entirely different?
At Global Village Learning (GVL), education is evolving into something new: a learner-led, guide-supported environment where students discover their interests and skills through handson projects, collaborative problemsolving, and real-world applications.
There, learning is about more than academics; it’s about building the skills and confidence to make a positive impact.
At GVL, traditional year levels are set aside to make way for flexible learning hubs - groups that progress based on each learner’s readiness and interests, not just their age.
This structure respects each learner’s individual journey, allowing them to move forward when they feel prepared rather than on a predetermined timeline.
The result? A community where young people feel truly engaged in their learning, growing both their skills and their confidence.
Central to GVL’s approach is the role of ‘guides’ instead of conventional teachers.
These guides don’t simply lecture or direct; they mentor, support, and challenge learners, helping them find answers on their own and encouraging independent thinking.
‘Yes is the default’ is a cornerstone of GVL’s ethos, meaning that guides look for ways to say ‘yes’ to learners’ ideas, allowing them to experiment, explore, and push boundaries in ways that foster real growth and self-belief.
Learning at GVL is grounded in real-world applications and community connection.
Students can often be found working on project-based learning challenges, tackling issues that matter to them and their communities.
In the Makers and Movers Space, learners might be designing and building prototypes, exploring robotics, or engaging in hands-on activities that bring concepts to life.
Meanwhile, in the Community Garden, students are learning about permaculture, sustainability, and food systems, working together to grow fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
These experiences connect academic learning with practical action, helping students see the impact of their work in the world.
Community life at GVL is deeply intentional.
Every day, learners come together to share meals in a communal healthy food program, where they eat alongside their guides, engaging in conversations that build bonds and foster a sense of belonging.
This shared lunchtime reflects GVL’s commitment to nurturing both social and emotional wellbeing, reminding everyone that learning is just as much about connection as it is about academics.
GVL’s ethos isn’t just about academic development; it’s about building young people who feel capable, valued, and connected.
Through these daily practices, GVL is creating a model of education where young people are empowered to lead, make choices, and contribute meaningfully to their community.
In a world that increasingly requires adaptability, empathy, and collaboration, GVL’s approach offers a vision of schooling that puts young people’s capacity, creativity, and character at the centre of it all.
EDUCATION
Dive into a safer summer
SUMMER is here and now is the perfect time to ensure your child is ready for the water.
Paul Sadler Swimland specialises in swim lessons that go beyond basic strokes, focusing on the skills and confidence needed to stay safer in any aquatic environment.
With three convenient locations in Melbourne’s north – Braybrook, Altona, and Laverton – Paul Sadler makes it easy for families to access quality swim lessons that emphasise survival and safety.
What makes Paul Sadler Swimland different? Its programs are tailored to equip each swimmer with life-saving techniques, helping children to navigate and respond effectively to water situations.
Its instructors work with children at every level, ensuring they feel confident as they master foundational skills like treading water, floating, and managing deep water.
The team knows that learning at their own pace makes all the difference, so Paul Sadler lessons prioritise a supportive environment where children can thrive and truly enjoy the process of learning to swim.
Paul Sadler also understands that water safety is about more than just technical skills.
Its classes incorporate practical safety scenarios, teaching kids how to respond in real-life situations, which can help them remain calm and make safer choices in the water.
By focusing on water survival, Paul Sadler gives its young swimmers the skills they need to feel both capable and confident while swimming and during aquatic activities.
This summer, set your child up for success with the essential skills that go beyond traditional swim lessons.
Join Paul Sadler Swimland in Braybrook, Altona, or Laverton for a season of fun, growth, and – most importantly – water safety.
Enrol today and give your child the gift of swimming skills that will last a lifetime.
Make this summer the safest yet. Book at lessons.paulsadlerswimland.com.au/ altona-laverton-braybrook.
Tips to battle back-to-school blues
THE transition between the holidays and starting or going back to school can often be full of mixed emotions.
So primary school teacher Miss B, known on TikTok as Lil’ Miss Sunshinee, shared her tips for parents on getting kids ready for the new school year ahead.
Positive vibes
Back-to-school time can be full of mixed emotions.
Returning or starting school leaves many children with unanswered questions: “Who will my teacher be?” “Who will be in my class?”
Have a conversation with your child, listen to their worries, and respond in a calm and supportive manner to help them navigate this transitional time.
