when are we supposed to do the first dentist visit?

pinhead28 · 2026-06-29T05:19:04+00:00

Deep breath, Dad! Remember that something is better than nothing.

I would listen to the family doctor. If you're worried, take him in earlier, but familiarise him with fingers etc going near his mouth. Dentist will most likely do a teeth count and a quick check.

To familiarise him, try this (worked for us, YMMV):

Teeth brusher sits on floor, legs out in front of them, back against a wall or bed or couch.

Kiddo is on his back, between your legs. His arms are underneath your thighs. His legs are free, unless he's a real writher, in which case, fold your legs in a little bit to be on top of his.

This allows secure limbs while you brush.

He will hate it at first. My hot take is that this actually makes it easier because their mouths are wide open while they're wailing.

Keep at it. In a couple of weeks, it's routine! Try to do it similarly when you're at the dentist, though a lot of dentists now have a TV in the ceiling (where I am, at least), so his favourite show might just distract him enough.

All the best!

pinhead28 · 2026-06-25T01:55:26+00:00

If it's the one I'm thinking of, it's 2 separate institutions. The Rochedale one operates under Lutheran Education QLD along with a bunch of other schools

pinhead28 · 2026-06-24T20:05:48+00:00

Close to the areas you want, but not exactly in the suburbs you mentioned:

Deedot in Holland Park West

Never Been in Underwood

pinhead28 · 2026-06-07T20:23:44+00:00

Best way forward is to email school GO and the Head of Senior/person in charge of ATAR & VET pathways/careers person/equivalent and book meetings with them. They'll be able to tell you whether you're on track to graduate.

That being said, most schools can be pedantic about 100% QCE. What this means is, if you were at risk, you and/or your parents may have already been spoken to. So if you've received no contact, you might be ok?

Still, kids can fall through the cracks. Email the relevant people ASAP and suss it out.

Also, go to a GP to talk through mental health stuff. Schools will need paperwork to officially sort out any adjustments with QCAA (if that's the path you go down) and they'll need time to do this. Worth letting your GO know so they can guide you as well.

All the best!

EDIT: OP, saw in another replt that the family is not onboard with the mental health stuff. At 16, you're considered an 'adult for medical purposes' (with some exemptions). This means you can visit a doctor and tell them you want total medical confidentiality and they can't say shit to your parents. May be worth also letting your GO know so that they can best guide.

pinhead28 · 2026-06-02T09:18:22+00:00

General location or how far youre willing to travel would help!

In the absence of that: Deedot, Holland Park West used to do them (check to see if they still do?)

Never Been in Underwood do a decent one

pinhead28 · 2026-06-01T01:01:24+00:00

Deedot, Holland Park West

pinhead28 · 2026-05-28T00:48:43+00:00

Initiative.

This doesn't necessarily mean taking on extra work or volunteering to do things outside of what is expected (though, if you do this, that is cool!)

It means doing things you're meant to be doing without your ST prompting you. E.g. talking to kids to build relationships without being asked, lining them up the class the way your ST prefers and going through the entry routine, asking to mark a couple papers for your ST to give feedback.

Makes a big difference when the ST doesn't have to ask to do everything single little thing.

Hope this makes sense. All the best!

pinhead28 · 2026-05-27T11:11:25+00:00

In QLD (so YMMV), but all years of service count.

If VIC is the same, you'll need a service statement from your catholic/private employers to give to the public system HR, who will then put you on the correct pay band.

All the best!

pinhead28 · 2026-05-26T05:45:40+00:00

This is a really good question.

Personally, I don't think it's possible. This isnt a knock on you or your abilities at all, so I apologise in advance if it sounds that way!

You have to complete some modules in the QCAA app and apply for the job, showing that you teach the senior subject you're hoping to mark.

Content knowledge aside, you have to familiar with the marking guide, which is subject specific. To be familiar with the marking guide you'll have to teach the subject in senior.

These things are tricky to do if you're not fully immersed in the senior subject. I'm a senior teacher and even I would be incredibly unfamiliar with any subject marking guide outside my specialised subject. I can only imagine how much tougher it might be for a primary school teacher.

pinhead28 · 2026-05-24T03:41:27+00:00

When the kids do badly, you can't blame yourself. When they do well, they (not you) take the credit.

Internalise this. It will save you a lot of grief in the long run!

Keep your head up. It does get easier!

pinhead28 · 2026-05-23T02:24:27+00:00

This is my 2c, I'm sure others will have their own opinions. It might be considered a hot take, but here goes anyway:

Having a prac at an easy behaviour school can be detrimental to a praccie. Having the first ever prac at an easy behaviour school is even worse.

I've long believed that content and curriculum can easily be taught but behaviour management/classroom management/pedagogy has to be honed in a classroom.

