Empowering Youth: New WELLSPRING Conference Promoting Mental Health and Wellbeing 

During the Term 2 break, Arc – UNSW Student Life hosted WELLSPRING, a new event that engaged over 130 students and young adults from UNSW and the Randwick Council communities. This new approach offers a more personable and practical approach to helping students traverse the world of mental health and wellbeing. It served as a valuable platform for community youth and university students to develop leadership skills with the guidance of experienced staff. 

WELLSPRING, a project that took a year to plan, became a reality thanks to the secured grant from the NSW Youth Opportunities Program. The event, held on August 29th and 30th, collaborated with eight mental health professionals from esteemed organisations like The Indigo Project and Butterfly Foundation. Together, they curated a series of workshops to support participants in personal growth, reduce stigmas, and offer practical insights on topics such as body image, relationships, and the challenges of transitioning into adulthood. 

One participant shared their thoughts: "For me, something very insightful was learning how to set personal boundaries and how our view of relationships can be influenced by the books we read and the movies we watched as children. I've never thought of it like that before."  

The event also featured various immersive, hands-on activities, giving young participants access to enriching experiences and opportunities to connect with others. Some of the highlights were surfing lessons, pottery classes, and bouldering. 

We want to express our heartfelt appreciation to all the dedicated WELLSPRING Leaders who made this event a reality. With its success, Arc remains committed to providing vital mental health and wellbeing support to young people, both now and in the future. Arc Wellness does this through its 200+ volunteers and engages on campus daily.