Locked in: Students Brodie Stratton, Hannah Partridge, guest speaker Kristy Puls, Archie Childs and Corey O'Mara discussed the long-term health implications of vaping. Photos: Aidan Briggs
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
Echuca College students took part in headspace Echuca’s ‘Podcast Challenge’ on Friday, May 10.
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The challenge allows school students to come together in a friendly competition to create a mini mental health podcast series.
The alternative learning experience includes students from six schools in Echuca, Kyabram and Rochester and focuses on prominent issues facing the youth of these communities and for the vocational students to learn valuable media-related skills.
Each school has a specified time to advertise and promote its podcast.
After the time, the school with the most listens wins.
The winning school will receive podcasting equipment, so students could return to their respective schools and continue to teach the art of podcasting in an engaging, student-driven environment.
Echuca College students recorded their podcasts on Friday at headspace Echuca, their topic concerned vaping and featured a few special guests, including Echuca Regional Health promotions officer Kristy Puls, headspace Echuca councillor Sam Cunningham and Echuca College student services team member Dorinda Watson.
Ms Watson explained the process behind the podcast and the importance of giving students the chance to have a voice about social issues facing young people today.
Inquisitive: Students Ariel Sutton, Mia Mills-Firbrace, with guest speaker Sam Cunningham, and fellow students Natlie Cashmore, Jesse O'Brien and Adrian Bell conversed about the social reasons that people may vape.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
“We have had two sessions with Echuca headspace promotions officer Jayden Howe and then Kristy Puls to help them with their research and give them a bit of an indication of what today was going to be like and what they could expect,” she said.
“The students have been super excited to be part of the challenge and learn all about how to do a podcast and some of the social issues facing young people.
“I think it’s important for them to have a voice because they feel like, as young people, they are forever getting told what to do and how to do it and what that looks like; this is a chance for them to get a bit curious and ask questions that are important to them.
“It’s been an awesome experience for these students; it’s such a great initiative.”
Echuca College vocational student Sam Noonan enjoyed recording the podcast and learning valuable skills.
Made it all possible: Anika Cross from the Loddon Malee Health Unit helped fund the challenge that community awareness officer Jayden Howe came up with.
Photo by
Aidan Briggs
“It was pretty good. We learnt a lot about podcasting and got to talk to professionals and the people who deal with that sort of stuff daily, so overall, it was a great experience,” he said.
“At first, when we were doing the lead-up to the podcast, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do it, but once we got in there and started talking, it was easy to get the words out.
“When it comes to vaping, we’ve learnt a lot about the downsides of it and how it can negatively affect you.
“Vaping is such a prevalent thing in our age group, so if we learn about it now and don’t do it, it can save a lifetime of harm for us all.”
Fellow vocational student Adrian Bell was initially apprehensive and nervous about the podcast but now feels he can express himself better.
Adrian was glad to learn about the potential harm that vaping can cause and encourage people to stay aware of it.
“Honestly, I was a bit worried about doing the podcast when I got in there, but it came naturally, and I feel like I am better at speaking in public now, and it’s a lot easier,” he said.
“Once we got into it, it felt like we were just all having a normal conversation.”
“It’s helped me learn more about what vaping is and the dangers of it; it doesn’t sound very good.”
“It’s so easy to just go along and do something your friends do, and then all of a sudden, you get hooked on it and don’t know what it’s actually doing to you, so it’s good to be able to help educate people on what they’re doing to their bodies.”
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