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The Schools Program

Teachers are in the front line of adolescent depression and suicide.

The Schools Program scholarships are available to all Teachers, Head Teachers, Student Welfare Officers and School Counsellors currently dealing with students at risk in schools, TAFE, and remote education institutions.

Premier's Anika Foundation Youth Depression Awareness Scholarship

Premier's Anika Foundation Youth Depression Awareness Scholarship video information is also available as a text transcript with description of visuals below.

There is an alumni of 36 past scholarship winners.

Applications are called for, and the most interesting proposals are chosen for study tours anywhere in the world: to visit schools, experts, and learning institutions with a focus on recognising and preventing depression and suicide ideation in young people.

Past winners have focused on:

  • Child and adolescent mental health
  • Resilience in adolescence
  • Positive psychology
  • Building resilience and coping strategies
  • Emotional disturbances and behaviour disorder students
  • Integrated learning through service learning
  • Positive behaviour for learning
  • Outcomes of students with mental health needs
  • Student wellbeing; mental health support
  • Advanced gatekeeper programs (for those in contact with youth at risk)
  • Strategies for schools to enhance the mental health of students
  • Suicide prevention training
  • Mindfulness
  • Neurocognitive approaches
  • University study for relevant diplomas

There has been an interruption to these travel programs due to restrictions in 2020 and 2021. A few of the most recent winners have been forced to delay their travel.

Nevertheless, we will be interviewing for new applicants in 2022.

Scholarship winners

Below is the list of past winners:

  • Tiffany Barecca
    Kingsgrove High School, NSW
  • Wayne Humphreys
    Baulkham Hills High School, NSW

  • Mirela Fricot
    Port Hacking High School, NSW
  • Andrew Stephens
    Lidcombe Public School, NSW
  • Elizabeth Kent
    Broome Senior High School, WA

  • Stella Rodgers
    School of Special Education Needs, Dept of Educ., WA
  • Donna Spurgeon
    Kulin District High School (remote learning), WA

  • Deborah Costa
    Cessnock West Public School, NSW
  • Sandra Scott
    North Sydney Girls High School, NSW
  • Emma Sue San
    Redbank School, NSW
  • Cate Seghezzi
    Dept of Educ., Psychologist, Suicide Prevention Team, WA
  • Paul Russell
    Lead Psychologist AISWA, School Psychology Service, WA

  • Robin Zelvis
    Illawarra Sports High School, NSW
  • Stephanie Dunn
    St Patrick's College, Campbelltown, NSW
  • Jennifer Payne
    Statewide Psychology service (Broome based), WA

  • Carla Dale
    Sarah Redfern Public School, NSW
  • Cale Wallace
    Callaghan College, Wallsend Campus, NSW

  • Hayley Jeffrey
    Deniliquin High School, NSW
  • Kimberley De Deckker
    Holroyd High School, NSW

  • Kristopher Wrona
    Chester Hill High School, NSW
  • Donna Redman
    John Therry Catholic High School, NSW
  • Genevieve Slocombe
    Dunoon Public School, NSW

  • Julie Storok
    Kiama High School, NSW
  • Samantha Kourakis
    SCECGS Redlands, Cremorne, NSW

  • Tamara Brown
    Hunter Sports High School, NSW
  • Shiraz Patel
    Sarah Redfern High School, NSW

  • Daniel Haesler
    Emanuel School, Randwick, NSW
  • Karen Spitzer
    North Sydney Girls High School, NSW

  • Christina Barrett
    Batemans Bay High School, NSW
  • Dianne Watt
    Cowra High School, NSW

  • Sarah Geary
    Gymea Technology High School, NSW
  • Caarolyn Lipton
    Duval High School, NSW
  • Gain Zinn
    Davidson High School, NSW

  • Jane Sleeman
    Hornsby Girls High School, NSW
  • Cathryn Bourne
    Singleton Public School, NSW
  • Susan Martinov
    Kirrawee High School, NSW

Text Transcript with Description of Visuals

View video version of Premier's Anika Foundation Youth Depression Awareness Scholarship.

Table: Text Transcript with Description of Visuals
Audio Visual
[Background music] NSW Government Logo and text Premier's Anika Foundation Youth depression Awareness Scholarship.
When I was younger I had a quite a significant accident myself that prevented me from playing sport which is the love of my life, and then I was advised to seek a counsellor. Mark Ranger, Rural School Counsellor talking in a library setting.
I went and that counsellor made a massive, massive difference to my life. And from that point onwards, I've wanted to do the same. The scene changes to Mark working on a computer.
It's not about having a head full of knowledge. it's about having a heart full of love, an ear ready to listen and a hand willing to help. The scene changes to Mark walking to exit the library door and listening to someone and nodding his head with a smile.
[Background music] Applications now open: teach.nsw.edu.au
[Background music] NSW Government Logo Copyright 2020 NSW Department of Education Produced by branding and promotions, Human Resources
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