When Coronavirus hit and all the social distancing requirements got put in place, the Oasis Centre needed to close.
This meant lots of our programs were no longer available as many of them were run at the centre.
In response, we got our working pants on and set up a topic on FLO called Oasis Online (inspired by the on-campus Oasis), where myself and other staff from Health, Counselling and Disability Services and Oasis can deliver wellbeing-related seminars, discussion groups, workshops and training.
Currently (as of 1/7/20) we have a wellbeing forum, Wellbeing and Productivity Hacks sessions, Take a Break Conversations, Studyology, Wellbeing Ambassador Program, Midday Meditation, Mindfulness for Academic Success and The Daily Movement Challenge all up on there.
There is more to come as well.
Those with a keen memory might say ‘But Gareth, you previously built a FLO topic that you abandoned. What makes you think you can do a better job this time?”
That is an excellent question.
The difference this time around is that we have an internal roadmap of the various programs and services that we want to add to Oasis Online over time, so it isn’t just about my content. It is about having a place where some of the programs and services that have been delivered face-to-face via Oasis and HCDS, can be delivered in an online format.
That means ultimately having online versions of Mindfulness for Academic Success, Flinders Mates, Global Communicators, Introduction to Mental Fitness and more.
Why is this happening?
You may have noticed that the world (and certainly the uni) has moved online, whilst we try to kick the Coronavirus in its weird little virus arse.
While this has been highly disruptive, it has also had a silver lining. It has given me the momentum necessary to start thinking about how to get all our programs online.
Even when the world goes back to normal (and I think it will), this will be really useful. It means we can run programs like Studyology but have students from all campuses, including interstate and international ones, participate in our programs. We’ll no longer be limited to delivering our programs at the Bedford Park Campus. I also hope that we may be able to run programs outside of usual business hours, meaning those who can’t attend during the day because of a packed schedule might be able to attend out-of-hours sessions.
So what do I do to join?
Just visit https://flo.flinders.edu.au/course/view.php?id=63157 and click enrol. The topic is open to staff and students because we know that building wellbeing is important, regardless of which part of the Flinders Community you sit.
Once you’ve joined, you’ll get announcements via email of when different programs and seminars and workshops are running and you can make the choice as to which ones you’d like to join.
Look forward to seeing you in there!
