The Student Wellbeing Team is well equipped to provide comprehensive support to students throughout their senior secondary education. This support is provided through a passionate, diverse and experienced team of practitioners who are committed to enhancing student wellbeing and promoting resilience for all students as they navigate various social and emotional challenges.

Duty Worker:

Please direct all general enquiries to the front office and ask to speak to our Wellbeing Duty Worker or email: wellbeingmelton@meltonsc.vic.edu.au

Meet the Team

Alan Devine, Director of Student Services and Operations

Colin Kiel, Wellbeing Leader

Stacey James (Case Management/Counselling) – Stacey provides support for students in Years 7 – 12, predominantly who have external supports in place but needing case coordination and secondary support at school. Provides one to one support for young people for short term support and counselling.

Alisa Khenkitisak (Mental Health Practitioner) – Alisa has moved into a new role within the team. Alisa will be working across the school to provide mental health support for young people. Alisa will be working with young people in a more therapeutic space for a limited number of sessions, directed by the student needs.

Jules Wood (Wellbeing and Engagement Officer) - Jules will be working across both JSS and SSS in the development of engagement strategies, educational programs, short term programs and groups to assist our students to better engage, upskill and build relationships with others, relating mental health wellbeing.

Dani Giampino (Duty Day Worker – Monday/Thursday) – Dani has returned from Maternity Leave! Dani will be working as our Wellbeing Duty worker on Mondays and Thursdays. She will be working with students requiring immediate support and follow up.

Kate Probert (Secondary School Nurse/Health Promotions Tuesday/Thursday) – The main aim of Kate’s role is to support the health & wellbeing of secondary school students, with a focus on health promotion. Activities Kate may support could include: whole school health promotion activities or events, classroom and small group education sessions, and limited primary health care, including student assessment, referral & support.

Wellbeing Services

Individual and group counselling
Case Management (Attendance, Students with External Supports)
Parent meetings
Student Support Group Meetings
Breakfast Club (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
Programs – small group and whole year level
Lunch Time and Before School Programs
External referrals
Liaison with external agencies
State School Relief applications
Doctors in Secondary School’s program

Crisis Support Services If you or someone you know is in a crisis and require immediate support, there are several organisations that support crisis situations regarding youth mental health.

Emergency Services (Police, Fire, Ambulance) - 000
Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467 https://www.suicidecallbackservice.org.au/
Lifeline - 13 11 14 -https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Kids Helpline: Phone – 1800 55 180 -https://kidshelpline.com.au/
Orygen Youth Access Team Service - 9342 2800 / 1800 888 320 -https://oyh.org.au/
Royal Children's Hospital Adolescent Health: Phone – 9345 6180

MSC Wellbeing Team and Confidentiality

The Wellbeing Team at Melton Secondary College provides counselling and group work with limited confidentiality.

We have a duty of care for the wellbeing and safety of all the students we work with.

Whilst we aim to keep discussions confidential, we may need to share information with other services if we are concerned about a student’s safety and/or the safety of others. Sometimes this may need to happen without the students’ permission.

It’s important to understand that limited confidentiality applies:

Where there is risk of harm to self
Where there is risk of harm to others
Where someone is harming the student
During discussions within the Wellbeing Team

People that may be contacted include:

Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
Police
Parent/Guardian
Doctors or Specialist
Mental Health Services

Doctors in Schools:

The Doctor’s in Secondary Schools Program at MSC has relaunched (starting 20 October 2022) and appointments are now available for students. We are lucky to have Dr Leila Byrne and Nurse Raj from Headspace Melton available each Thursday to support our students.

Some important information

Bookings can be made in the following ways

Students and parents can contact Tess Portelli (Wellbeing) directly or speak to any member of staff.
Email gpbookings@meltonsc.vic.edu.au (by student, parent or staff member).
Students can drop in to see Practice Nurse, Raj to make an appointment directly during their break times on a Thursday in DS1.

The program’s consent and confidentiality policy was developed in consultation with experts including: the Australian Medical Association, the Australian Education Union, Parents Victoria and the Victorian Association of Secondary School Principals.

Consistent with Australian common law, the program recognises that:

any student who wants to see the GP will be permitted to book an appointment
the GP will decide whether the young person is mature enough to consent to medical treatment or whether parent/carer consent is needed – as is the case with all GPs in the community
the right for a young person’s health information to be kept confidential will be respected unless the disclosure is with the consent of the young person or it is otherwise permitted by law – as is the case with all GP practice in the community

Please follow the link below to access the consent and confidentiality policy.

More information about the program can be found at https://www.education.vic.gov.au/about/programs/Pages/doctors.aspx including fact sheets on confidentiality and consent
If you have any questions about the program, please contact Kathryn Sobey.

State Schools' Relief

What is State Schools’ Relief?

State Schools’ Relief (SSR) is a not-for-profit organisation working closely with all government schools across Victoria, assisting and improving the lives of tens of thousands of disadvantaged students each year, and their families, experiencing financial disadvantage with school clothing, shoes and other essential items.

Their practical service ensures that every student, regardless of their background, can attend school in warmth and comfort, with a greater sense of belonging and improved self-esteem, which in turn enhances their educational engagement. In Victorian state schools, 1 in 10 students are supported by State Schools Relief.

Melton Secondary College – SSR application process

To enquire whether your family is eligible for State Schools Relief support, please contact the MSC Wellbeing Team on 9743 3322. Please note that some personal information may be required to support your application.

State Schools Relief will subsidise the cost of uniform items and there will be a balance to pay for most items.

Eligible students can apply for the following items per calendar year:

Summer (Terms 1 & 4)

1 x dress

1 x school shorts

Winter (Terms 2 & 3)

1 x winter skirt

1 x long pants

All year (Terms 1 – 4)

2 x white shirts (short or long sleeve).

1 x pair school shoes (lace-up or T-bar).

1 x jumper

1 x PE polo shirt

1 x PE shorts

*All other uniform items are unable to be applied for through State Schools Relief.

Once an application has been approved by State Schools Relief, the Wellbeing Team will make contact with the primary contact on file for each student regarding the collection of items.

White shirts and school shoes will be delivered to MSC directly, while all other uniform items applied for (and approved) will be issued as a voucher which will be sent directly to the Uniform Shop for use to subsidise the cost of uniform on collection.

Uniform Shop

39 Bakery Square, Melton

Monday – Friday 9am – 5pm

Saturday 9am – 2pm

Phone: 0492 996 952

For all State Schools’ Relief enquiries, please speak with a member of the MSC Wellbeing Team on 9743 3322.

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