September 3, 2019

Mascot magic delights primary school students

Healthy Harold, Baxter the Duck encourage health, wellbeing at Warilla Public

Students at Warilla Public School welcomed two special guests on Monday (2 September) when the University of Wollongong’s Baxter the Duck and Life Education’s Healthy Harold dropped in to greet the children.

The applause was wild as the students relished the opportunity to meet the fluffy friends and hear more about their work to help children become the healthiest and happiest they can be.

Life Education, a community-based, independent organisation, will be on site at Warilla Public School throughout the week, introducing a new generation of kids to the childhood health initiative.

Healthy Harold encouraged the students to get excited about their time in the Life Education van, in which they will participate in lessons on health, wellbeing, and making safe choices. 

UOW has been working with Life Education since 2015, providing funding so the much-celebrated van can visit the schools in low socioeconomic areas in the region. 

Clare Fraser, Community Engagement Coordinator, said the University loved to work with schools in the local community, providing support on vital educational initiatives.

“It is always a pleasure to work with young students throughout the Illawarra and Shoalhaven, and help them to experience programs such as Life Education,” Ms Fraser said.

“Our Community Investment Program is so important to building strong communities and ensuring people of all ages and from all walks of life are able to access and benefit from higher education.”

“At the university, we’re not only committed to supporting students to achieve their academic aspirations, we’re also focused on their personal development, health and wellbeing, and encouraging them to become active citizens in their own community.” 

Under the partnership, UOW has helped Life Education to deliver their program to the 10 most disadvantaged primary schools in the Illawarra. It is part of UOW’s Community Investment Program, which plays a role in championing social, cultural, environmental and economic developments within the community.

UOW also helps to deliver Life Education to schools in Cringila, Berkeley, Bellambi, Koonawarra, and Barrack Heights.

The aim of the event was also to encourage the young students to get excited for the upcoming Kids In2Uni Days, which will be held on campus in November and aims to introduce local primary school students to university. 

 James Terry, Schools Outreach Coordinator in UOW’s Outreach, Pathways and Co-curricular team, said in addition to the UOW Wollongong campus, the Kids In2Uni Days were also offered across all UOW regional campuses and gave students from across these regions the opportunity to experience campus life.

“Kids In2Uni provides students, parents and teachers with a positive connection to UOW and a 'taste' of university life,” Mr Terry said. “It gives students the opportunity to experience university, interact with university students and staff and commence the conversation about pathways and opportunities that exist as they continue their educational journey.”

The Kids In2Uni Days will be held in November, with students from close to 30 schools taking part in the event over four days.