Inaburra Insight Inaburra School

Lyndal Tait and Mel Clarke discuss the benefits of spending time in nature for mental and physical health. They share personal experiences and tips for incorporating nature into daily routines, highlighting the positive impact on mental health and spirituality. Mel explores how combining exercise in a natural setting can boost healthy hormone levels. She also provides insights on how to engage kids and teenagers in nature-based activities. The conversation emphasises the importance of prioritising nature in our busy lives and building a sense of ownership and investment in the natural world in order to stay connected to place.

Strategies for incorporating nature into your family life:


Plan bushwalking trips and other outdoor activities during the school holidays
Visit local nature areas regularly and notice changes over time to help develop a relationship with that space 
Find locations tailored to your interests like beaches, waterfalls, and areas of wildlife, and visit with attention, purpose and conversation
Follow bushwalking groups on social media for a variety of recommendations for walks

References:

Welcome to Huberman Lab - www.hubermanlab.com

David George Haskell - https://dghaskell.com/theforestunseen

D.O.S.E. https://www.happyfeed.co/research/4-brain-chemicals-make-you-happy

Speakers:

Lyndal Tait –Leader of Innovation & Research K-12 Inaburra School

Lyndal is a teacher, researcher and writer with an interest in teacher and leader development. She developed a passion for education and community building through the arts, teaching Music and Visual Arts in schools, conducting choirs, and facilitating art engagement projects. Lyndal has worked as a consultant in school-community engagement, and has experience in counselling, pastoral care, and professional supervision. At Inaburra she helps oversee teacher professional learning and also coordinates a mentoring program for new teachers and teacher practice coaches. Her current doctorate (UNSW Sydney) explores the role of emotion in teachers’ job intentions and commitment. 

Mel Clarke – Inaburra Deputy Head of Senior School

Mel Clarke is a PDHPE educator with a wealth of experience in the student wellbeing space. She is a passionate advocate for physical activity and holistic health. Mel enjoys challenging individuals to push their limits and foster self-improvement and has road-tested the outdoor strategies discussed in this podcast with her three active, high-energy children. Beyond the classroom, she finds serenity and inspiration through bushwalking, merging her love for nature with her role as a citizen scientist. Her contributions to the latest Sydney Basin Koala Report highlights her commitment to environmental stewardship. 
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Inaburra’s Director of Music, Jen Geering, discusses her research into the impacts of music education with recent Inaburra graduate Abbey Parkes, piano accompanist Ray Avard and host Lyndal Tait. They share their personal musical journeys and how learning an instrument shaped them over time. Insights are provided into forming community through music and how it cultivates growth and influences academic performance far beyond the classroom. Advice is also offered for parents on encouraging children to develop skills like diligence and perseverance through their music practice.

In the conversation:

Lyndal Tait –Leader of Innovation & Research K-12 Inaburra School

Lyndal is a teacher, researcher and writer with an interest leader development. She developed a passion for education and community building through the arts, teaching Music and Visual Arts in schools, conducting choirs, and facilitating art engagement projects. Lyndal has worked as a consultant in school-community engagement, and has experience in counselling, pastoral care, and professional supervision. At Inaburra she helps oversee teacher’s professional learning and also coordinates a mentoring program for new teachers and teacher practice coaches. Her current doctorate (UNSW Sydney) explores the role of emotions in teachers’ job intentions and commitment. 

Jen Geering – Inaburra Director of Music K-12Jen has been the Director of Music at Inaburra since 2017. She began her musical journey aged just five, playing the violin. Jen furthered her training at the Conservatorium High School in Sydney. She holds a Bachelor of Music, a Bachelor of Education and has just completed her Masters in Educational Leadership at UNSW. Jen oversees Inaburra's extensive music program, which includes ensembles, tutoring and academic courses. Her postgraduate research examined factors that influence students to continue or stop playing instruments. Under her leadership, Inaburra’s music program cultivates community and supports students' well-being and lifelong appreciation of music.

Ray Avard – Piano Accompanist and Retired Music Teacher Ray is a renowned piano accompanist who began playing when he was seven. He went on to become a music teacher. Now retired, Ray still practices up to three hours a day in order to accompany many of the students in their HSC performances. With over 50 years of experience in music education, Ray has inspired countless young musicians with his passion and dedication to the craft.

Abbey Parkes – Inaburra GraduateAbbey is Inaburra Alumnus and a former School Captain. In her graduate year she was the recipient of the prestigious Elwyn Townsend Award for Commitment and Dedication to Music. Abbey began learning piano at a young age and was heavily involved in Inaburra's music program throughout her studies due to her love of performing and the close-knit community it provided. Now pursuing a career in education, Abbey continues to be active in the music space, returning to play with the school ensembles and singing at her local church. 
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In this episode, parenting expert Dr Justin Coulson joins Matt Tomlin and Tanya Grant to discuss practical strategies for managing children's technology use at home and how to foster open communication about devices. Justin shares insights from his own experience raising six daughters and provides tips parents can implement to set healthy boundaries, support student wellbeing, and keep children safe online through empathy and ongoing dialogue. Resources for further learning are also recommended.

