R U OK DAY

Sep 2, 2019

Hi, my name is Portia Gooch, and I am a Senior Coach at HSC CoWorks in Bondi Junction and Regional Ambassador for the HSC CoWorks’ Virtual Campus.
However, in my time outside of the office, I am also a psychology student and a youth mental health worker with a passion for encouraging resilience and stress management in young people.

From my personal experience and my work with adolescents, I recognise that the HSC is one of the most stressful times that a young adult may face. The pressure of assignments, parental expectation, and self-doubt can place a huge weight on the shoulders of a student, and this is before considering the social challenges that often come with being in high school.

At HSC CoWorks, we are dedicated to providing students not only with academic support, but with the skills they need to be successful in life beyond the HSC. Part of this involves learning to manage their mental health in an effective way. As such, this year we will be participating in R U OK? Day.

What is R U OK? Day?

Held on September 12th 2019, R U OK? Day is Australia’s national day of action in mental health support and suicide prevention. The mission of this day is to teach individuals the skills they need to support their friends, colleagues, and family if they are struggling emotionally or psychologically, and equips them with an understanding of how to seek help if they themselves are struggling.

How we will participate

From Monday September 9th to Sunday September 15th, each of our HSC CoWorks offices will be adorned with R U OK? posters which outline the most appropriate ways to seek support to deal with stress, anxiety or other psychological difficulties. Likewise, our session leaders will brief students at the start of their weekday sessions with tips on how to manage stress during the HSC, and how they can work with their teachers, parents, friends, and professionals where necessary, to make their HSC experience as smooth as possible. Click here for our tips, developed by Portia and our Head Marker Donna Redman (Donna started a company Awaken Youth, which delivers professional development workshops for high school teachers in the area of youth suicide prevention).

We recognise that discussions of mental health may be distressing to some students. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us ahead of time to discuss the matter further. We look forward to working with the students to make HSC CoWorks’ inaugural R U OK? Day a success!

“Let’s Talk About the HSC”

The ultimate podcast for students and parents navigating the journey of the HSC. Presented by HSC CoWorks, each episode dives into the challenges and triumphs of the HSC experience, offering expert advice, study tips, and insights into achieving academic success.

Whether you’re preparing for exams, managing stress, or looking for ways to stay motivated, this podcast is your go-to guide for all things HSC. Join us as we chat with educators, students, and professionals to help you thrive during this important academic milestone!

Instagram

“Without exaggeration, it was the time of my life.”
From studying in Sweden 🇸🇪 to visiting 21 countries and 42 cities, Angus’s university exchange experience is exactly why we encourage students to think beyond just their HSC marks.
Yes, the HSC matters.
But what it unlocks matters even more.
“If I had to give one piece of advice, it would be to….. “… (read the blog post to find out more!)
Big thanks to Angus for sharing his experience 🙌
Post in bio or reply SEND and we’ll PM the link to you. 🔗 
#hsc2026 #hsc2027 #hscmotivation #universityexchange #hsccoworks
What a week 🔥 
That’s a wrap on the April Study Bootcamp! 
Focused. Productive. Energising.
Our Bootcamp students showed up every day ready to train and push themselves .. and it showed.
Real progress isn’t built in a single session. It’s built through consistency, accountability, and being surrounded by the right people.
Proud of every student who committed to the process this week. This is how momentum is created. 🚀
#hsccoworks #hsc2026 #hscbootcamp
We asked our coaches for their #1 tip to Year 12 students going into Term 2 (term 3 of your HSC year). Here’s what they said 👇
Zara (English): Stop memorising essays.
Alex (Maths): Do past papers with no notes first.
Jack (Economics): Teach a topic. Stumbling = your next study target.
Ella (All Rounder): Know your syllabus inside out.
Which tip will you implement first?
#HSCCoWorks #Term2 #StudyTips #HSCCoaching Year12
Your HSC mountain won’t climb itself 🏔️ 
Daily plan ✅ 
Daily mindmap ✅ 
Daily submission ✅ 
Ask a Coach ✅
Tick them all off and keep that streak alive. 625 days is the record. What’s yours? 🔥