Melton Mail

Wellbeing

Odyssey House 

Melton Secondary College is excited to announce a new service available to the Melton Secondary College community including students, families and staff.

We are lucky to have René De Sant’ Anna from Odyssey House Victoria. René is a Senior Drug & Alcohol Clinician in the Youth & Family Services.

René will be based at MSC on each Monday. He will be running a Drug and Alcohol Education Program for a selected group of senior students and will also be available for referrals for individual students, families and staff.

 

Reasons for a referral

  1. The Individual student would like support for his/her own Drug and Alcohol Use
  2. A student would like support/education around a family member/friend’s Drug and Alcohol Use
  3. A family member would like support/education around their child’s Drug and Alcohol Use (even if the Child/Adolescent doesn’t want to address any of these concerns)

 

How to make a referral to René

  1. Make contact with Stacey James in the Wellbeing Team (9743 3322 or james.stacey.l@edumail.vic.gov.au)
  2. If parent consent is required (students deemed by law not to be a mature minor), Stacey will make contact with home regarding this request
  3. Stacey will then make an appointment time during when René is next available

 

 

 Information about Odyssey House

 

Odyssey House Youth & Family Services provides outreach and centre-based programs and services to young people aged 12 to 24 and their families. 

The service aims to reduce a young person’s alcohol or other drug use and to minimise harm caused by use. The program also helps participants to manage other problems like mental health, education, family and legal issues.

Participation in the program is voluntary.

 

Our youth and family services include

  • Youth alcohol and other drug counselling: where young people can discuss their issues and concerns in a safe, non-judgmental environment.
  • Dual diagnosis counselling:  A counselling service for young people suffering from mental health and drug and alcohol issues, delivered in partnership with headspace Southern Melbourne.
  • Family alcohol and other drug counselling: where families can gain an understanding of one another’s issues and work towards a group resolution.
  • Outreach: Assertive follow-up and counselling with at-risk young people.
  • The Odyssey Camp Out: An annual camp to provide at-risk young people with respite, life-skills training and meaningful life experiences.
  • Building Resilience in Community Schools: A holistic program that places a youth clinician at community schools to provide youth and family counselling, support, referral, drug education, secondary consultation and staff professional development.

 

If you have any questions about this services, please don’t hesitate to contact Stacey James in the Wellbeing Team on 9743 3322 or james.stacey.l@edumail.vic.gov.au

Wellbeing Brochure

Welbeing Brochure.pdf

State School Relief

If you require some support regarding school uniform, the Wellbeing Team is available to discuss available supports. State Schools Relief can provide vouchers towards the cost of uniform items. Please contact, Stacey James to discuss eligibility criteria. Please note that not all items are covered by State School Relief. Stacey will be able to provide you with more information.

 Please contact Stacey on 9743 3322 or james.stacey.l@edumail.vic.gov.au

INTERNET: Parent Tip Sheet

WHAT IS THE ATTRACTION?

The Internet has a myriad of attractions to young people. It is instantaneous, highly interactive and immensely private, which are highly prized attributes for most young people. It gives them access to their mates, music and media without leaving home. It has addictive qualities we know, but that does not mean that a young person should become a Net addict.

 

HOW SHOULD PARENTS REACT?

TREAT .COM RELATIONSHIPS AND ACTIVITIES LIKE ANY OTHER:

Mocking their cyber friends and cyber activities can only drive them further into the cyber world of rebellion and further away from the real world.

 

IF THE CYBER WORLD IS THE REAL WORLD for your young person as he shuns most other activities as well as people it may be time to take some action or even get some help.

 

INVOLVE YOURSELF IN THEIR CYBER ACTIVITIES, much as you would any other type of activity. Take the time to find out what they are doing and what they get from the activities.

 

NEGOTIATE ONLINE TIME ALLOCATIONS and share time online with other interested siblings. Locate the computer connected to the Internet in a public place at home so that you are accessible and also so sharing can occur.

 

ASK YOUR YOUNG PERSON WHAT A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME MAY BE ONLINE. If they violate that limit then ask them if they have a problem. Let them think it over for a time. Perhaps you can bargain real time activities in exchange for time online.

 

OFFER OFFLINE ALTERNATIVES TO ENTERTAINMENT, EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION. Remind them that there are offline alternatives, even if they do not use them all the time.

 

This is a Short Message from your Melton SC Welfare Team. If you have any issues regarding this and are unsure where to turn, please make an appointment with the school welfare team. Thanks, Nathanael.