Kaplan Community Podcast
Listen for free to the personal stories of alumni from Kaplan Business School. Join host Kieran Howard, as we share stories about life as a student, life after graduation, future plans, and staying connected. Get involved with us on our KBS Alumni LinkedIn group at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6567849/, and with Kaplan Business School at www.kbs.edu.au.
Kaplan Community Podcast
S2 E3 Alex Reeman-Clark on Student Experience Wellbeing
Alex Reeman-Clark is the General Manager, Student Experience at Kaplan Business School. Listen to Alex explain the role of Student Experience Officers beyond the classroom; and mental wellbeing among international students. He continues to describe the support services available during and after campus hours.
In PART ONE, Alex discusses Sonder support after campus hours, 24x7, for staff and students. The typical reasons for call Sonder include assistance to seek counselling and - believe it or not - emergency repairs in your home! Click here to find out more about the Sonder app.
In PART TWO, Alex presents the wide range of support offered by the KBS Student Experience Officers (SEO). They drive wellbeing initiatives for students from over 80 nationalities to settle into KBS and Australia. Did you know about the Nationality Engagement Program?
- The Student Experience team come from 25 different nationalities.
- individual SEO can personalise student experiences by engaging them in their own language; and understanding first-hand how to celebrate national culture events with students - from cooking momo to Diwali to Brazilian dancing!
In PART THREE, Alex opens the future roles of the SEO and teamwork. Consider these shifts!
- adapting student engagement to a dual world of on-campus and online study;
- permanent transfer to student experience services to an online platform; and
- extending a dozen class schedules to accommodate multiple time zones for offshore and onshore students.
For additional episodes, refer to the Kaplan Community Podcast webpage.
CHAPTERS
00:57 Beyond classrooms, the contributions of SEO
02:19 Mental wellbeing among international students
04:42 PART ONE : KBS CARE 24X7 WITH SONDER
06:34 Championing Sonder
07:55 Sonder support of mental wellbeing
09:59 Students! Tapping into Sonder support
11:02 Staff! Tapping into Sonder support
12:39 PART TWO: KBS CARE DURING CAMPUS HOURS
14:07 Engaging multicultural students at KBS
15:45 Cooking momo and Brazilian dancing, the extent of SEO support
16:26 Your first point of contact, the SEO
17:29 Roles and duties of the SEO team
20:24 PART THREE: SEO TEAMWORK AND FUTURE PLANS
22:43 Careers and SEO collaboration
25:16 Future plans for the student experience capability
27:78 Alex's personal tips for mental wellbeing
30:56 Where you can access confidential support
1
00:00:05,040 --> 00:00:09,320
The Kaplan Community podcast is a platform
for the wider Kaplan community
2
00:00:09,560 --> 00:00:11,040
to share ideas and insights
3
00:00:11,040 --> 00:00:14,160
that can guide us on our professional
and academic development.
4
00:00:14,360 --> 00:00:17,760
It's easy to listen
to tackle some hard hitting issues,
5
00:00:18,200 --> 00:00:19,440
and we think it's a great way
6
00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:23,560
to appreciate diverse perspectives on life
learning and careers.
7
00:00:23,760 --> 00:00:25,320
Hi, I'm Alex Reeman-Clark.
8
00:00:25,320 --> 00:00:28,720
I'm the General Manager Student Experience
at Kaplan Business School.
9
00:00:29,400 --> 00:00:32,640
Alex, thank you for being on the Kaplan
Community podcast.
10
00:00:32,640 --> 00:00:35,520
How are you doing today?
Thanks for having me, Kieran. Richard.
11
00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:40,040
Our goal for these first two
interviews of season two is to get some
12
00:00:40,040 --> 00:00:44,160
perspectives of different sides of
counseling on mental health and wellbeing.
13
00:00:44,440 --> 00:00:45,920
It's an important issue.
14
00:00:45,920 --> 00:00:49,480
And we're discussing organizational
wellbeing with people in culture,
15
00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:52,120
the academic perspective with our dean.
16
00:00:52,120 --> 00:00:57,200
And just to start off, I'd like to know
from you what is student experience?
17
00:00:57,600 --> 00:01:01,600
Student experience in a Kaplan Business
School world is every
18
00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:05,160
bit of support and guidance
outside of the classroom.
19
00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,360
So from my role,
it's all the campus managers in student
20
00:01:09,360 --> 00:01:13,520
experience offices, counselors,
administrators, records, obviously.
21
00:01:13,520 --> 00:01:16,760
So every bit of face to face interaction
22
00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:20,560
outside of a classroom is with one of
the student experience team.
23
00:01:21,600 --> 00:01:23,360
I think ultimately
24
00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:27,800
when a student decides
to go to an education provider,
25
00:01:28,160 --> 00:01:30,800
of course, there is the qualification
that they get at the end,
26
00:01:30,920 --> 00:01:33,200
and that's the primary
reason they are there.
27
00:01:33,840 --> 00:01:37,920
However, it really is
the journey that counts.
28
00:01:38,000 --> 00:01:39,560
That is their experience.
29
00:01:39,560 --> 00:01:44,240
And there is so many things
that they can gain from that,
30
00:01:44,240 --> 00:01:48,960
whether that's long lasting friendships
or experience and an employer
31
00:01:48,960 --> 00:01:52,400
that next steps in their career,
relationships, you name it.
32
00:01:52,400 --> 00:01:55,520
So what we're trying to do is facilitate
33
00:01:55,520 --> 00:01:59,800
that as best as possible
through a variety of different means.
34
00:01:59,800 --> 00:02:01,840
So when they go to graduation,
35
00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:05,480
they can look back on their journey
and feel a really positive experience.
36
00:02:06,160 --> 00:02:09,440
I have been really eager
to ask that question as a member
37
00:02:09,440 --> 00:02:10,880
of the student experience team.
38
00:02:10,880 --> 00:02:13,640
I was really looking forward to it.
It's a hard one.
39
00:02:14,000 --> 00:02:14,720
And so that's why
40
00:02:15,880 --> 00:02:18,560
so many of our students are international.
41
00:02:18,560 --> 00:02:24,040
And studies show international students
are at an increased risk of mental
42
00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:29,800
wellbeing issues for a variety of factors,
including isolation from family,
43
00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:35,480
cultural differences, language barriers,
financial pressures and academic stress.
