Staff from Echuca College, Echuca Specialist School and Echuca South Primary School participated in a day of Professional Development.  The guest presenter was Ivan Honey, he is a psychologist, International Trainer and a #1 Amazon best-selling Author with his children’s book, The Amazing Adventures of Doug Dragster.  The focus of the day was his latest Positive Psychology program, “The Doug Dragster ‘Get Happier Project’, which is currently being used and researched in the Los Angeles School District in California.

“The ‘Get Happier Project’ aligns with one of the key Victorian Government commitments for the Education State, which is to ensure that the overall wellbeing of children and young people is high a priority as literacy and numeracy.” James Merlino, Minister for Education.

The Get Happier Project is able to be used in individual classrooms, for one on one student counselling, for teaching Social and Emotional skills and as a framework for a whole school approach to mental health, wellbeing and behavior management.  It is a simple and practical framework for staff wellbeing, morale and teaching and learning practice.

Ivan will be visiting the College again May 16th for a parent information evening and the following day to work with our Year 7 students.