Student Wellbeing 

Wellbeing Centre 2021

Our Ethos

The purpose of the Wellbeing Department is to build a culture of student wellbeing in the College community by taking a preventative and proactive approach to mental health to allow students to participate fully in their educational programs. We ensure agency in relation to student wellbeing to all stakeholders:  students, parents and staff and provide a triage/referral service in times of crisis based around a case management approach.

Our Role

The Wellbeing staff’s role is to work with students and their families to identify and find appropriate external support services to refer them to. We are not able to provide on-going long-term counselling for our students.

We also act as an advocate for students at school, communicating with all stakeholders, supporting students so that they are able to be at school and focus on their learning. 

The Wellbeing staff will also run preventative programs with whole year levels and small groups of students to educate and give agency to young people in a range of Wellbeing areas.

The Wellbeing Centre has a large space at lunchtime where any student is welcome to come and hang out. It has kitchen facilities including a sandwich press.

Our Staff

Katrina Katz – Leader of Student Wellbeing 

Guiseppe Relia  – Social Worker

Sanela Avdic – Social Worker

And introducing our Mental Health Practitioner – Leanne Marrison

Katrina, Guiseppe, Sanela and Leanne provide ongoing support and short-term counselling for students in need. They communicate with families, staff and service providers to support students.

Counselling Placement Students

Each year the Wellbeing Department hosts approximately 10 Counselling Placement Students who are completing their final year of Bachelor/Masters in Counselling at university. They provide counselling for low-level and short term cases.

We welcome our new and returning Placement Students for 2021:

• Chrystal Chea
• Dorian Galista
• Ayna Hennessy
• Denia Henricus
• Matilda Houlihan
• Devora Koles
• Allison McFarlane
• Anny Nguyen
• Thomas O'Hare
• Bishara Warsame

If you have any questions regarding the role of Wellbeing within Wantirna College, please contact Katrina Katz.

We hope you have a wonderful start to 2021! 

The Wantirna Wellbeing Team