44
00:02:35,960 --> 00:02:39,120
So there's a lot of risk factors
to take into account
45
00:02:39,360 --> 00:02:42,560
when we consider
the international student experience.
46
00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:46,480
I'd like to know,
how does this factor into your leadership
47
00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,400
of student experience
at KB's, where over 97
48
00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:53,920
percent international students
from 80 different nationalities.
49
00:02:53,960 --> 00:02:57,760
So there is no cookie cutter approach
50
00:02:57,880 --> 00:03:01,080
when talking about international students
because they're all different.
51
00:03:01,320 --> 00:03:05,280
They've had various different experiences
and they're all in different parts
52
00:03:05,280 --> 00:03:06,840
of their journey.
53
00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,680
So I think the best thing you can do
or we can do in that scenario
54
00:03:11,240 --> 00:03:14,720
is approach them all
with a level of empathy
55
00:03:14,720 --> 00:03:19,240
and trying to understand the situation
that they find themselves in
56
00:03:19,360 --> 00:03:20,480
and how they're dealing
57
00:03:20,480 --> 00:03:23,840
with the many different challenges
that you just articulated.
58
00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,240
And I think it's our job
as the student experience team
59
00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:31,280
at the business school is to provide them
with the services,
60
00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:35,240
the tools, the resources
that they can tap into
61
00:03:35,720 --> 00:03:40,120
to make sure that they're facing
those challenges in the best way possible.
62
00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,080
Now, they've got to do it
themselves, obviously,
63
00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:48,560
but I think it's our responsibility
to provide them with a wealth of resources
64
00:03:48,560 --> 00:03:52,040
and information and services
directly from us that they can
65
00:03:52,320 --> 00:03:54,640
really utilize throughout their journey.
66
00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,040
And I think that goes across everything.
67
00:03:57,040 --> 00:04:00,600
So whether it's an actual service that
you provide, such as a student counselor,
68
00:04:01,120 --> 00:04:04,040
whether it's an event focused on mental
health and wellbeing.
69
00:04:04,640 --> 00:04:06,560
I think even just the recruitment
70
00:04:06,560 --> 00:04:09,720
of the staff and their values
and what they embody,
71
00:04:10,400 --> 00:04:14,840
really understanding what it is to be
a steward as an international student
72
00:04:14,880 --> 00:04:19,040
and some of the challenges
that they go through, I think that is key
73
00:04:19,040 --> 00:04:22,280
to making sure that they have
a successful journey at Cabe's.
74
00:04:22,960 --> 00:04:27,680
Alex, we know that we win awards
and we're well known for our student care
75
00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:33,520
and student experience team has a lot to
support and help with that student care.
76
00:04:34,400 --> 00:04:38,080
In your mind, what is the service
that is most critical
77
00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:42,120
to helping students engage
and have a good journey through CVS?
78
00:04:43,120 --> 00:04:47,920
I think that the one service
that we provide in the area of student
79
00:04:47,920 --> 00:04:53,280
well-being would be our partnership
with a company called Sonder.
80
00:04:54,080 --> 00:04:56,960
So for those of you
who don't know what Sonder is,
81
00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:03,560
it's a 24/7 personal safety
and well-being service
82
00:05:03,920 --> 00:05:07,880
that's available to our students
via phone or via an app.
83
00:05:08,600 --> 00:05:12,520
When it comes to safety and well-being,
we operate across
84
00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:18,080
five campuses in Australia
and we have a staff group
85
00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:21,920
of about 40 to 50
or so in student experience.
86
00:05:22,840 --> 00:05:26,600
We can look after them when they're on
campus, but outside of that campus,
87
00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:29,560
it's a big, bad world out there
and so many things could happen.
88
00:05:29,760 --> 00:05:34,600
So Sonder is a company
that provides a service
89
00:05:35,080 --> 00:05:40,720
that allows students to tap into safety
professionals and health professionals.
90
00:05:40,960 --> 00:05:44,440
Just by a click of a button
that their phone at any time of day,
91
00:05:44,960 --> 00:05:47,920
Sonder have a 24/7 operation center
92
00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,800
that students can tap into very quickly
through the apple via
93
00:05:51,800 --> 00:05:55,320
a phone call, and then they can get help
with whatever they need.
94
00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:58,320
And they can actually get someone,
a liaison officer
95
00:05:58,640 --> 00:06:02,520
who is perhaps a former paramedic
or former detective
96
00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,720
by their side within 20 minutes
of engaging the app.
97
00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:11,440
And students have used this
for a variety of reasons
98
00:06:11,440 --> 00:06:15,000
since we started our partnership
in February of 2020,
99
00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:20,640
and especially in cowbirds,
when people are stuck at home in lockdowns
100
00:06:20,640 --> 00:06:24,240
or they want extra supplies
if they're in quarantine itself.
101
00:06:24,480 --> 00:06:27,160
There are so many reasons
why students could use this app.
102
00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:30,400
And if I had to pinpoint one,
that would be the biggest
103
00:06:30,800 --> 00:06:34,040
or the best wellbeing service
that we provide. It can be, yes.
104
00:06:35,200 --> 00:06:38,600
You were really a champion of Sonder
from the beginning.
105
00:06:38,920 --> 00:06:42,080
Can I ask Alex, what was the main driver
106
00:06:42,080 --> 00:06:45,560
behind your interest in that, or
how did you find out about about Sonder?
107
00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,640
I think when I heard about
what they were offering,
108
00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:52,120
I had first of all,
it's a gap in the market.
109
00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:56,200
So I don't think
there are any other companies or providers
110
00:06:56,200 --> 00:06:59,400
that are able to provide such holistic,
111
00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:03,040
proactive and reactive help to students.
112
00:07:03,280 --> 00:07:06,880
But one thing I initially realized
when I started the
113
00:07:06,880 --> 00:07:10,560
conversations with Sonder
is that they genuinely cared about people.
114
00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:12,640
And I think that really came across
115
00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,160
in all the conversations
they genuinely wanted to help.
116
00:07:15,640 --> 00:07:17,400
This wasn't a money making scheme.
