A little project making a big difference

Inspired by a Queensland teacher aide, the Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell has introduced Wellbeing Wagons to local schools, providing games and activities that foster inclusion, social skills and fun for children who might otherwise feel isolated in the playground.

In 2023, a member of the Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell, Vic, saw an Australian Story episode featuring Sunshine Coast teacher aide Sarah Tyler, who introduced the ‘Wellbeing Wagon’ to her school. The idea was to engage children who tend to be isolated in the playground at recess and lunchtime. Sarah described seeing these kids as “heartbreaking” and wondered how she could help.

Her solution was Wellbeing Wagons – beach carts filled with games and activities that help bring isolated kids together. Many of the games require group participation, and the activities help develop social skills, as well as introducing children to enjoyable hands-on fun.

With increasing recognition and diagnosis of learning disorders, neuro-divergency and mental health disorders in children, members of the Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell felt it was timely to look at a way they could make a difference using Sarah’s simple but brilliant idea.

They approached the larger schools in the area – four primary schools across four towns, each with around 600 students – asking if they would be interested in participating. They chose not to invite the smaller schools as they seemed to already have a more inclusive environment supporting ‘different’ children. Two schools accepted the offer of two Wellbeing Wagons per school – one for Prep to Grade 3 students and one for Grades 4 to 6.

The club sent out a list of suggested items for inclusion in the wagons, but also asked schools to nominate items they felt would engage their students. The list included Jenga and board games such as Ludo, Checkers, giant Snakes & Ladders and Junior Monopoly. It also included Textas and mindfulness drawing sheets, magnetic construction kits and Rubik’s Cubes. Other requested items from schools included small Lego construction kits and play tool belts, while one school requested Chess sets for their Chess club.

Club members were also mindful of sustainability – the only items that may need to be replenished are chalk, Textas, colouring pencils and wellbeing colouring sheets.
The project cost around $2,500 for the four wagons and contents.

The Rotary Club of Southern Mitchell thanks Sarah Tyler for initiating this brilliant initiative. Follow-ups with both schools show that the project has been hugely successful. The Wellbeing Wagons are wheeled out every recess and lunchtime and are well-used by students.