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

Robyn McPhee

Chaplain


Managing Mental Health Issues in our Young People


Parent Education Events


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 Kate are continuing to provide medical care to NGSC students every Thursday. During lockdown this has been via Telehealth. The clinic is now open again 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

03 9388 5500

 

Vinnies NILS Geelong

(St Vincent De Paul Society)

Pakington Street, Geelong West

03 5334 2844

 

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 us' 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:

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/youth-allowance-students-and-australian-apprentices

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.