Informing adults Parents and teachers are a significant source of influence, careers advice and information to school students. Their ability to assist their children and students in career decisions can be assisted by being involved in RHSV workshop sessions and given access to current information to encourage and support their children/students’ career interests.
Planning a Parent and Teachers Information Session
The adults’ session in many ways can be very similar to the workshop run for students: it doesn’t have to be formal and should be fun and relaxed! Most importantly, it provides parents and teachers with the opportunity to hear your experiences as health students, ask questions, raise and address any concerns they may have.
i How did your parents react when you first went to university? In many cases, especially in rural areas, parents could be more stressed than the students!
Some ideas on how to engage and inform the adults:
Organising the Session
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It may be helpful to co-ordinate this event with the school and encourage involvement from the teachers. The school’s staff room or a school hall may be a good location to hold the information session due to the size, relaxed environment and availability of urns – remember to discuss this with the school. It will also be a good idea to discuss and be flexible with the timing – remember many parents are working during the day so an after-school or evening session may be more appropriate.
It would also be helpful to research any activities which may be on during the planned night. The school may have a parents / teacher night which may boost numbers or the town may have a social activity which may decrease numbers.
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Invites
Invite parents and teachers to the session that you have already organised with the students or preferably hold a separate adult’s session before or after the actual RHSV workshop. You can use the letter of invitation for this.
Advertising
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Early promotion and advertising of the event is the key to the success of the night. There are numerous potential opportunities to advertise the parent and teacher information night.
Ask the school to send the parents letter home along with their permission slip: remember to send these a few weeks in advance.
The school newsletters and daily school notices is a great way to communicate with parents and teachers. School newsletters may be fortnightly or monthly so plan your submission to the School Principal well in advance.
Be time and resource savvy. Advertise in multiple schools in the region; there may be district schools or private schools. Instead of organising multiple parent and teacher nights, advertise in surrounding schools for one session. Contact the school Principals and remember to keep the host school informed of your plans.
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i Start Advertising early. Many parents and teachers will be keen to attend but without prior warning, they may not be able to attend at short notice. Be aware of school, university or community calendars as well!
Session Content
Discuss topics such as scholarships, academic performance, accommodation and working while at university as these are often barriers perceived by parents as well as students.
Presentation Style
Think of what would make your own parents trust someone! The way you present yourself will have an impact on how parents and teachers will view your credibility.
You have a role in modelling positive behaviours and you may have to change the way you speak and present yourself as compared with how you present information in the students session.
Follow Up
Encourage parents and teachers to follow up information with the students after the workshop. Pop a post-RHSV follow-up notice in the newsletter. It could be a combined thank you and good luck letter – just something to jog both the students’ and their teachers’/parents’ memories of what was discussed!
Take Home Information
Give the students the Rural High School Visit information sheet for parents on what you did and discussed in the RHSV workshop to take home to their parents.
i Remember parents and teachers are key influences in school students’ lives and choice of careers! Talking to the parents and teachers are just as important as talking to the students.
A couple of general points:
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Like the student session, we are trying to show how interesting the courses we do are. If you’re a bit disoriented at this point in time with what you do, try not to portray that.
Many parents and teachers are very well informed about tertiary options. Many are there to hear your story – open up and share your experiences!
Interaction and practical activities can be useful too, plus it adds to the atmosphere of the session. It’s also a great conversation starter!
Advertise widely prior to the event; encourage teachers and careers advisors to attend.
Send a letter addressed to the parents with the photography consent form.
Be flexible at the session.
Question time will be an invaluable part of the session as parents will have many questions to ask in relation to their family. Don’t worry if you do not have the answer straight off just letting them know where they might be able to find out the information that they require is a great help.
Remember to be multidisciplinary when discussing health career options. Many parents may have preconceived ideas on health careers, what people do and who should do them.
Nibblies, tea and coffee after the event can help create a warm environment and encourages parents, teachers and presenters to interact.
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