I’m taking a moment to wish this blog a Happy Birthday!
The Student Health and Wellbeing Blog kicked off on the 19th July 2017. It was one of the first real projects I got started here at Flinders.
You can still read the first post [actually, I just took a moment to update a couple of links on it].
For the most part I think I have managed to live up to the goals I set myself at that time:
“provide you (the students) with evidence-based insights and tools for improving your health and well-being during your time at Flinders” (e.g. self-care guide)
“profile physical health, mental health and well-being activities that are taking place in the university, including helping you get to know the various services that are available to you as a student” (e.g. wellbeing programs)
“feature and promote health-related research that is being done by staff and students across the university and explore the implications of that research for your life as a student” (ummm………I think I could do better on this one)
“review different health and well-being websites and apps to help you decide whether they might be of value to you during your time as a student” (e.g. mobile apps)
In addition, the blog has become a place that we store our self-care guides, make service announcements, post disability news, remind students of important dates, feature guest blog posts (including posts by students) and lots more.
As of writing this, I’m closing in on almost 1400 blog posts over the 7 years the blog has been active. That is almost 200 posts per year. Over 3 posts per week.
Knowing what goes into the process, I think that speaks less to my productivity and more to the pace at which life moves nowadays. There is never a week in which we don’t have something to share.
Regardless, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have led this blog and to those who have supported and contributed to it. That includes you as readers 🙏🏼
There are no plans to change what we are doing on the blog. Admittedly, in a world of countless social media channels, a blog isn’t the flashiest or most feature rich option. But it is a reliable digital home that has served me and us well. I look forward to keeping it ticking over. In fact, I hope to be celebrating its 10th birthday one day.
If you’d like to use this blog’s birthday as a trigger to get involved with the blog in some way, there are a few options.
- Got an idea for a blog post? let me know by emailing me – gareth.furber@flinders.edu.au
- Want to have a crack at writing a blog post? – again, email me with your suggested topic. I can help with topic selection, writing and editing. Want to see what some other students have written on the blog? Try here.
- Feel like sharing your positive story of overcoming adversity to thrive at uni? – we could organise a podcast or written interview. It is always powerful to hear from people who have overcome adversity.
- Involved in a project that is addressing the health and wellbeing of students? – let me know and we can promote it on the blog.
- Feel like the blog might be helpful to someone you know? – simply share the URL – https://blogs.flinders.edu.au/student-health-and-well-being/ with anyone you think might enjoy or benefit from the blog.
Otherwise, please simply join me for a slice of virtual cake.
