Student Health & Wellbeing
Pakenham Secondary College
World No Tobacco Day - 31st May 2024
Friday, 31st May is World No TobaccoDay and this year Quit and Cancer Council Victoria are joining public health organisations across the globe to call on governments to protect young people from predatory tobacco industry marketing tactics.
By targeting your people, this harmful industry is seeking to create lifelong addictions to nicotine, putting profit before people. Alarmingly, global statistics indicate that vaping among children exceeds that of adults in every region. While, alarmingly, an estimated 37 million children aged 13-15 use tobacco.
If we work together, we can protect young people from a lifetime of nicotine addiction and pave the way for a smoke and vape-free future. To help spread the message and empower youth voices, please visit the Quit webpage by clicking on the button below.
See the Doctor at PSC
Pakenham Secondary College have been selected to participate in the Victorian Government's Doctors in Secondary Schools (DiSS) program.
The objectives of this initiative are to:
- make primary health care more accessible to students
- assist young people to identify and address any health problems early
- reduce the pressure on working parents
ABOUT THE DiSS PROGRAM
As part of this program, Dr Zaman Bhuiyan, an adolescent-trained GP from the Pakenham Medial Clinic, will be at the College, along with Nurse Cassie, on Wednesdays from 11:30am until 3:30pm during term time. They will provide free access to primary health care for secondary students at our school.
Parents/Carers can support the success of this program by talking to your child about the initiative and encouraging them to access the GP if they need primary health care.
Secure and confidential bookings can be made online at pakenhamsc.vic.edu.au/doctor (by parents/carers or the student). Parents/carers are welcome to attend consultations with the student, if/when required.
WHY IS THIS PROGRAM NEEDED?
We know that teenagers are the least likely of all age groups to seek health care, but we also know that many health problems that can have consequences into adulthood start at this time of life. This program seeks to address this issue.
The program complements existing student wellbeing programs aimed at improving health literacy and encouraging preventive health.
This program is not designed to replace any existing medical arrangements your family may have in place. The GP in the school can provide a convenient alternative to primary care within school hours, and encourage health care access to those students without an existing relationship with a GP.
ABOUT DR ZAMAN BHUIYAN
We are very pleased that Dr Zaman Bhuiyan from the Pakenham Medical Clinic is our designated GP.
Over the past decade, Dr Zaman (MBBS, DTM&H, FRACGP, AMA), has been deeply involved in delivering quality healthcare services to the Casey and Cardinia area communities.
Dr Zaman's clinical interests include "listening to patients - listening is the best healer of many illnesses", Children's Health, Family Medicine, Mental and Sexual Health, Comprehensive Health Checks, Immunisation and Vaccinations and much more.
We are also thrilled that Dr Zaman is accompanied every Wednesday by Nurse Cassie, who many of our students and staff have had the pleasure of seeing previously for immunisations and other medical needs.
MAKE A BOOKING
To make a secure and confidential booking, please visit our website at:
Support Services
If you feel like you could do with the support of a professional, help is always available.
- MyPlace - Cardinia - 1800 496 884
- Youth Counselling and Support Service - Casey - 9792 7279
- Coronavirus Health Information Line · 1800 020 080 · Call if you are seeking information on coronavirus (COVID-19). The line operates 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- LifeLine - 13 11 14 - Provides counselling, information and referrals for people experiencing a personal crisis. Click here for the link.
- Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 - Provides advice and support for people experiencing depression and anxiety. Click here for the link
- Suicide Call Back Service - 1300 659 467 - Provides free counselling for anyone (15 years+) who is suicidal or affected by suicide.
- Kids Helpline - 1800 55 1800 - Provides free, private and confidential telephone and online counselling services specifically for young people aged between 5 and 25. Click here for the link.
- E-HeadSpace - Provides free online or telephone support with a clinician via an online chat. This service is available for 12–25-year-olds, Click here for the link.
- Reachout - Click here for the link.