Sacred Heart College students have joined a new media project that empowers students to become changemakers in youth mental health.
Year 11 students at the Kyneton school have joined the Podcast Challenge, an initiative by Anglicare and funded by Murray Primary Health Network that fits into the VCE Vocational Major curriculum.
As part of the challenge, students researched a range of wellbeing issues including mental health, substance use, and gambling harm, preparing questions before hosting podcast interviews with local youth services and lived experience speakers.
These podcasts are recorded for the challenge, with schools across the state competing to have the most listened to podcasts, with the chance to win a $3000 podcast kit.
The students interviewed a number of guests on a variety of topics, including Richard, a speaker from Respin focuses on experiences of gambling harm; Janaya, therapeutic counsellor from Gambler’s Help, Linsey, acting team leader alcohol and other drugs from Sunbury Cobaw Community Health; youth mental health outreach worker Peter; and Murray Primary Health Network suicide prevention project lead Chris.
The students worked with Ralph Barba and the team from Making Media to record the podcasts, and students Saffron and Liam said they found the experience eye-opening.
“It was so interesting talking with people who have first-hand experience of these issues, I enjoyed hearing their stories and also learning how to think on the spot and signal others in my team when it was time for them to be involved in the interview,” Saffron said.
“I hope the podcasts reach people who may be struggling with similar issues and provide some support and information about ways to get help,” Liam said.
VCE coordinator Jodie Wattie said the challenge was great real-life experience for the students, especially working with state-of-the-art equipment and professionals.
“The experiences were highly engaging and motivating for our students and the increased confidence demonstrated by the students was a delight to observe,” she said.
“The students took so much out of the experience, both through enriched learning opportunities and personal growth and we are incredibly proud of them all.”
Details: bit.ly/SHCK2025_PodcastChallenge