117
00:07:17,400 --> 00:07:22,440
So I think when you see the true values
of the people behind the company and what
118
00:07:22,440 --> 00:07:27,960
they want to do to help students, that's
when I really attached to the service.
119
00:07:28,480 --> 00:07:32,520
So coupling that with a real gap
in the market for what Qubes needed.
120
00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:36,480
So as I mentioned before,
we were really limited in what we could
121
00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:40,120
provide students in terms of health
and well-being outside of campus life.
122
00:07:40,120 --> 00:07:43,440
So as soon as we got on board with Sonder,
123
00:07:43,440 --> 00:07:48,680
I think every single staff member
KPS had a big sigh of relief,
124
00:07:48,680 --> 00:07:51,760
knowing that they could count
on this company behind the scenes
125
00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:54,880
and outside of ours when we couldn't
see our students on campus.
126
00:07:55,640 --> 00:07:58,080
So can you describe the kinds of things,
127
00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:01,720
the services that Sandra would provide
in that mental health space as well?
128
00:08:02,720 --> 00:08:03,680
But, Richard, from a mental
129
00:08:03,680 --> 00:08:06,240
health perspective,
I think you've hit the nail on the head.
130
00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:11,480
Mental health is actually the number one
use of SONDA for our students.
131
00:08:11,520 --> 00:08:15,440
And it can be as simple
as getting in touch with someone via
132
00:08:15,440 --> 00:08:19,200
the chat on the app and just talking
to them about how you're feeling.
133
00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:24,600
And they actually have a nurse director
there at the Operation Center 24/7
134
00:08:25,000 --> 00:08:30,000
who helps triage those students
into the necessary support service.
135
00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:32,920
So often a student
would get in touch with sun
136
00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:34,880
and they would be triaged to lifework.
137
00:08:34,880 --> 00:08:37,120
So there would be triage
to book an appointment
138
00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:40,200
with one of our student counselor,
or if it's a bit more serious,
139
00:08:40,200 --> 00:08:44,360
they'll actually be triaged to a hospital
and see a psychologist or psychiatrist.
140
00:08:44,840 --> 00:08:46,760
So I think knowing that mental health
141
00:08:46,760 --> 00:08:50,480
is the number one reason
that we are so lucky to have that service
142
00:08:50,760 --> 00:08:55,480
for students to tap into at all
hours of the day across any day
143
00:08:55,880 --> 00:08:58,120
when we might not be available
for those students,
144
00:08:58,320 --> 00:09:00,760
might not feel comfortable
coming to us as well.
145
00:09:01,440 --> 00:09:04,640
The thing that really hardens me
is reading research
146
00:09:05,080 --> 00:09:08,800
that tells that the number one stressor
for international students
147
00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:12,680
here in Australia is loneliness,
followed by a fear
148
00:09:12,680 --> 00:09:15,200
of being accepted
in the community in Australia.
149
00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:19,200
And to hear this, Sonder offers
the support of, you know,
150
00:09:19,280 --> 00:09:21,120
what to do in a situation,
as you mentioned,
151
00:09:21,120 --> 00:09:24,920
even going on a first date
is actually really heartening, isn't it?
152
00:09:24,920 --> 00:09:27,000
It really helps KB's
153
00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,560
live up to our promise that we care
about our students, both academically
154
00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:35,000
and in their experience, outside of campus
or outside of the classroom.
155
00:09:35,520 --> 00:09:36,960
And the question I want to ask is
156
00:09:36,960 --> 00:09:40,160
it is open to Kabia staff as well,
is that correct?
157
00:09:40,520 --> 00:09:42,080
Yes, you are right, Richard.
158
00:09:42,080 --> 00:09:45,680
So I'll give you a couple of examples
of the service, because I think people,
159
00:09:46,280 --> 00:09:48,720
even me describing
what the services they go for.
160
00:09:48,720 --> 00:09:51,360
How can I tap into that?
How can I actually use that?
161
00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,360
When would I use that?
So let me give you a couple examples.
162
00:09:54,360 --> 00:09:55,640
I give you one from a student
163
00:09:55,640 --> 00:09:59,040
and one from myself as a staff member is
is the service as well.
164
00:09:59,520 --> 00:10:04,000
So my favorite one of my favorite examples
is a students that use the service.
165
00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,160
So they were in rental accommodation
166
00:10:06,680 --> 00:10:10,440
and their wardrobe
came off the wall and fell on them.
167
00:10:11,480 --> 00:10:13,240
Now, that sounds
pretty horrible in itself.
168
00:10:13,240 --> 00:10:17,360
So it wasn't an emergency situation
where they've broken a bone and culture
169
00:10:17,360 --> 00:10:19,520
preserved for an ambulance,
but they were hurt
170
00:10:19,520 --> 00:10:22,200
and they didn't know the scale of it
and they didn't know what to do .
171
00:10:22,200 --> 00:10:25,400
So they called Sunday,
Sunday, helped them book
172
00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:29,000
a GP appointment the next day to be seen
and get checked out.
173
00:10:29,400 --> 00:10:31,600
Fantastic. Great.
174
00:10:31,600 --> 00:10:34,600
However, when they got home,
the wardrobe was still falling down
175
00:10:34,600 --> 00:10:36,640
when they got in touch
with that real estate agent.
176
00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:38,080
The real estate agent wasn't
177
00:10:38,080 --> 00:10:41,840
playing ball and wasn't helping reattach
the wardrobe to the wall.
178
00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:46,520
So again, they called Sunday and Sunday,
helped negotiate with the real estate
179
00:10:46,520 --> 00:10:50,640
agent to get the wardrobe fixed
in their house, free of charge as well.
180
00:10:50,960 --> 00:10:52,840
So as an international student,
181
00:10:52,840 --> 00:10:56,960
well, you don't know who to call or really
what to do in a scenario.
182
00:10:56,960 --> 00:11:01,440
They could utilize that service
to help them in two very different ways.
183
00:11:02,160 --> 00:11:03,600
And I'll use my own example next.
184
00:11:03,600 --> 00:11:09,080
So I've just had a child about seven weeks
ago, and the in-laws were visiting down
185
00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:13,680
from Queensland when we went in a lockdown
and staying in an Airbnb locally,
186
00:11:14,560 --> 00:11:15,800
as you do when you have a child.
