Well-Led Schools

• S3E2: Mitigating the Effects of Compassion Fatigue in Education - With Nichole Williams

  In this second part of our conversation with Nichole Williams, Principal of Lavington East Public School, we dive deeper into the topic of compassion fatigue in education. Nichole shares her research findings, personal experiences, and actionable strategies to help school leaders and educators build resilience and foster wellbeing within their teams. In this episode (Par1 2), we cover: What compassion fatigue is and why it affects educators The ripple effects of school leaders experiencing compassion fatigue on school culture and staff wellbeing Recognising the early warning signs of compassion fatigue in yourself and others Practical strategies for mitigating compassion fatigue to remain resilient and empathetic Tools and frameworks for building emotional resilience and fostering supportive environments About Nichole: Nichole Williams is the Principal of Lavington East Public School, located on the NSW-VIC border. With nearly 20 years of experience in the NSW public education system, including over a decade as a primary school principal, Nichole is deeply passionate about fostering positive change and improving student outcomes. Her career has taken her through a variety of teaching roles, with a strong focus on special education and student wellbeing, which has shaped her understanding of diverse learner needs and effective teaching practices. Nichole prides herself on implementing efficient systems for administration and teaching and learning structures, ensuring smooth operations that allow schools to focus on what matters most—student learning and growth. Transforming school culture and climate is at the heart of her leadership, with a strong belief that collaboration among all stakeholders is key to achieving this. Through coaching and mentoring, she strives to empower staff to recognise and harness their strengths, building cohesive teams that work together to create meaningful, lasting change. Nic recently completed her Master of Education through the University of Wollongong in 2024, where her research delved into compassion fatigue among school leaders—a topic she’s deeply passionate about. Armed with evidence-based strategies, Nic is determined to support not only herself but also her colleagues in fostering a culture of wellbeing and will share her insights with the audience today. Links and Resources: Staff Wellbeing Surveys Take the DOPE Bird Personality Quiz Learn more about Dr. Adam Fraser and The Third Space Tune into S3Ep. 1 With Nichole Williams Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together. Connect with Nicole via: Linkedin: Nic Williams Connect with me via: My website Linkedin Instagram EmailSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• S3E1: Trust, Teamwork, and Transformation - The Strategies That Turned a School Culture Around with Nichole Williams

  Welcome to Season 3 of the Well-Led School Podcast! We’re starting the year with the first of a two-part series featuring Nichole Williams, Principal of Lavington East Public School, located on the NSW-VIC border. With nearly 20 years of experience in the NSW public education system, including over a decade as a primary school principal, Nichole is deeply passionate about fostering positive change and improving student outcomes. Her career has taken Nichole through a variety of teaching roles, with a strong focus on special education and student wellbeing, which has shaped her understanding of diverse learner needs and effective teaching practices. Nichole prides herself on implementing efficient systems for administration and teaching and learning structures, ensuring smooth operations that allow schools to focus on what matters most—student learning and growth. Transforming school culture and climate is at the heart of her leadership, with a strong belief that collaboration among all stakeholders is key to achieving this. Through coaching and mentoring, she strives to empower staff to recognise and harness their strengths, building cohesive teams that work together to create meaningful, lasting change. Nic recently completed her Master of Education through the University of Wollongong in 2024, where her research delved into compassion fatigue among school leaders—a topic she’s deeply passionate about. Armed with evidence-based strategies, Nic is determined to support not only herself but also her colleagues in fostering a culture of wellbeing and will share her insights with the audience today. What makes Nic’s story so inspiring is that she doesn’t just talk the talk—she walks it. I’ve had the privilege of working with her to administer and analyse a staff wellbeing survey at her school last year in 2024, and was impressed by the positive data and feedback from her staff across many key areas. Lavington East Public School achieved outcomes far above both national and comparable school averages—a testament to the transformative work the school has undergone in recent years. In this episode (Par1 1), we cover: Nichole’s journey as the principal of Lavington East Public School, including how he turned around the school’s culture and climate The strategies Nichole used to build trust, collaboration and a positive workplace culture, such as starting with strengths, co-creating processes, and consistently communicating the “why” The value of having an external coach to support leadership development Nichole’s current focus on further developing staff wellbeing, including defining a shared vision, unpacking workload and behaviour issues, and leveraging research-based frameworks The importance of putting “people before processes” and supporting the wellbeing of both students and staff Links and Resources: Viviane Robertson: Student-Centered Leadership The “4D inquiry model” The ‘Window of Certainty’: Defining what matters in your school. Exploring the difference it makes by Rob Stones and Judy Hatswell The Pruning Principle: Mastering the Art of Strategic Subtraction Within Education. By Dr Simon Breakspear and Michael Rosenbrock Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together. Connect with Nicole via: Linkedin: Nic Williams Connect with me via: My website Linkedin Instagram EmailSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• S2E20: The Interplay of Staff and Student Wellbeing in Schools with Tony Cox

