Former NQ Cowboys player Ray Thompson recently spent the whole week in Moranbah delivering his “Discovering Resilience” presentation as part of a new partnership between Anglo American and the Resilience Project which will see the Resilience Project’s Schools Partnership Program delivered to schools in the Moranbah, Middlemount and Moura regions.

@ The Coalface was privileged to come along to the presentation where Ray shared his personal stories of overcoming failure and introduced the importance of the three key pillars of Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness (GEM). Each engaging presentation was tailored to suit the audience, be that teaching staff, students, or parents and carers, and provided easy ways to practice these GEM strategies in everyday life to cultivate positive emotions.

The Resilience Project’s Schools Partnership Program aims to supports mental health not just in the classroom but in the staff room and family home as well.

Data from a Headspace National Survey found that one in four adolescents and one in seven primary school students will experience mental health problems this year and nearly two thirds of them will not seek help.

Michelle Pole, Moranbah State High School Principal said, “Our students are our number one priority and we look forward to implementing the Resilience Program across all our Moranbah schools. Anglo American has been instrumental in bringing together our whole community through this project.

“The Resilience program is aimed at addressing the number one issue of mental health and by working together in our community with teachers, parents and students we will all be on the right pathway to identifying and strengthening our discussions around ownership of our own health and well-being.”

A study into the Resilience Program by the University of Adelaide in 2021, found that participants maintained consistent emotional wellbeing and life satisfaction compared to those in non-participating schools. The program has been proven to improve confidence and self-esteem, improve knowledge and the ability to express emotions at school and home, a more supportive classroom environment and a significant increase in daily practices of gratitude strategies.

Anthony Edwards, Principal of Moranbah State School who attended multiple presentations said, “I am so excited that our kids get to be a part of this project, and the possible positive outcome for our whole community. This project has the potential to provide all of us – students, parents, teachers, coaches, volunteers – with a common language when fostering the wellbeing of our most important people. Our kids.

“Alongside this, I can see the potential in all of us as adults, getting so much out of this project for ourselves. The strategies used within this framework can be applied so easily to our personal lives. This is the right time for our community to unite in this area and start to do something to provide us all with a bright future. Well done to Anglo American for seeing the value in this and investing on such a wide scale in our community in the role out of the resilience Project across our region.”

Rod Finney, Principal from Moranbah’s East State School was also excited about the benefits the program would bring.

“We are very excited to be involved with the Resilience Project as it fits very well with our department’s important focus on well-being and is very well resourced. Students of all ages are known for showing signs of anxiety and this affects their ability to learn in a classroom environment. The Resilience Project is a whole school program that will assist my teachers in providing strategies and knowledge in how to share their concerns and develop a positive outlook on their life-long learning.”

The Anglo American partnership is a 2 year program across all the schools in the communities in which they operate. These include Moranbah, Middlemount and Moura.