187
00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:16,760
I was up in middle of night
188
00:11:16,760 --> 00:11:20,480
at one end, and I saw four missed
calls from my sister in law.
189
00:11:20,960 --> 00:11:24,920
I called her and she said,
can you please come and get us?
190
00:11:24,920 --> 00:11:28,680
A house is flooded from the ceiling
and there is water everywhere.
191
00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,280
We've had to pack everything up
and we don't know what to do.
192
00:11:32,960 --> 00:11:36,040
So there's me. I get in the car
with the child seat in the back
193
00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:38,600
because they've got a nine month
old as well racing there.
194
00:11:38,600 --> 00:11:39,800
And on my way there,
195
00:11:39,800 --> 00:11:43,560
I give some Dracul some going, well, what
what am I going to do here?
196
00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:45,280
So Sonder, again, incredibly helpful.
197
00:11:45,280 --> 00:11:48,480
On the phone I was talking through,
they asked if I wanted someone
198
00:11:48,480 --> 00:11:51,880
to come out and kind of be
with us and help facilitate everything.
199
00:11:51,880 --> 00:11:53,960
So we couldn't get a hold
of the Airbnb host.
200
00:11:54,280 --> 00:12:00,360
I said, that's OK for the moment, but
can you help get a 24 hour plumber for us?
201
00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:03,360
Because if we leave the house
as it is, it's going
202
00:12:03,360 --> 00:12:05,960
to get completely wrecked by the morning.
203
00:12:06,400 --> 00:12:09,840
So they sent me through the contact
details for a 24 hour plumber plumber
204
00:12:09,840 --> 00:12:14,200
who was there within half an hour,
got the pipe fixed, moved the family out.
205
00:12:14,480 --> 00:12:16,200
Thank you very much, Sonder.
206
00:12:16,200 --> 00:12:18,560
There we go. I'm using it myself
all of a sudden.
207
00:12:18,600 --> 00:12:21,880
So I thought again,
there are two very unique examples.
208
00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:24,960
And I could give I could talk about it
for the whole podcast.
209
00:12:24,960 --> 00:12:27,200
But it's a it's a fantastic service.
210
00:12:27,840 --> 00:12:31,080
I think that's pretty amazing
to know about the breadth of things
211
00:12:31,080 --> 00:12:32,920
that you could use the service for.
212
00:12:32,920 --> 00:12:36,000
And and obviously
you are discovering that as well,
213
00:12:36,320 --> 00:12:38,280
the different types of things
that they can help with.
214
00:12:40,560 --> 00:12:43,840
One of my favorite
things about working at KB's, actually,
215
00:12:43,840 --> 00:12:47,880
is that we alluded to
is that diversity that our students come
216
00:12:47,880 --> 00:12:52,520
from such a huge number of demographics,
especially different nationalities.
217
00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:56,960
Last season on the podcast,
we had 12 guests from
218
00:12:56,960 --> 00:13:00,560
10 different countries, and that wasn't
searching for multiculturalism.
219
00:13:00,560 --> 00:13:04,400
That was just a representation
of who goes to KB's.
220
00:13:05,280 --> 00:13:08,680
Now, my question is, how do we drive
221
00:13:08,960 --> 00:13:11,400
student experience, wellbeing initiatives?
222
00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:14,920
How can we help students
from different backgrounds
223
00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,680
feel a sense of belonging
in our community?
224
00:13:18,040 --> 00:13:19,880
Really good question, Kieran.
225
00:13:19,880 --> 00:13:22,160
And especially, as I mentioned earlier,
226
00:13:22,160 --> 00:13:26,720
we have over 80 different nationalities
at CBDs on myself.
227
00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:28,480
I'm an international student,
228
00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,040
but I'm from overseas
and have lived around the world as well.
229
00:13:31,040 --> 00:13:34,080
So I know what it's like
settling into a new country.
230
00:13:34,680 --> 00:13:37,280
And I think what
we're trying to do at KB's,
231
00:13:37,280 --> 00:13:41,240
especially in the student experience team,
is make sure that all of our students
232
00:13:41,240 --> 00:13:45,240
have access to the resources
and information that they need
233
00:13:45,240 --> 00:13:48,360
to make sure that their student
wellbeing is top of mind.
234
00:13:49,080 --> 00:13:53,520
Now, an example of how
we would tailor our services to different
235
00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:57,400
nationalities is something called
our nationality engagement program.
236
00:13:57,440 --> 00:14:02,520
So I mentioned already that our staff
members that KB's in student experience
237
00:14:02,520 --> 00:14:06,960
team alone, about 450, probably from over
20 to 25 different nationalities.
238
00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:11,480
We actually have probably maybe
15 to 20 staff that are KB's alumni.
239
00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:13,920
So they've been students
themselves at KB's,
240
00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:17,520
and they know the culture and they know
the inner workings of the business.
241
00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:23,040
But with all those different nationalities
allows us an opportunity for our student
242
00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:27,720
experience offices to engage our students
in their own personality.
243
00:14:28,080 --> 00:14:31,680
And what I mean by that is it could be
as simple as sending them an email
244
00:14:31,800 --> 00:14:37,080
in their language that they use at home
or celebrating certain cultural events
245
00:14:37,080 --> 00:14:38,920
that are specific to them
246
00:14:38,920 --> 00:14:43,320
or engaging them in a different way
from a kutty cookie cutter
247
00:14:43,320 --> 00:14:47,920
method of just sending out a blanket email
that we think is applicable to everyone.
248
00:14:48,320 --> 00:14:53,000
And then all of a sudden, that kind
of transforms itself into specific events.
249
00:14:53,040 --> 00:14:57,240
So we do multicultural events for students
where students might bring
250
00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,640
a different dish from around the world,
and then all of a sudden,
251
00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:04,120
everyone is mixing and mingling
and understanding each other's cultures
252
00:15:04,280 --> 00:15:06,920
versus perhaps just staying
in their own culture as well .
253
00:15:06,920 --> 00:15:10,400
So I think we wear
as a badge of honor, KB's,
254
00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:13,320
the fact that we're all
from different countries and cultures,
255
00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:16,160
not only our students,
but our staff members as well.