  In this episode of the Well-Led Schools podcast, we welcome Tony Cox, founder of Wellbeing Education Solutions, to discuss the important topic of student wellbeing. Tony shares his insights on why prioritising wellbeing isn't just beneficial for students but also makes teachers' jobs easier. When students feel supported, engaged, and emotionally secure, they perform better, reducing the strain on teachers.  Likewise, when educators experience high levels of wellbeing, they are more effective in managing classrooms, fostering positive learning environments, and supporting their students. The episode dives into the interconnected nature of staff and student wellbeing and offers practical strategies for creating a thriving culture of wellbeing within schools.   In this episode, we cover: The interplay of staff and student wellbeing and why it’s critical we focus on both at the same time Why effective wellbeing approaches should be holistic, proactive and embedded within a school’s culture, rather than s a topical solution How we can approach wellbeing education for kids in schools The value of building self-awareness and emotional intelligence at a young age so students can be empowered to grow and thrive How schools and teachers can contribute towards creating a culture of wellbeing How to involve parents and the school community in the process of fostering a school culture of wellbeing About Tony Cox:  Tony Cox is the founder of Wellbeing Education Solutions, an organisation dedicated to enhancing the wellbeing of both students and educators. With over 25 years of experience as an educator, Tony has taught across various levels, from primary to tertiary, and served in leadership roles, including Deputy Principal. After experiencing burnout, Tony stepped away from education and embarked on a personal journey of health and fitness, becoming a certified health and wellbeing coach. Upon his return to the education sector, Tony focused on helping educators and school communities foster wellbeing, drawing on his expertise in Positive Education, NLP, coaching, and counseling. He has since established Wellbeing Education Solutions, providing consulting, coaching, and support to schools  across Australia. Tony's mission is to empower individuals to achieve peak personal and professional wellbeing, grounded in values of gratitude, respect, authenticity, care, and excellence. Links and Resources: Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together. Connect with Tony via: His website: https://wellbeingeducationsolutions.com.au/  Email: [email protected]    Connect with me via: My website: http://adriennehornby.com.au  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/  Email: [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• S2E19: How to Manage Daily Interruptions and Prioritise Wellbeing in Education with Aimee Presnall

  In this episode of the Well-Led Schools Podcast, we welcome back Aimee Presnall, a wellbeing consultant and founder of Well-Nest, who has a deep passion for embedding wellbeing at the core of school culture. Aimee brings her extensive experience in education and leadership to the conversation, sharing valuable insights on how school leaders can navigate the complexities of their roles while maintaining a focus on both personal and staff wellbeing. Through her practical approach, Aimee offers guidance on how to create a more balanced and supportive environment in schools, helping leaders and their teams thrive amidst the challenges they face daily.   In this episode, we cover: The power of conversations and asking simple questions The implications of being too task driven versus people driven as a school leader The importance of upskilling staff in more than just instructional capabilities, but in personal skills as well The risks of not focusing on positive team culture The challenges that middle leaders are facing in schools today The types of interruptions schools leaders face throughout the workday and the impact they have on their professional practice and wellbeing Practical strategies school leaders can adopt to minimise the negative impacts of interruptions   About Aimee:  Aimee is the founder of Well-Nest, a consulting and coaching service dedicated to integrating wellbeing into the core of educational institutions. With over 15 years of experience in education, including roles as a teacher and school leader, Aimee has a deep understanding of the challenges that educators and administrators face. Her journey into school leadership began early in her career, where she quickly realised the intense demands placed on leaders and the need for a focus on wellbeing. This realisation, combined with her Master’s in Educational Leadership and Health and Wellness Coaching Professional Certificate, inspired her to create Well-Nest.   Aimee’s mission is to support schools in developing positive team cultures and enhancing leadership skills, with a strong emphasis on wellbeing. Through Well-Nest, she offers consulting services to help school leaders design and implement a culture of wellbeing, as well as coaching services that provide personalised guidance to educators and leaders.    Aimee’s approach is grounded in evidence-based practices, and she is passionate about empowering school communities to take actionable steps toward restored wellness. Her work also extends to public speaking and podcasting, where she shares her insights and inspires others to prioritise wellbeing in educational settings.   Links and Resources: Explore our Well-Led Schools Partnership Program: adriennehornby.com.au/school-partnerships/    Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.   Connect with Aimee via:  Her website: www.well-nest.com.au/  LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/aimee-parkinson/?originalSubdomain=au  Listen to her podcast: Reflections of School Leaders  On Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/reflections-of-school-leaders/id1752319691  or Spotify: open.spotify.com/show/5SWek6Pa8pZ0cevXuN79uy  Listen to her other podcast: The Wonders of Wellbeing  www.buzzsprout.com/1964632    Connect with me via: My website: adriennehornby.com.au  Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/  Email: [email protected]   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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• S2E18: The Impact of Effective Communication on Staff Wellbeing with Vicky Essebag