Remind them of the positives! They will be able to play with their friends again, see their teachers and learn new things.
Read all about it
Reading is a great way to share time with your child, spark their imagination, and maintain routine.
Reading books about going back to or starting school can help relieve some of those first-day jitters.
Not only can the story provide your child with a sense of what the transition
might be like, they can also get a boost of confidence as the story unfolds.
Reading these books can offer an opportunity for your child to share their feelings.
Set goals
Goal-setting is a big part of learning.
Encourage your child to set some goals to help them get into the right frame of mind for school. They can be academic or social goals, or a new habit, such as packing their schoolbag before bed every night.
This could even be a great time for the whole family to set some goals. You can cheer each other on and celebrate everyone’s wins!
Have some fun!
Children are quick to pick up on our attitudes towards things, so creating a positive energy towards the back-toschool lead-up can help.
Build anticipation by going shopping together and buying school supplies.
They can pick out their lunchbox and pencil case and fill it with a fabulous collection of pens and markers.
Ease into routine
It can be helpful to start waking up earlier little by little in the days leading up to the first day back.
Getting back into a bedtime routine can also help.
For some families, this might mean enforcing a ‘no electronics’ rule the hour before bedtime or having dinner a little earlier.
Get organised
The first back-to-school morning might be a whirlwind for the whole family! Back to waking up early, packing lunches, organising uniforms, and making sure you get everyone to where they need to be.
The more organised you can be, the easier the first back-to-school morning will be.
Planning the morning routine might be a whole family affair, so ensure you are all on the same page.
This might include figuring out what time you need to wake up, sharing responsibilities such as breakfast and packing lunches, and laying out your child’s uniform the night before.
College is different ‘to make a difference’
“I often share with families my desire to be certain that educational environments ‘graduate’ from the school I attended over 40 years ago. I’ve got great memories of my high school, but the education challenge is so different these days,” says Timothy Cottrell, principal at Lalor North Secondary College.
After two years as principal, Tim says that high-impact learning calls for quality relationships and a strong sense of partnership between students, families, and educators.
“This is how we build community trust and belief. Families must know that we inquire into and invest in the individuality of every child – and, most importantly, that we walk our talk every day,” he said.
“If a meteoric rise in demand for places at the college, and data that analyses student views and feelings about belonging, safety, opportunity, and quality of teaching, is any indication. the vision of the college is bearing fruit.
“It’s this simple: to make a difference, we need to be different.”
In terms of innovation, Tim cited
the Elite Sports Program, which has up to 120 boys and girls training at 7.30am twice per week and three days per week after school.
“You get better at what you practice,” he said.
Then there’s the inclusive and wide-ranging leadership programs based upon doing good for othersparticularly those less fortunatecomprising more than 35 percent student enrolment. Students contribute to the community through local primary schools, nursing homes, and elsewhere.
The inquiry-based Dynamic Learning Program at Year 9 prepares students for their senior years, and the Global Learning Domain language program has seen students study up to 15 languages over the past 18 months.
“The thought that in such a culturally diverse community that is Melbourne’s northern suburbs we might offer two or three language studies is incomprehensible to me,” Tim said.
“I want to ask the student what language they wish to study, not tell them what they may study.”
Creativity and artistic pursuits remain a steadfast pillar of the learning program.
“Our Big Night Out has become a fully-fledged music festival in the north, involving 15 primary schools and attracting 1500 people over two nights to the college,” Tim said.
“We have a responsibility to be a pillar of learning and higher things.
“With rapidly increasing demand for places, our grounds looking especially beautiful, and the great endeavour of our students everywhere evident, we can’t help but feel excited for the future of our college and its ‘family’ of young people.
“Our dedicated staff continue to work hard every day to bring every possible opportunity to our students to enjoy success.
“We thank them, and we celebrate the continuous learning of our students.”
Tim encourages anybody interested in learning more about the college to take a personal tour with him, which can be arranged by calling reception on 9401 3888.
Lalor North Secondary College principal Timothy Cottrell has a passion for education.
Live your life without limits
LIFESTYLE Communities believes in life without restrictions.
One with the freedom to do the things you love, and the confidence to be whoever you want to be.
Where every new day is a fresh opportunity.
It’s a philosophy that rings true, in Lifestyle Communities’ best-in-class homes and clubhouses.