256
00:15:16,400 --> 00:15:19,200
So we can try and harness
that as much as possible.
257
00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:21,240
That's absolutely what we're going to do.
258
00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:24,160
I'd like to explore that role
of the student experience officer
259
00:15:24,600 --> 00:15:27,680
with a bit of a story
as an academic, not a student.
260
00:15:27,720 --> 00:15:30,840
I actually really rely on them
for the simple reason
261
00:15:30,840 --> 00:15:33,320
that sometimes I don't know
how to pronounce somebody's name.
262
00:15:33,560 --> 00:15:35,480
So I can ask one of them.
263
00:15:35,480 --> 00:15:38,720
And that's my way of making sure
that I engage with a student
264
00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:41,200
and make them feel important,
that I've actually pronounced
265
00:15:41,200 --> 00:15:44,320
their name correctly,
that I understand some of their culture
266
00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,360
and some of the events
that the student experience team
267
00:15:47,360 --> 00:15:49,720
has held, for example,
would be making momos.
268
00:15:49,880 --> 00:15:52,720
And I never heard of a moment in my life,
and now I'm fine.
269
00:15:52,720 --> 00:15:55,080
I'm making them for my own family at home.
270
00:15:55,080 --> 00:15:57,320
We've had Brazilian dancing.
271
00:15:57,320 --> 00:16:00,000
We rely so much on the student
experience team.
272
00:16:00,440 --> 00:16:05,080
So could we explore both for students,
academics and general staff?
273
00:16:05,560 --> 00:16:07,680
What encompasses
all of their responsibilities?
274
00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:09,520
Great question, Richard.
275
00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:13,080
And I think they have
one of the hardest jobs
276
00:16:13,080 --> 00:16:15,840
at Kaplan Business School,
but maybe I'm a little bit biased.
277
00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:20,280
So we have approximately 30 student
experience offices
278
00:16:20,440 --> 00:16:25,400
across the five campuses in Australia
looking at almost 3500 students.
279
00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:29,680
So the student experience officer
is the first point
280
00:16:29,680 --> 00:16:33,720
of contact for a student
regarding everything at the school.
281
00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:36,320
So if they have an initial
academic inquiry,
282
00:16:36,360 --> 00:16:38,120
they come to a student experience, observe
283
00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:42,720
first who might pass it on to someone else
if they have a question about welfare,
284
00:16:42,720 --> 00:16:46,400
a process, a policy that grades
whatever it might be ,
285
00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,120
they are going to come to a student
experience up and said.
286
00:16:49,960 --> 00:16:54,080
And back in the days prior to Covid,
when everyone was on campus all the time,
287
00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:58,200
if you visit each of our five campuses,
we've designed it in such a way
288
00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:01,680
that as soon as you walk out, unless
as soon as you walk into the building,
289
00:17:02,240 --> 00:17:04,880
you're going to be greeted
by those student experience
290
00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:08,360
offices and desks
at the front of the campus straight away.
291
00:17:08,720 --> 00:17:10,960
So you can't get away
with not saying hello to them.
292
00:17:10,960 --> 00:17:14,600
But what that does is it
builds relationships and rapport
293
00:17:14,960 --> 00:17:18,680
over the trimesters
and make sure that when we are talking
294
00:17:18,680 --> 00:17:21,080
to students about some of the challenges
that they're facing,
295
00:17:21,080 --> 00:17:24,720
the Kieran's alluded to earlier
that we actually have that engagement
296
00:17:24,840 --> 00:17:28,200
already rather than sitting in a back
office behind the scenes.
297
00:17:29,320 --> 00:17:32,520
But in a more direct
answer to your question, Richard,
298
00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:36,120
the roles and duties of what we call
299
00:17:36,120 --> 00:17:39,080
the Nacio are really, really varied.
300
00:17:39,440 --> 00:17:42,600
And I think if you're asking
for my perspective on it
301
00:17:42,840 --> 00:17:45,480
in terms of the GM student experience,
302
00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:51,520
you can fit them into two sort of periods
within the trimester are absolutely key.
303
00:17:51,720 --> 00:17:54,680
So the first is during the trimester
304
00:17:55,240 --> 00:18:00,320
where we focus on proactive
engagement of students.
305
00:18:00,600 --> 00:18:04,520
She does have a lot going on in their
lives, both at the school and otherwise.
306
00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:08,280
So we need to provide them
with engaging events
307
00:18:08,280 --> 00:18:11,280
and workshops and initiatives
that are tailored to them.
308
00:18:11,800 --> 00:18:15,680
There's no point in me coming up
with a harebrained idea in the comfort
309
00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,440
of my own home and thinking students
are going to buy into it.
310
00:18:18,720 --> 00:18:19,840
We talk to students.
311
00:18:19,840 --> 00:18:23,880
We have student ambassadors that we engage
with their ear to the ground.
312
00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:25,920
We find out what students want.
313
00:18:25,920 --> 00:18:28,400
And then we we put on an event for them.
314
00:18:28,400 --> 00:18:31,720
We we create initiatives
based on what they want.
315
00:18:31,840 --> 00:18:36,200
And ultimately, that whole period of time
during the trimester is engagement.
316
00:18:36,520 --> 00:18:40,240
I want them to look back
at every single study trimester and go,
317
00:18:40,520 --> 00:18:41,480
wow, that was great.
318
00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:42,240
Well, that was fun.
319
00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:46,680
And I felt really engaged
and part of a community here at kvass
320
00:18:47,000 --> 00:18:50,360
beyond what I'm doing in the classroom,
which is equally important.
321
00:18:51,480 --> 00:18:54,640
We then have what
we call is a re enrollment period
322
00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:59,440
where students are CBDs have to enroll in
pay in their subjects each trimester.
323
00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:01,920
So let's say you're an MBA student.
324
00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:04,160
You have six trimesters
while you're at Cabe's.
325
00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:08,000
Now, at first when I first came
to the school, I went, what do you mean?
326
00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:11,920
They have to sign up
six times during their student life cycle
327
00:19:11,920 --> 00:19:13,160
and we have to convince them
328
00:19:13,160 --> 00:19:16,720
to come back every single time,
otherwise they can go somewhere else.