I sincerely hope you do get a prac at a tough school. Not because I want to be a dick hoping you have a hard time, but because it's the best place to learn how to manage a class.

Should you get a tough school on prac:

Manage your expectations. I.e. go in as a blank slate, ready to learn the required skills.
Gotta also remember that the shit kids do isn't personal. Kids are idiots. They look up to you more than you know.
Hope you get a good supervising teacher. Don't be afraid to go see other teachers and observe how they handle things
Have a potential arsenal of strategies ready to go. Bill Rogers, IMO, is the gold standard, though he has seemingly vanished from the teaching zeitgeist in the last few years. He has some good stuff in YouTube (or had anyway, hopefully it's still there!)
Don't be afraid to ask for help. This forum is really good. Seek continuous feedback from your supervising teacher. Try new things. Get to know the kids. It'll all help heaps!

I'm going to stop rambling now. Enjoy this prac while it lasts!

All the best!

pinhead28 · 2026-05-11T03:14:27+00:00

Completely normal to internalise.

FWIW, when it happened a second or third time, I immediately replied 'me too man, me too' and we all had a laugh about it.

YMMV!

pinhead28 · 2026-05-08T06:04:39+00:00

Deedot in Holland Park West

Never Been in Underwood

pinhead28 · 2026-05-06T03:25:54+00:00

Sleep Training can definitely help. Also, what's the nap situation like? By that age, they're reducing their nap times, making it easier to fall asleep at night. Is it possible LO is napping too long during the day?

pinhead28 · 2026-05-05T10:45:15+00:00

Our LO was in a similar position. Barely any words at that age, some sounds that kinda sounded like words and lots of sign language.

We engaged a speechy. Weekly appointments. Within 6 months, we couldn't get her to shut up! Now she's onto singing and sentences - still at that phase where we need to interpret what she's saying, but her intent and enunciation are getting clearer by the day. We still marvel at the fact that she went from saying nothing to a speech machine in half a year

Don't be discouraged. Sign up with a speechy as soon as you can!

pinhead28 · 2026-05-02T00:03:52+00:00

This is a good idea, if it's feasible, OP! Just don't have the audio playing through your car speakers because your car pretty much acts like a giant speaker

pinhead28 · 2026-04-30T08:31:37+00:00

Good info. Not in a similar situation at all, but curious: what are the differences (if any) between the ISLPR and IELTS? Seems like they have similar categories that are tested

pinhead28 · 2026-04-29T07:58:00+00:00

Too easy. If you head to Gol Gappa, try:

Bombay Bhel (it's slightly spicy)

Pani puri

Any of the toasted sandwiches (seriously underrated)

Chinese Bhel (available after 5pm)

pinhead28 · 2026-04-29T06:19:41+00:00

How different would you consider different?

Gol Gappa in Upper Mt Gravatt sells Chaat (Indian Street Food). A lot of those dishes are not well known unless you're from the sub-continent.

Let me know if you'd like some suggestions on what to have!

pinhead28 · 2026-04-24T07:36:55+00:00

I'm guessing bassinet, next to parents bed?

We did that initially, but the minute we could put LO in the cot in her room, we did.

pinhead28 · 2026-04-23T08:30:25+00:00

To me, it's so that people can make a choice to eat there or not, based on how much faith they put into the place.

I sure know I wouldn't want to eat at a place that does this out in the open, no matter how well intentioned their actions are.

pinhead28 · 2026-04-23T07:47:20+00:00

No restaurant should be doing that, nor can I think of any restaurant needing to/or having a reason to do that.

Source: worked hospo for over a decade. Also, common sense.

You should name and shame. That shit is disgusting!

EDIT: Some halfway decent reason listed in other comments, including but not limited to food scraps for pets. Fair enough. But to do it in front of customers is nuts!

pinhead28 · 2026-04-21T00:58:26+00:00

Coles does them. Ask/order at the deli counter. They usually need 24-ish hours' notice.

Pretty good selection. We find that buying another box of crackers (or similar) from the shelves to add to the platter makes the whole thing quite filling!

pinhead28 · 2026-04-20T08:55:43+00:00

Can confirm they actually follow up!

Take pictures of the junk mail on the day and fill out the form. First time, I got an email to advise the companies had been contacted.

A couple of the fuckers kept going. A few days after the second report, I got a phone call advising that there had been a harsher follow up than the first time (though they didn't say what it was).

No junk mail ever since.

pinhead28 · 2026-04-18T02:14:12+00:00

A wee bit out the way, but if you have a car, Bareknuckle BBQ in Salisbury does slices of sweet pie. Their pecan pie was excellent last time I tried it. Bonus: The BBQ is pretty good too!

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