The school’s SistaSpeak and BroSpeak cultural and mentoring programs won the Aboriginal Social and Emotional Wellbeing Award at the 2016 Mental Health Matters Awards, held at NSW Parliament House on September 29.

Moree Secondary College deputy principal Angela Heath and senior leader of community engagement Janine French attended the awards ceremony and launch of Mental Health Month, run by WayAhead Mental Health Association NSW.

Ms French, coordinator of the SistaSpeak and BroSpeak programs, said it was very exciting to receive the award.

“It really recognises the achievements of staff, as well as the kids,” she said.

The SistaSpeak and BroSpeak programs have been around for a number of years but the school this year adapted it to better suit the needs of their students, which they have found has had significant benefits.

“The original programs focus on building students’ self-esteem and future career development using role models, however we have changed it to look at lifestyle issues that the students face on a daily basis in our community to prepare them for life,” Ms French said. “We have established partnerships with local service providers as weekly guest speakers to act as role models while sharing their knowledge on the weekly theme.​”

The 10-week program for indigenous students covers a range of different social issues such as drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, sexual health, body image, cultural identity and respect, healthy choices, and grief and loss. The program also has a cultural component to it, allowing the students to reconnect with their Aboriginal culture as well as learn important life skills to help build their self-esteem.

“Their whole self-confidence really increases. At the start they’re too shy to introduce themselves but by the end, they were volunteering to get up and talk on the microphone,” Ms French said.