Surviving the HSC A guide for parents

The HSC can be a difficult and stressful year, and not just for students. Parents and families can struggle with how best to support their student. Many parents want to be encouraging and ensure their child achieves to their full potential, but don’t want to interfere or nag.

A Stressful Year During the final year of school, students often start to explore their independence and make plans for their future. In addition to sitting the HSC, year 12 students may: get a drivers licence have a part-time job lose interest in school experiment with drugs and alcohol develop an intense romantic relationship have no plans post-HSC suffer from depression and/or anxiety develop an eating disorder

These are all things that can concern parents and increase stress levels in the home. Remember: you are not alone! Thousands of parents are going through the same things. There are many simple, practical things you can do to survive the HSC. There is help available.

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds Provide a quiet, calm place for your student to study. Encourage a healthy sleep routine Provide regular, nutritious meals. Encourage your child to exercise regularly try go to bed and get up around the same time every day screen-free “downtime” before bed keep in mind that adolescent brains are changing and sleep patterns often shift later - need to sleep later and longer

Set Realistic Goals Encourage your child to set goals for themselves Make sure these goals are realistic and practical. Break down the goals into manageable steps to help track progress and encourage hard work Goals can be simple, many students don’t know what they want to do post- HSC Try to remain supportive, even if you feel your child should have different goals

Provide Emotional Support The final year of school can be an emotionally turbulent time Oversensitivity, panic, loss of perspective and explosive outbursts are normal (from time to time) for people under intense pressure Try to remain calm - avoid nagging and arguing with your child Avoid confrontations over minor issues - e.g. leaving lights on Many students feel incredible pressure to do well Some may feel as though they are letting their family down if they don’t achieve goals Some may feel a sense of impending loss, as they prepare to leave school and change their lives

Provide Emotional Support Try to remain positive, reassuring and affectionate Avoid catastrophising - try to reframe setbacks as “mistakes” that can be learnt from and improved upon Inspire confidence - keep doubts to yourself Encourage your child to talk about their feelings

It’s All About Balance Encourage a reasonable balance between work and leisure - fun activities are essential to a successful study program - they can be built into schedules as “rewards” for hard work. Encourage regular study breaks Remember that too many extracurricular activities can be counter-productive and the use of a study calendar can help create balance Make reasonable concessions, such as release from household chores as exams get closer

Be Aware Some students will experience stress and worry at levels beyond normal amounts. If your child seems excessively stressed or upset, encourage them to seek help from: School Counsellor Headspace Kids Helpline

Remember the Big Picture! Completion of the HSC is something to be proud of The HSC is a means of entry into university, however it is only one pathway. There are many avenues to happiness and success The sun will still rise tomorrow!

You’re Not Alone! HSC Online: hsc.csu.edu.au/for_parents/ hsc.csu.edu.au/for_parents/ Headspace: headspace.com.auheadspace.com.au NSW Department of Education: schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au schoolatoz.nsw.edu.au Study Without Stress: centreforemotionalhealth.com.au/pa ges/study-without-stress- program.aspx centreforemotionalhealth.com.au/pa ges/study-without-stress- program.aspx Quakers Hill Family Centre:

Resources for Students Exam/study tips: Managing stress: Surviving year 12: about-it/surviving-year-12