  In this episode, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Vicky Essebag, a relational communication specialist with extensive experience in both education and family therapy. Vicky has held roles as a teacher, guidance counselor, curriculum consultant, and vice-principal, and she is also a certified solution-focused coach and trainer. She is best known for her work in adapting Solution-Focused Brief Therapy to foster healthy, effective relationships within schools, organisations, and families.   In this episode, we explore the critical role of communication in schools and how it can be prioritised alongside academic curriculum to enhance staff wellbeing.    In this episode, we cover: What solution-focused therapy is and how we can use it to solve problems within the workplace Why we should be prioritising communication and giving it just as much importance as the school’s curriculum How we can take more responsibility for how we communicate and respond to others How we can use backcasting or future orientation to reach solutions to our problems What communication actually entails beyond just talking and listening Why communication is especially important in school environments not just between staff but also between teachers and students. The differences between a leader and a manager The core principles that guide Vicky’s work with schools to support effective communication How leaders can prevent and manage conflict using Vicky’s framework for communication   About Vicky: Vicky Essebag is a relational communication specialist and thought leader with a rich background in both education and family therapy. With experience as a teacher, guidance counselor, curriculum consultant, and vice-principal, Vicky has a deep understanding of schools and staff. She is also a certified solution-focused coach and trainer, widely recognised for her innovative approach to adapting Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT) to enhance communication and relationships within schools, organisations, and families.   As a public speaker and consultant, Vicky has presented her expertise on a global stage, helping schools and organisations implement relational processes that foster wellbeing and success for all stakeholders.    She is the founder of Relationspaces.com and the author of Relationspaces: A Solution-Focused Handbook for Parents, a guide that empowers parents to cultivate intentional, effective communication strategies that support the entire family.   Links and Resources: Explore our Well-Led Schools Partnership Program: adriennehornby.com.au/school-partnerships/    Book recommendation: The Third Path: A Relationship-Based Approach to Student Well-Being and Achievement by David Tranter,  Lori Carson, Tom Boland    Thank you so much for listening. I’m so honoured that you’re here and would be so grateful if you could leave me a review on Apple Podcasts or on your preferred podcast app, that way we can inspire and educate even more people together.   Connect with Vicky via: Her Website: www.relationspaces.com LinkedIn: @vickyessebag  Facebook: @vickyessebagauthor Instagram: @essebagvicky   More ways to engage with Vicky’s work:   Subscribe to her LinkedIn Newsletter: www.linkedin.com/newsletters/relationspaces-7086324196984705024/  Listen to her Podcast: A Call Across the Pond; Transforming Relationships at School, at Home and Beyond - https://relationspaces.com/podcast/ Youtube Relationspaces Power Bursts: @relationspaces Read her book: Relationspaces:A Solution-Focused Handbook for Parents   Connect with me via: My website http://adriennehornby.com.au  Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrienne-hornby-a4126a205/  Email [email protected] See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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