329
00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:18,600
And so I was like, yeah, yeah,
that's that's right.
330
00:19:18,600 --> 00:19:23,320
I'm like, that seems really silly because
you're having to engage in six times.
331
00:19:23,320 --> 00:19:27,760
So at first I was a bit like, oh, that's
that's really hard, because essentially
332
00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:31,520
you're asking them to opt
in six times in their study gen.
333
00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:33,280
But then we turn that
334
00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:36,240
on its head and we went, no,
this is actually a good thing.
335
00:19:36,760 --> 00:19:39,880
This never allows us
to take them for granted.
336
00:19:39,880 --> 00:19:42,240
It never allows us to switch up.
337
00:19:42,240 --> 00:19:46,480
And it puts an extra emphasis on
that engagement period where we're going.
338
00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:51,040
We need to make their most recent
experience, their last trimester.
339
00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,280
The best one they've ever had.
340
00:19:53,280 --> 00:19:57,040
So when it comes to re enrolling
and choosing KB's, once again,
341
00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:01,520
they are going straight in
and having no hesitations whatsoever.
342
00:20:01,520 --> 00:20:05,680
So I think what was initially perceived
as a negative in terms of them
343
00:20:06,080 --> 00:20:09,600
having to opt in
every time is now a complete positive
344
00:20:09,600 --> 00:20:13,240
and really puts us in a space where
we can be really proactive and positive
345
00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,520
with our engagement
with our students and student experience.
346
00:20:16,560 --> 00:20:18,280
Officers are at the heart of that.
347
00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:21,640
The thing we mentioned, student engagement
348
00:20:21,640 --> 00:20:23,840
and the role that the Scouts have in that.
349
00:20:25,520 --> 00:20:29,360
But I'd also like to make a comment
that the CEOs engage academics as well.
350
00:20:29,960 --> 00:20:33,120
My opening story,
when I first started KB's,
351
00:20:33,240 --> 00:20:36,680
I knew the subject that I was going
to teach and I was prepared academically,
352
00:20:37,600 --> 00:20:40,560
but open up the lifts and I walk
in, I think, oh, my goodness,
353
00:20:40,560 --> 00:20:43,360
I'm on a strange campus.
I don't know anyone. And what happened?
354
00:20:43,880 --> 00:20:48,160
The CEO in front started smiling at me,
directing me to my classroom.
355
00:20:48,880 --> 00:20:52,320
And I promptly realized that
I forgot my password to do the lecture.
356
00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:55,720
So they did that for me.
Then I realized that I forgot my pens.
357
00:20:56,040 --> 00:20:57,440
I forgot everything.
358
00:20:57,440 --> 00:21:00,520
And it hadn't been for the school, me
as a new lecturer.
359
00:21:01,320 --> 00:21:03,600
I would have been engaged
in the academics,
360
00:21:03,600 --> 00:21:06,920
but I would have been completely
disheveled, completely disorganized.
361
00:21:07,480 --> 00:21:10,320
It's down to everyone
having an interaction that students
362
00:21:10,920 --> 00:21:15,720
and lecturers, more so than anyone else,
have got them engaged in a class
363
00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:19,560
for three hours a week, more time
than will ever see them before.
364
00:21:20,280 --> 00:21:24,040
So it's about actually us providing
customer service to the lecturers
365
00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,800
as well and putting them
in the best place possible
366
00:21:28,280 --> 00:21:31,760
to deliver an amazing,
engaging, interactive class.
367
00:21:32,200 --> 00:21:33,840
If you are having to find your pens
368
00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:37,080
and you don't know what room you're in
and your roles are all over the place,
369
00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:40,560
then you're going to be focusing
on a whole lot of admin that is going
370
00:21:40,560 --> 00:21:44,040
to take your focus away from engaging
the students in front of each state.
371
00:21:44,360 --> 00:21:47,680
We understand that it's not just us
that are in control of the students
372
00:21:47,680 --> 00:21:48,960
parents. It's everyone.
373
00:21:48,960 --> 00:21:51,280
And you've got to treat
your internal stakeholders
374
00:21:51,280 --> 00:21:53,840
and your colleagues
just like you would a student.
375
00:21:54,320 --> 00:21:57,520
I think Richard's
and that's a wonderful example,
376
00:21:57,520 --> 00:22:01,360
because when I didn't work in education
prior to this role
377
00:22:01,480 --> 00:22:03,520
and I've been in this role
for five years now,
378
00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,120
I previously worked in the sporting
industry, in a medical industry.
379
00:22:07,680 --> 00:22:11,160
What fascinated me about education
was that we only ever looked
380
00:22:11,160 --> 00:22:15,720
at at a student as a student, whereas
ultimately eyes, they are accustomed.
381
00:22:16,280 --> 00:22:18,480
They are paying for a service.
382
00:22:18,960 --> 00:22:24,240
And as a paying customer, you have to
give them the best experience possible.
383
00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:27,320
So we actually put a lens on this
where we're providing them good to be
384
00:22:27,320 --> 00:22:30,440
customer service,
not just a student experience.
385
00:22:30,920 --> 00:22:34,800
And what was important about that
was that's not just to a student.
386
00:22:35,640 --> 00:22:39,280
What's wonderful about business
from many other education institutes.
387
00:22:39,800 --> 00:22:42,960
The student experience is not down
to the student experience team.
388
00:22:43,440 --> 00:22:46,600
As as we're reflecting
on the student experience officers.
389
00:22:46,600 --> 00:22:49,360
I've got to say, actually,
when I was on the careers team,
390
00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:53,360
they were just crucial for me
being able to support and work
391
00:22:53,360 --> 00:22:54,600
with different students.
392
00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:58,200
You know, they often know students
very personally, and they'd be able to
393
00:22:58,200 --> 00:23:01,400
say, well, actually,
this student could really use some help
394
00:23:01,400 --> 00:23:04,600
on their resume or
getting into an internship.
395
00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:09,000
And now that I'm in work with alumni,
they still can help.
396
00:23:09,360 --> 00:23:12,240
You know, the student experience team
very much works together.
397
00:23:12,240 --> 00:23:16,560
We can help find student ambassadors
who will work at alumni events.
