26 September 2024

Brigid Ward’s powerful artwork, Healthy conversations, saw her named one of only five winners in the inaugural National Student Art Competition from R U OK? and awarded the title ‘creative legend’.

The brief for the competition invited students in Years 7 and 8 from across Australia to respond to the question: What does an R U OK? conversation mean to you?

The Iona College Geelong, Charlemont, student used acrylic paint, watercolour, texta and pencil to create her artwork representing her neighbour and herself in an embrace. Brigid said the piece is ‘about connecting and checking in with people in your everyday life, such as school peers, neighbours, family, friends and any communities you’re involved with’.

Works submitted to the National Student Art Competition were judged on artistic skill, imaginative storytelling and how well they conveyed the R U OK? message, and CEO Katherine Newton was ‘thrilled by the calibre of entries’.

The everyday conversations and check-ins encouraged through the R U OK? campaign are reflected in Iona College’s own Pulse Wellbeing check-in, which is based on the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) framework for young people.

In addition, the school’s wellbeing curriculum is explicit, consisting of evidence-based learning programs and implemented strategically during timetabled classes. As Deputy Principal Kylie Power notes, ‘Wellbeing and relationships are at the heart of what we do here at Iona’.