It Took Decades To Learn This

I was filing this week and found a talk I gave last year.

It was an “Occasional Address” to graduating students at Deakin University.

I was about to start my Master’s at Deakin, when I left Sydney Children’s Hospital in 2011, after my son’s two-year medical battle.

Back then, I wasn’t sure I’d finish the Master’s, let alone give a commencement speech.

Anyway, I stopped filing (who needs an excuse?), and opened the speech to read it.

Coming out of a couple of cracker weeks, it turns out I needed to.

Now, I don’t know about you, but it’s taken me decades to learn that …

… there is no comfortable growth.

I won’t paste the whole talk here; we can do that another time.

But it was good to refresh on its takeaway and closing quote – both built on a simple truth:

… Success is mastering discomfort.

I mean, the greatest achievements in history were born out of discomfort, out of a pressing need, a challenging question, an unresolved problem.

The discomfort of not knowing led to exploration. The discomfort of inequality sparked revolutions. The discomfort of disease catalysed medical breakthroughs.

And a shared discomfort in the human condition causes the kind of communication, connection, and creativity that can change culture, forever.

So, here’s the closing quote in my talk, from Mahatria:

“Growth is nothing but going from lesser comfort…

to higher comfort…

through uncomfortable transitions.

The life of a legend is ALWAYS in transitions.

Growth needs change.

Change needs transition.

Transition is NEVER comfortable.

There is no comfortable growth.”

And with that, it’s time to recognise that what you’re doing makes change.

You are changing the lives of kids who need one, two, or fair few people who are willing to find a way through discomfort.

We hope you find something in this week’s mix that lends a hand.

“We must all face the choice between what is right, and what is easy.” ~ Dumbledore from “Harry Potter”

Parliamentary Library on School Refusal

The newly revamped School Can’t Australia website takes a position on stressors as causes of school absence, and safety so capacity can be restored. We see the parallels with this position for students with complex health conditions. In addition, see the link below to a summary of the excellent and thoroughly substantiated article from the Australian Parliamentary Library exploring the definitions and characteristics of school refusal, noting manifestations of emotional distress and symptoms. CHECK IT OUT

Educations’ Blockbuster Moment

We’re relieved to have an Op Ed published this week, highlighting the “Blockbuster moment” faced by education systems in Australia and globally. Albert Einstein’s assertion that crises can present opportunities rings true in education, especially post-pandemic. COVID-19 forced schools to adapt rapidly, transitioning to learn from anywhere. However, four years on, Australia still faces a school attendance crisis, with up to millions of children affected by medical and mental health challenges. Innovation is needed. READ MORE

Foundational Supports On The Way

The Department of Social Services has announced a consultation process on Foundational Supports. This will offer early intervention funding outside the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to support individuals with disability, and their families and carers. MissingSchool looks forward to engaging in this process to bring attention to students with complex attendance and health challenges who often fall in the gaps between disability, health and education systems. We encourage you to have your say in this consultation! HAVE YOUR SAY

New Resources For Families

The Commonwealth Department of Education has released new resources, co-designed with Children and Young People with Disability Australia, to help students with disability and caregivers understand their rights under the Disability Standards for Education. The resources include guides to advocating for and with your child, developing an action plan, navigating milestones and transitions and being a disability ally. We highly recommend these for families navigating school connection for students with complex attendance and health challenges. FIND OUT MORE

Facing Up to Kids’ Health Challenges! 

On Wednesday we marked Childhood Dementia Awareness Day with a shout out to Childhood Dementia Initiative’s FACE it campaign, raising much needed awareness for children and families grappling with this devastating disease. This week we also mark World Mitochondrial Disease Week and the important work of Mito Foundation who support people affected by mitochondrial disease in Australia. We encourage you to get behind both of these incredible organisations, check out their work and give them a follow! SHARE YOUR SUPPORT