Principal
We have been wearing our hearts on our sleeves at Nudgee College this week. Literally. The white hearts on the blue and white blazers of our Year 12s have stood out and become an invitation to begin a conversation.

As many parents would know this second week of the term has been Mental Wellbeing Week at the College. The details of the week were outlined in a recent letter from Mr Anthony Connellan (Dean of Students) and referenced the ‘hearts on sleeves’ initiative. These activities at school were complemented by a powerful video message from a group of our Senior leaders. Their message of expressing feelings and supporting a mate should resonate with all of us and I know that the clip has received overwhelmingly positive feedback.
Within the context of the College 'nurturing physical, social and emotional wellbeing’ has been one of the five strategic priorities within our College’s Strategic Plan. Such plans are of value to all organisations in industry as well as not for profit organisations and in education. However, this value is diminished if words are not matched by actions. I would like to think that at Nudgee College our actions in supporting, caring for and educating our young men in terms of their wellbeing have been evident to our community over recent years.
Data collected in school surveys at the end of 2021 certainly confirmed this. Over 80% of Year 12 students from 2021 scored the school highly on the multiple criteria associated with wellbeing. These very strong results were similarly reflected in the responses of our parents to questions focused on student wellbeing in a similar survey late last year.
While initiatives such as Mental Wellbeing Week raise awareness of a significant society wide problem there are 40 other weeks in the school year in which our staff support young people who encounter a wide range of mental health challenges. It is these practical efforts at the individual level and on a daily basis that make a significant difference in the lives of many Nudgee boys. At the forefront of these support efforts are our House Deans, our Heads of Boarding House and our counselling team. I thank them for this vital work, which is largely unseen, but which I know is deeply appreciated by a growing number of our parents and students.
As our Senior leaders suggest so engagingly in the video:
‘We encourage you to start a conversation, we encourage to wear your heart on your sleeve’
With every best wish for the week ahead.
Mr Peter Fullagar
Principal