398
00:23:16,920 --> 00:23:20,400
Yeah, it really is great
to see the collaboration across the team
399
00:23:21,360 --> 00:23:23,640
now as we're recording this.
400
00:23:24,160 --> 00:23:26,800
Sydney has just entered
into another lockdown,
401
00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:32,080
along with several states
across Australia are imposing restrictions
402
00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:35,720
related to outbreaks
of the COVID 19 pandemic.
403
00:23:36,320 --> 00:23:40,520
And we didn't want to make this
a Covid Covid show, but I think
404
00:23:40,720 --> 00:23:44,480
discussing mental health and wellbeing,
it's really important to consider
405
00:23:44,880 --> 00:23:49,520
its really unique impacts
on all our wellbeing in Australia.
406
00:23:49,520 --> 00:23:51,800
That's that's lockdown's
that's studying online.
407
00:23:52,480 --> 00:23:53,640
So what do you think?
408
00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:57,040
How do you think
this might have affected students?
409
00:23:57,200 --> 00:23:59,240
And how can we help?
410
00:23:59,240 --> 00:24:03,000
One of the main things we did
in 2020 was a financial support package
411
00:24:03,000 --> 00:24:06,120
that was over six
million dollars in the end, where
412
00:24:06,120 --> 00:24:09,440
we provided temporary tuition
relief, hardship funds.
413
00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:11,560
There was salary sacrifices.
414
00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:14,680
We understood the message
from our students
415
00:24:14,680 --> 00:24:17,560
that they were under a huge
amount of financial strain.
416
00:24:18,640 --> 00:24:22,320
We really lean heavily
on services like Sonder
417
00:24:22,320 --> 00:24:26,720
and promoting them to the student bodies
that they can reach out to at any time.
418
00:24:27,240 --> 00:24:30,560
We have student counselors
at each of our campuses as well,
419
00:24:30,560 --> 00:24:32,480
where we've increased their hours
420
00:24:32,480 --> 00:24:35,640
during Covid, and students
can book an appointment any time.
421
00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:40,600
We've moved every single service online
so anyone can book an appointment
422
00:24:40,600 --> 00:24:44,840
with the student experience officer
one and one online at any time of day.
423
00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:48,880
We set up a zoom channel
in the height of pandemic, where we had
424
00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:52,760
at least two student experience officers,
nine to five every single day.
425
00:24:53,160 --> 00:24:56,600
Students could simply click on a zoom link
and come in and just
426
00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:58,160
have a chat with someone.
427
00:24:58,160 --> 00:25:01,040
So I think it's an evolving situation.
428
00:25:01,720 --> 00:25:05,160
We'll keep our students mental
health and wellbeing front and center
429
00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:06,080
throughout all of this.
430
00:25:06,080 --> 00:25:09,440
And just because we've completed
a number of initiatives
431
00:25:09,440 --> 00:25:12,480
already doesn't mean that we're not going
to have to look at this again.
432
00:25:12,480 --> 00:25:15,400
And we will we'll make sure
we look after them no matter what.
433
00:25:15,920 --> 00:25:19,280
Alex, do you have any plans for
the future? What might student experience
434
00:25:19,280 --> 00:25:20,280
look like in the future?
435
00:25:20,280 --> 00:25:22,800
Post Covid. Post SNAP Lockdown's.
436
00:25:23,720 --> 00:25:27,400
So with reference to student experience,
I think we're seeing
437
00:25:27,400 --> 00:25:29,080
a number of different changes.
438
00:25:29,080 --> 00:25:31,920
The most predominant one,
though, is students
439
00:25:31,920 --> 00:25:35,760
are no longer on campus
and they're predominantly online now.
440
00:25:35,760 --> 00:25:40,040
And I think now that people understand
that online learning
441
00:25:40,040 --> 00:25:43,080
can take place effectively.
And we've seen it to be effective.
442
00:25:43,080 --> 00:25:45,040
You know, our net promoter score
443
00:25:45,040 --> 00:25:48,400
among online students
has actually gone up during Covid.
444
00:25:48,920 --> 00:25:52,640
We are offering a number of face
to face classes when our campuses are open
445
00:25:52,640 --> 00:25:56,760
and we're still seeing students
choose online classes.
446
00:25:56,920 --> 00:25:59,840
So there has been a market shift
that I don't think
447
00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:05,280
will necessarily shift
back to what it was before. Post Covid.
448
00:26:05,320 --> 00:26:10,080
So I think we really need to look at
our engagement from an online perspective
449
00:26:10,600 --> 00:26:14,520
rather than just a face to face
perspective, as we've done previously.
450
00:26:14,560 --> 00:26:16,760
So a couple of things.
451
00:26:16,760 --> 00:26:20,360
One of our strategic initiatives
in the student experience section
452
00:26:20,360 --> 00:26:26,400
is to put together an online engagement
platform for students.
453
00:26:26,400 --> 00:26:30,560
So just like students would have
at a fantastic on campus experience.
454
00:26:30,840 --> 00:26:35,000
We are going to make sure there is a value
proposition for online students as well.
455
00:26:35,280 --> 00:26:39,480
So already we've created a bespoke
email address that they can get in touch
456
00:26:39,480 --> 00:26:42,920
with at any point in time
as part of our regular feedback week.
457
00:26:43,280 --> 00:26:46,960
Student studying online
have their own forums to provide feedback
458
00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:52,040
specific to their online journey versus
what our campus journey would be.
459
00:26:52,760 --> 00:26:58,120
As I mentioned earlier, we've now
permanently shifted all of our services
460
00:26:58,120 --> 00:27:02,360
to an online platform that can be accessed
by the learning management system.
461
00:27:02,360 --> 00:27:06,440
So no longer will it just be a face
to face interaction on campus.
462
00:27:06,800 --> 00:27:08,880
But those students can interact online.
463
00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:12,200
And we're seeing a lot of students
start with this will continue
464
00:27:12,200 --> 00:27:14,440
to be stuck in their home
countries as well.
465
00:27:14,480 --> 00:27:17,480
So we look at changing our class times.
466
00:27:17,680 --> 00:27:20,000
We're now running a 10, 30 p.m.
467
00:27:20,000 --> 00:27:23,240
to one Thamm class more regularly.