Whether you’re working, semiretired or retired, join a community where life is unlimited.
Join in on pickleball, croquet, yoga, arts and crafts, woodworking, bowls and swimming.
There are also happy hours, guest speakers, musical entertainment and much more.
Plus, you’ll have loads of new friends to enjoy all of this with and a beautiful home to live in. The community is thoughtfully planned and designed making it easy to get around and enjoy.
Lifestyle Communities promotes a lifestyle that emphasises freedom.
The choice to do your thing, your way.
Live independently while also enjoying a vibrant social life and a variety of recreational activities.
Buying a home at Lifestyle Communities means embracing a life where your horizons are boundless.
With a host of activities and an abundance of new friendships waiting for you, your days will be filled with excitement and companionship.
At Lifestyle Communities, you are not just living, you are thriving, and it’s a testament to the limitless possibilities of a life unencumbered by restrictions.
Experience the freedom to be you, every day, in your new home at Lifestyle Communities.
Visit www.lifestylecommunities. com.au for more inforamation.
Independent retirement with Centennial Living retirementliving
CENTENNIAL Living is a company that prides itself on generating a relaxed, friendly atmosphere in its villages, where residents feel welcome and have a sense of belonging to a community.
The benefits of social connection and friendship, stimulating activities in a range of amenities, a safe environment, and the feeling of support being there when needed, has made Centennial’s villages happy places in which to live.
Centennial Living
Keilor offers two levels of accommodation –independent living and serviced apartments.
While maintenance and gardening is provided in the village, people who choose independent living reside
in their own home and have the freedom to take care of meals, cleaning, laundry, and other household tasks how they wish.
When people need more help, serviced apartments can be a good choice. Daily meals are served in the dining room or delivered to the apartment and weekly cleaning and heavy laundry is provided for serviced apartment residents. Other in-home care services can also be arranged to suit individual requirements.
Both styles of accommodation are fitted with emergency call systems.
While the seven Centennial villages in Victoria vary in some aspects, recreational facilities include indoor heated swimming pools, barbecue areas, a community centre and lounge, hobby garden, games room, arts and crafts, gym, bowling green, indoor bowls, men’s shed, aqua aerobics, and a hair and beauty salon. Pets are also welcome.
The resort-style living is ideal for people who want to downsize from the family home and have a lifestyle that offers social connection and absolute independence.
Inez, who asked to have her surname omitted from publication, has been living in the Keilor village for eight years. She really enjoys village life, and said the activities were very popular at Keilor but with no pressure to participate.
“You’ve always got support. You’ve always got someone here,” Inez said.
“You can do as much or as little as you want. There’s so much offering at the village, you’ve just got to tap into it and most people do.”
Like all Centennial Living villages, the Keilor village is close to shops, amenities, and recreation in the wider community. It is particularly close to health care –there’s a medical consultation suite near the entrance of the village.
For more information, visit www. centennialliving.com.au.
KEILOR RETIREMENT VILLAGE
a
a
everyone! Every villa unit has an emergency call system installed and there is a nurse working at the village for the wellbeing of residents.
REALITY BITES
Literary legend Mem shares her magic
MEM FOX’S books have touched most Australians over the past 40 years.
The Adelaide-based author’s first book is probably still her most recognisable: Possum Magic.
Reporter Casey Neill spoke to the witty and warm Mem with her copy - a fourth birthday gift from the early 90s that now sits on her own daughter’s book shelf - beside her.
POSSUM Magic has unlikely origins in the King James Bible and London’s theatre scene.
Mem Fox’s Australian literary classic has been captivating children in print since 1983 - only after publishers rejected the ‘quintessential quest’ tale nine times in five years.
She puts its enduring success firstly down to the illustrations.
“We know that the pictures of any picture book are half the book,” she said.
“People often ignore that the pictures in Possum Magic are sublime.
“Julie (Vivas) doesn’t get enough credit.”
It’s also “very, very Australian” and “the last thing is because the rhythm of the language in Possum Magic is so alluring”.
The 10th publisher to see Possum Magic told Mem to cut it by two thirds, and “write lyrically, make music with the words”.
“I knew how to make it musical because I had been to drama school for three years in the mid-60s in London,” Mem said.
“I had also grown up on a mission in Africa so I was very familiar with the King James Bible.
