With 500-600 under 30’s committing suicide each year in Australia for the past 10 years it appears this criteria for happiness is being largely unmet in our current education system.

Dr Hughes noted that Australians are rich in material things, but poor in the spiritual dimension. And it is this dimension of sharing common core values and spirituality that was correlated to positive physical health, reduction of risk behaviours, increased resilience, improved responsiveness and longevity from recovery programs. 

It simply pays not to neglect that part of being human that pertains to growing the spiritual person. Education without spirituality does not meet the whole person – particularly the part of humanity so closely connected to general happiness and wellbeing.

Spirituality is sometimes seen as being irrational, but as ABC presenter Rachel Kohn suggested, young people may be seeking to make sense of a pre-rational experience. 

Karen Dymke of Luther College challenged all at this conference with her presentation on ‘Rites of Passage’. In many other societies a rite of passage marks a transition from childhood to adulthood where greater responsibilities are given and an adult identity is assumed. It was argued that there are no healthy rites of passage in our society and so default rites emerge. 

These were noted as binge drinking, vandalism, sexual activity, self harm attempts, extreme risk taking and schoolies week. These all say to the young person ‘I’m grown up’. It was encouraging to hear Karen present a much healthier program of Rites of Passage being offered by her College. It was encouraging indeed to see that people are hearing the desire of youth for spirituality in education