468
00:27:23,240 --> 00:27:27,840
So we started off with six instances
and we've moved it to over a dozen now.
469
00:27:28,280 --> 00:27:32,520
We have orientation sessions for students
that start late in the night,
470
00:27:32,520 --> 00:27:35,800
delivered by a Perth team
that specifically talk
471
00:27:35,800 --> 00:27:39,920
about the challenges of studying offshore
in an online environment
472
00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:41,360
and how they might overcome that.
473
00:27:41,360 --> 00:27:45,000
So I think there's an absolutely
a Long-Term shift
474
00:27:45,160 --> 00:27:47,960
with this, and we need to be very,
very cognizant of that.
475
00:27:48,400 --> 00:27:52,480
And Alex, just before we
we finish up, I'd love to know
476
00:27:52,480 --> 00:27:56,200
more about your own take on mental health.
477
00:27:56,200 --> 00:27:59,600
Wellbeing could be physical
well-being as well.
478
00:27:59,840 --> 00:28:02,680
Do you have any tips
or what do you do to stay? Stay
479
00:28:03,680 --> 00:28:06,360
well. Stay healthy.
480
00:28:06,360 --> 00:28:07,320
Yeah, thanks, Kieran.
481
00:28:07,320 --> 00:28:09,760
This is, I guess, a passion.
482
00:28:10,160 --> 00:28:14,360
The first aspect for me
is physical health and well-being.
483
00:28:14,600 --> 00:28:18,880
I've always been a big advocate
of staying fit and healthy.
484
00:28:19,040 --> 00:28:22,120
Whether that's through sports
or regular exercise.
485
00:28:22,560 --> 00:28:25,920
I'm a big believer in moving
and being outdoors.
486
00:28:26,360 --> 00:28:31,400
And your physical well-being has a direct
correlation with your mental well-being.
487
00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:34,800
I think that comes down to simple things
like nutrition as well.
488
00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:38,640
Fundamentally, I think if you look
after those things, you're giving yourself
489
00:28:38,640 --> 00:28:43,080
the best opportunity to have good mental
health and wellbeing as well.
490
00:28:43,760 --> 00:28:47,240
The mental wellbeing side,
I think, is absolutely paramount.
491
00:28:47,640 --> 00:28:52,280
And there are so many different directions
and avenues you can take care.
492
00:28:52,320 --> 00:28:55,760
So I'll give you a few
that I hold true to me.
493
00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:58,680
The first is surround yourself with people
494
00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:03,240
who are a positive influence on your life
rather than a negative influence.
495
00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:04,400
I think as you get older,
496
00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:07,240
you start to get to choose
your connections and friendships
497
00:29:07,600 --> 00:29:08,400
a little bit more.
498
00:29:08,400 --> 00:29:10,280
So pick the ones that are going to build
499
00:29:10,280 --> 00:29:13,800
you up and challenge you appropriately
rather than drag you down.
500
00:29:14,760 --> 00:29:17,760
I think it's absolutely crucial
that you understand
501
00:29:17,880 --> 00:29:20,960
what your values and principles
are as a person.
502
00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:24,880
So a value for me
is something that stays true to you
503
00:29:24,880 --> 00:29:28,200
no matter what your circumstances
or environment are in life.
504
00:29:28,680 --> 00:29:31,040
And once you identify those values,
505
00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:33,200
you can align them
with whatever you're doing in life.
506
00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:37,280
So whether it's your job,
so making sure that where you're working
507
00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:39,840
aligns with your own values
or your friendships
508
00:29:39,840 --> 00:29:42,000
or your relationships
or whatever that might be.
509
00:29:43,120 --> 00:29:45,000
I think it's key to have some
510
00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:49,480
sense of direction and purpose in life
as well, really understanding
511
00:29:49,480 --> 00:29:53,960
that there is a journey to be hads
and there's wider goals to fulfill .
512
00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:56,360
I think that's absolutely key.
513
00:29:56,360 --> 00:30:01,080
And then finally, for me,
I think being mindful but also proactive
514
00:30:01,720 --> 00:30:06,280
is is crucial to maintain
your mental health and well-being.
515
00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:11,240
So making sure that you are looking after
yourself, that, you know,
516
00:30:12,000 --> 00:30:15,280
you can make choices, you can choose
your reaction to other people
517
00:30:15,280 --> 00:30:17,320
and not like letting the environment
518
00:30:17,320 --> 00:30:21,160
or other people dictate your emotions
and your thoughts and your feelings.
519
00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:25,920
And having that concrete sense
of self-worth and self efficacy,
520
00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:28,840
I think is vital to maintaining
your mental health and well-being.
521
00:30:29,640 --> 00:30:35,320
Thank you so much for being here with us
on the Kaplan Community podcast, sharing
522
00:30:35,320 --> 00:30:39,680
some of your insights, what we're doing
in the student experience team.
523
00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:43,680
And I think that has been really useful
for us to learn more about,
524
00:30:44,160 --> 00:30:47,920
not just the student experience,
but also what we're doing at KB's.
525
00:30:48,160 --> 00:30:49,960
Thank you, Alex,
for appearing on the show.
526
00:30:49,960 --> 00:30:52,120
It's been a pleasure to interview you.
527
00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:53,440
My absolute pleasure.
528
00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:55,480
Richard and Karen,
thank you so much for having me on.
529
00:30:56,040 --> 00:30:59,040
If you're feeling unwell
or in need of help, reach out
530
00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:02,720
to anyone in Australia
can get immediate mental health support
531
00:31:02,840 --> 00:31:08,360
by calling the national lifeline
on 13, 11, 14 and beyond.
532
00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:12,640
Blue has great 24/7 support staff
and one three hundred
533
00:31:13,000 --> 00:31:18,360
twenty two forty six thirty
six Chaplet employees can contact H.R..
534
00:31:18,800 --> 00:31:21,520
Our Access Free Counseling CBIA
535
00:31:21,560 --> 00:31:24,840
students have access
to free confidential campus counselors.
536
00:31:25,040 --> 00:31:27,720
Safety and support
services such as Sonder.
537
00:31:28,560 --> 00:31:29,920
Reach out to your campus student
538
00:31:29,920 --> 00:31:33,720
experience team for friendly guidance
on accessing these services.