Wellbeing,

Dear Parents and Carers,

It has been an absolute pleasure welcoming back all the students to school. To see all their smiling faces and to see them playing outside with their friends again has been just wonderful. 

I’ve included some information about a new FREE counselling service thanks to funding from the Government. A GP referral is not needed and priority is given to children 12 and under. Family counselling is also available. I’m hoping many families will take the opportunity of utilizing these beneficial services. 

Please contact me if you have any questions and, as always, don’t hesitate to contact the school if you have any concerns. 

Kind regards, 

Shauna Sanderson 

Student Well-being 

FREE Counselling for school aged children and young people

Thanks to funding provided by the Australian Government under the South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN), Family Life is pleased to announce a new FREE counselling service for school aged children and young people.

This funded service is aimed at school aged children, without a mental health diagnosis, who will benefit from a brief period of therapeutic support to assist them to overcome stress or anxiety resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A child or young person attending school (excluding pre-school) or living within the following local government areas, can access the service: Bayside, Glen Eira, Stonnington, Port Phillip, Dandenong, Casey, Cardinia, Kingston, Frankston and Mornington Peninsula. Priority access will be given to children aged 12 and under.

A GP referral is not required.

Anyone can make a referral to the service by contacting the SEMPHN Access and Referral Team on 1800 862 363 (8.30am-4.30pm weekdays) and asking about their “Family Life Covid-19 Program”. 

Alternatively you can submit a referral to SEMPHN using their online referral form.  In the Presenting Issues section of the form include “Family Life Covid-19 Program” along with any presenting issues.

For more information about the SEMPHN Access and Referral team use this link www.semphn.org.au/resources/access

Meet our new team members

Elissa Macaw

Elissa is a registered Counselling Psychologist with over 10 years’ experience working with children, young people, individuals, families and couples.

Elissa has assisted clients with a broad range of presenting issues from grief and loss, parenting, depression and anxiety, adjustment issues, relationships, gambling and trauma.

Kate Perry

Kate is a highly experienced counsellor and creative arts therapist, and has worked with women, children, adolescents and young adults for the past 16 years.

Kate is a warm, non-judgemental and collaborative therapist who can help her clients feel comfortable to open up and make lasting changes, increase self-understanding and move on from past distress. 

Elissa and Kate welcome new referrals.

Counselling Services

At Heartlinks of Family Life we offer professional, confidential and quality counselling for individuals, young people, couples and families.

All of our practitioners are qualified and experienced, and have expertise in a range of areas allowing us to provide support to the whole family. Counselling support will be tailored to your individual concerns. We offer welcoming, private counselling rooms and child-friendly play-based therapy rooms at our Sandringham and Frankston locations, and also offer online, telehealth services.

Our aim is to support you and your family through the challenging times in your relationships and life, to assist you to improve and strengthen communication and relationship skills, and to help you with strategies to resolve problems and manage your situation in a positive way. Our focus is on promoting healthy and respectful relationships, to enable you and those closest to you, to thrive.

Please note during COVID-19 restrictions all services are delivered via telehealth, secure online video or telephone.