 

Speakers:

Dr Justin Coulson 

Justin is co-host and parenting expert on Channel 9's Parental Guidance, the founder of happyfamilies.com.au, and one of Australia’s most trusted parenting experts. He holds a PhD in Positive Psychology.

Over the past decade he has helped innumerable families with his nine books about raising children, his hundreds of media appearances (including all of Australia’s major news outlets, and even the Washington Post and the New York Times), and two viral videos that have been viewed a combined 80 million times. Justin and his wife Kylie have been married since the late 1990s and are the parents of six daughters.

Mr Matt TomlinMatt is the Stage 4 Director at Inaburra School which oversees Year 7 and 8. He has more than 25 years’ experience teaching PDHPE and Biblical Studies in High Schools. For the past 15 years he has been in welfare related roles in Independent schools. Matt currently oversees the designing and directing of wellbeing programs and procedures that support student learning and character development. He also plays a key role in welcoming, guiding and supporting new Year 7 students (and families) as they transition from primary to secondary school.

Mrs Tanya GrantTanya is the Stage 6 Director at Inaburra School which oversees Year 11 and 12. She has more than 22 years’ experience teaching PDHPE to High School Students. More recently Tanya has held positions as Year Advisor with responsibility for the welfare and progress of the Senior graduating year groups as they journey through their final year of school. As Stage 6 Director she is responsible for designing and directing wellbeing programs and procedures that support student learning and character development and to maintain a safe and supportive environment for all students in both proactive and reactive ways.

Resources and weblinks:

Happy Families (Justin Coulson)

https://www.happyfamilies.com.au/

eSafety Commissioner

https://www.esafety.gov.au/parents 

Australian Centre to Counter Child Exploitation

https://www.accce.gov.au/

Kids Helpline

https://kidshelpline.com.au/parents 

Reach Out

https://parents.au.reachout.com/common-concerns/everyday-issues/cyberbullying-and-teenagers 

Additional Resources

https://www.cybersafetysolutions.com.au/

https://rebeccasparrow.com/
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Brennan Fortier and Christian Coulberg from International Justice Mission join host Lyndal Tait to shed light on the grim reality of individuals ensnared in modern-day slavery, specifically those engaged in online scams targeting the West. Ryan Nyoum, a TAS teacher at Inaburra with a background in social work at Rough Edges, also joins the discussion. This podcast delves into human story behind human trafficking, emphasises the importance of cultivating curiosity and investigating beyond surface impressions to uncover the truth.

 

Show Notes

www.ijm.org

www.roughedges.org.au/
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In a world that seems to be spiralling increasingly out of control, is there a path to flourishing that rises above the chaos? The models of success we are told to chase are governed by internal desire, evaluated by external validation and surrounded by instability. There must be a better way. This presentation will set down a framework through which we can make sense of our rapidly changing world and re-envision success in a way that offers a deeper and more lasting fulfilment. Max Jeganathan is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity CPX. A former lawyer and political and policy adviser, Max was educated at the Australian National University and the University of Oxford and is undertaking a PhD in Law.

Max speaks on the intersection between faith, culture, economics, finance, technology and moral reasoning.

Max is a Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Christianity CPX. A former lawyer and political and policy adviser, Max was educated at the Australian National University and the University of Oxford and is undertaking a PhD in Law.He has spoken in businesses, universities and political institutions, including Samsung, Lego, Goldman Sachs and Amazon. He loves movies, good wine with his wife Fiona and making his kids laugh.
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Would you consider yourself an achievement junkie? Many high school students fear that their ATAR result will be a summary of not just their schooling career, but also their individual worth. How do we view success? Is it something we earn through our efforts and striving or as a matter of grace, or luck even? In this episode, Lyndal speaks with author and recovering achievement addict, Dr Justine Toh as well as Jess Meaco, who is a teacher of Ancient History and Inaburra’s Learning Leader of Biblical Studies, about meritocracy. The conversation explores connections between a constant striving for significance and the experience of shame, the impact of meritocracy in our educational system, and finding an antidote to achievement addiction.Achievement AddictionJustine Tohhttps://www.koorong.com/product/achievement-addiction-re-considering-series-justine-toh_9780647531327The Prophetic ImaginationWalter Brueggemannhttps://www.koorong.com/product/the-prophetic-imagination-2nd-edition-walter-brueggemann_0800632877
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