STUDENT WELLBEING
Tina Doyle
Social Worker/Student Wellbeing Coordinator (SWC), Team Leader
Rachel Tonu
Social Worker/Student Wellbeing Coordinator (SWC)
Trish Guy
Mental Health Practitioner (MHP)
Bridgette Van Der Zee
Wellbeing Assistant
Student Wellbeing provides many services including, individual support for students, support is also available for uniform, textbooks and other essential school needs.
NGSC Doctors in Schools medical clinic is open every Thursday and Student Wellbeing also provide rooms for visiting professionals such as Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists to meet with students.
Parent/Carer Workshop - Tuesday 7 June
The workshop will cover:
- Understand mental health and wellbeing in young people
- How to notice that a young person might be going through a tough time
- Identify strategies to connect and communicate with young people
- Increase knowledge about how to support a young person and where to access professional support
Lunch Time Group
Lunch time groups are running again with many different options including Dungeons & Dragons, Anime Club, Mindfulness, Arts/Crafts, Jewellery Making, Karaoke and Chess Club.
Support Contacts
Youth Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
Family Violence 1800 015 188
Lifeline 13 11 14
eHeadspace: headspace.org.au/eheadspace
Financial Assistance
Second-hand School Supplies
All families are encouraged to contact Second-hand School Supplies. They have used uniform items and textbooks at reasonable prices. Stock changes frequently so if they don’t have what you need check with them again as it may have come in.
Second-hand School Supplies
9 Star Street, Geelong
Ph: 5229 7766
Uniting Barwon
Eligible families needing financial support with 2022 education costs can access support from Uniting Barwon.
Clients must hold a current Health Care Card to be eligible. Please contact Uniting Barwon directly on the number below.
Uniting Barwon Ph: 4210 1100
Doctors in Schools
Dr Bianca and nurse Vic are continuing to provide medical care to NGSC students every Thursday. The clinic is now open at school and updates are regularly put on Compass. Appointments can be made by students/families by emailing or talking to Tina or Rachel in the Student Wellbeing Office. Students can also drop into the clinic at lunch time if they prefer to book their own appointment.
Dr Bianca wants families to be aware that everyone over 12 years of age can now receive a Pfizer or Moderna Covid-19 vaccination with parental consent.
Peak Pharmacy at Corio Village is offering Moderna vaccinations.
GPs are offering Pfizer vaccinations.
All Covid-19 vaccinations are available at the Ford Factory.
Financial Assistance
Secondhand School Supplies
All families are encouraged to contact Secondhand School Supplies. They have used uniform items and text books at reasonable prices.
Stock changes frequently so if they don’t have what you need check with them again as it may have come in.
Secondhand School Supplies
9 Star Street, Geelong
Ph: 5229 7766
Uniting Barwon
Eligible families needing financial support with 2022 education costs can access support from Uniting Barwon.
Clients must hold a current Health Care Card to be eligible. Please contact Uniting Barwon directly on the number below.
Uniting Barwon on ph: 4210 1100
Please call Mon-Friday, 9:30 – 11:45 am only.
Interviews are held at 272 Torquay Road, Grovedale.
Families with a Health Care Card that are unable to drive to Grovedale should contact Bridgette at Student Wellbeing for support.
Families experiencing financial hardship are encouraged to seek support for school needs by contacting Student Wellbeing team.
Uniting Barwon No Interest Loans
Good Shepherd No Interest Loans
No Interest Loans (NILs) for individuals and families on low incomes allows access to safe, fair and affordable credit. Loans are available for essential goods and services such as fridges, washing machines, car repairs and medical procedures for up to $1,500. Repayments are set at an affordable amount over 12 to 18 months.
NILs is offered by 170 local community organisations in over 600 locations across Australia. Chances are there’ll be a local NILS provider near you or one who can help over the phone. For more information please go to https://goodshep.org.au/services/nils/
Some local NILS providers:
Salvation Army - Corio & Northern Suburbs Community Support Service
92 Cox Road, Corio
Vinnies NILS Geelong
(St Vincent De Paul Society)
Pakington Street, Geelong West
Uniting Care
272 Torquay Road, Grovedale
03 4210 1108
Student Wellbeing Hub Services
The Student Wellbeing Hub is located in A Block next to the Junior Sub School Office.
The Student Wellbeing Team provides support and referrals to external services for students and their families. As well as individual support, the team offers lunch time activities, small group work and participates in whole school events.
Every Monday, a visiting Psychologist from Bellarine Community Health, is on-site. Referrals are via a Mental Health Care Plan from a GP.
Every Tuesday and Wednesday ‘CatholicCare’ Youth Refugee Case Manager, Nestor Estampa, is in the SW Hub supporting EAL students with pathways and facilitating the CALD Women’s Group, in partnership with Student Wellbeing.
On Fridays, ‘The Geelong Project’ (TGP) Early Intervention Support Worker, Chris Singh, supports NGSC students. Chris will be joined by another TGP support worker in the near future.
Support Contacts
Youth Beyond Blue 1300 224 636
Kids Helpline 1800 551 800
Family Violence 1800 015 188
Lifeline 13 11 14
eHeadspace: headspace.org.au/eheadspace
Breakfast Club
Breakfast Club is supported by volunteers and is held in B Wing each morning from 8:00 am. All students are welcome to attend for a social breakfast with their friends. There is no cost involved.
Lunch Time Social Groups
Lunch time groups offer a variety of activities for students, free of charge. Please check the Student Wellbeing noticeboard and Compass for what’s on. Students are invited to make suggestions for lunch time activities that they would like.
Student Health and Wellbeing
We invite you to visit the Student Health and Wellbeing webpage, on the NGSC Website, to look around and explore its contents. Go to https://ngsc.vic.edu.au, from the main menu select 'About s' and then select 'Student Health and Wellbeing'.
Information within the Student Health and Wellbeing portal outlines services we provide here at NGSC to support student Health and Wellbeing. There are also 'Resource Rooms', for parents and students. Within these rooms, there is a host of links to relevant websites, supportive services and popular free Apps to try.
The NGSC Student Health and Wellbeing webpage includes Barwon Health's 24/7 support line for young people and families. This triage service is for mental health crises and can be accessed by calling 1300 094 187. The Barwon Health Triage Team is equipped to deal with emergencies and to facilitate referrals to appropriate services for ongoing support.
Of course, our site also lists online supports, phone numbers and recommended apps to further support students and families during times of difficulty.
Accessing Centrelink
Accessing Centrelink can be difficult. Below are a couple of links that will help.
The first link is to information about Youth Allowance for students:
The links below provides information for those who have been affected by Covid-19:
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/affected-coronavirus-covid-19
https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/mental-health-resources-coronavirus-covid-19
Centrelink can be very difficult for people to navigate, particularly if English is not your first language. Students who would like to access the Centrelink Interpreter Service can call 131 202 and will need to state their preferred language twice. They will then be transferred to an interpreter who will assist them with their inquiry. This service can also provide students with their CRN (customer reference number) over the phone which will enable them to apply for payments.
This service is available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.
Due to high demand, it is also available on weekends from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm.
Food Assistance
The Student Wellbeing Team can be contacted if you need urgent food assistance or to talk about other support options.