“All of that was in the marrow of my bones.
“I had Shakespeare, I had the bible, and I also had Dr Seuss.
“I think I started writing Possum Magic when my daughter was 7, so we’d gone through seven years of Dr Seuss. I knew so many of his books by heart. Dr Seuss never gets it wrong.”
The King James Bible perhaps had the strongest influence - without Mem even noticing until six years later.
“When I was at drama school, all of us had to choose a bible story - King James Version - and learn it and tell it in a way that was not like a preacher,” she said.
“I chose the story of Ruth, which starts off, ‘Now it came to pass in the days when the judges ruled that there was a famine in the land…’.
“I copied the rhyme of those first few paragraphs for the start of Possum Magic.
“Beat for beat it’s the same.
“The rhythm is so comforting. It calms the soul.”
Mem’s latest book, Meerkat Mayhem, also has unlikely origins.
“I’m a constant declutterer. I’m the absolute polar opposite of a hoarder,” she said.
“I’m always throwing things out.
“I was going through a book shelf of storybooks - I was a storyteller before I was a writer.
“I had a very old book of stories - a hardback book, yellowed, you could barely read it - called Little Stories for Children.
“I looked back through it and thought ‘I can’t throw this book away’.”
Inside was folk tale The Great Big Enormous Turnip.
“The farmer grows a turnip so big he can’t pull it up,” she said.
So he calls for help from his wife, his son, and his daughter…
“It builds up, and finally up comes the turnip and they cook it for supper,” Mem said.
She regularly encountered meerkats while growing up in Africa, and easily imagined one eating too much and getting stuck in the sand.
She added a host of other African animals from her childhood and Meerkat Mayhem took shape.
“I loved creating the character of the meerkat,” Mem said.
“He’s not just a cardboard cutout meerkat.
“He is hilarious. He’s a real cool dude.”
She said Meerkat Mayhem could be her penultimate book.
“I have very few ideas - fewer and fewer,” she said.
“My next book - which is being illustrated next year and will come out in 2026 - that book may be my last book, which is OK.
“I turn 80 in 2026.”
Mem has no plans to give up writing, though she only puts pen to paper when inspiration strikes.
“If you’ve got an idea gnawing away at you, it’s irritating not to deal with it,” she said.
“If you haven’t got an idea it’s not a problem.
“If I’m not writing, it doesn’t matter to me at all.
“I don’t write for months on end.
“I am working on a story at the moment. I’ve got the word count right, it’s got repetition, it will interest little boys in particular…but when you write a book, there has to be a change in a child’s heart from the first word to the last.”
The reader needs to be excited, laughing, thoughtful, reflective, grossed out, or even frightened, she said.
“I haven’t got the emotion in the story yet. I think I will persevere,” she said.
“If you’ve been given a gift and you don’t use it, that’s very ungrateful.
“I‘ve been given a gift.
“I feel that I have to use it until the last.”
Writing is Mem’s gift but it’s her second love. Her first is teaching.
Given her passion for helping kids to read, does she consider literacy when she writes?
“It’s never front of mind, but I’m always pleased when I’ve written a book that I know is going to aid literacy,” Mem said.
“If I wrote with the aim of making kids literate I would write a woke book that was anodyne, without character.
“It’s why school readers are the worst books.
“They’re absolutely dead. They’re totally without life.”
Similarly, Mem hasn’t written any of her books with her daughter or grandson, now aged 14, in mind.
“I think that would be too particular; I have to write for everybody,” she said.
“But they might have provided the idea for a book.”
For example, she wrote Time for Bed in 1993 to ‘mesmerise’ children to sleep.
“The idea for that came from my daughter’s early life,” she said.
“She was a shocker about going to sleep.
“If only I had a book that mesmerised her… by 1993 she was 22.”
Another of Mem’s mesmersising tales is Where is the Green Sheep?, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024.
“That took 11 months to write and it’s 190 words, because of the rhyme scheme,” she said.
“The rhythm has to be perfect, the beat has to fall in the right place.
“Otherwise you’re forcing a rhyme.
“And not only did line B have to rhyme with D, but also the first two lines had to connect with each other.”
Like bath and bed, moon and stars, and up and down.
“That had to happen all the way through in every verse,” Mem said.
“It’s worth persevering with the rhyme because when you don’t persevere with the rhythm and get it correct the book dies - it just dies.
“Kids don’t like reading it. Parents don’t like it, teachers don’t like it.”
Anybody who’s relayed the sheep shenanigans to a child would agree the result was worth the effort.
Embracing a brighter future Books
By Casey Neill
RUGBY league star Nicho Hynes has always known he is Aboriginal but not what that actually means.
So he’s sharing his journey to embrace culture and feel like he belonged in his Aboriginal identity in the new book Stand Proud.
“I hope that kids from all different backgrounds can feel seen by this story and know they are enough as they are,” he told Kids.
“When people can see themselves in someone else’s stories, they don’t feel so alone in their struggles or they realise for the first time there is a brighter future ahead.
“I think a young Nicho would’ve really appreciated a story like this.
“This story would’ve inspired me as a young fella and I hope that’s the kind of impact it has.”
Greg the Galah, Superstar!
Patrick Guest and Jonathan Bentley Galahs love to boogie and act like a clown. They always pull faces or hang upside down.
As soon as they hatch and crawl from their egg, Galahs are hilarious...and then...there was Greg.
Everyone knows that galahs are hilarious. They’re silly, loud and love attention! But then there’s Greg...who’s nothing like the rest of the flock.
Scholastic
$19.99
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks halfback co-authored Stand Proud with friend Marlee Silva, and 2022 Archibald Prize willer Blak Douglas provided the illustrations.
Nicho hopes it helps readers from culturally diverse backgrounds feel like they can be proud of their identity no matter what others say or think.
“I hope it encourages them to express themselves and connect with their culture and community in whatever way they can - because their culture is beautiful and it makes them strong,” he said.
“For those other kids who might not relate to the cultural identity elements of this book, I hope it opens their minds to empathy for kids who are different to them.
“I hope it gets them interested in learning about their classmates or friends’ cultural backgrounds and educates them.”
He thinks parents will also benefit from reading Stand Proud to their children.
“I hope it excites them to help their child embrace their culture and navigate their identity and encourage parents to go away from the book with the intention of continuing to bring more culturally diverse stories and lessons into their homes,” he said.
“Each individual has a unique identity and tapestry of family background, history, and experience that makes them who they are.
“And that this unique combination is something that everyone should have space to grow into, explore and celebrate.
“I hope classrooms and homes alike can provide safe spaces for discussion and questions about identity and culture and ultimately young readers can come to find strength in their differences and pride in who they are.
“There’s no one way to be any particular identity or culture.
“There’s no one way to be Aboriginal or Japanese or Muslim or a boy or a girl, all the things that make us who we are, are specific to who we are and that’s OK.
“Don’t judge another person’s identity by your own stereotypes and expectations and let people be who they are freely and with joy.”
The Kill Factor
Ben Oliver
In a world where social media is everything and followers equal money, Emerson is facing a prison sentence.
She’s offered a way out - a brand new gameshow for young felons that combines social media and reality TV.
The first prize? Freedom and a comfortable life for Emerson’s little brother.
But if she loses? Incarceration for life.
The games kick off on a remote island with the prison at its heart.
Little do the viewers or contestants know the prison is empty, and the truth about why is even more brutal than the games themselves ...
The Chicken House
$19.99
The Impatient Glacier
Shaun Micallef and Rebel Challenger
A glacier up on a mountain grew tired of the same boring view.
He wanted excitement; he wanted some fun, he wanted to see something new.
From Shaun Micallef comes this warming new picture-book adventure about enjoying life’s moments...before they’re gone.
Scholastic $19.99
Goodnight, Joeys
Renee Treml
Whisper goodnight to the land, where joeys race on cool, soft sand.
All baby marsupials are known as joeys, yet they come in different shapes and sizes.
Join your little one as you whisper a goodnight wish to joeys across Australia in this quiet lullaby.
Puffin $14.99
My Big Fat Smelly Poo Diary
Jim Smith
From the bestselling creator of Barry Loser comes Jim Smith’s new full-colour graphic novel series for readers aged 7-plus. It’s packed full of friendship, fun and toilet jokes galore!
Join best friends Pedro, Olga and Ozzie - otherwise known as the Poopies - on a series of fun adventure stories, and help them solve mysteries of the most unexpected kind.
Scholastic $16.99
