Student Health & Wellbeing
Pakenham Secondary College
Thunderstorm Asthma
Grass pollen season, which typically runs from October to December each year in Victoria, brings an increase in asthma and hay fever symptoms. It also increases the risk of thunderstorm asthma. For people with asthma or hay fever, especially those who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever, thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening.
Pakenham Secondary College will implement a range of measures to keep our school community safe as the risk of thunderstorm asthma increases.
Many of our staff are trained in asthma first aid, and we will monitor the VicEmergency app to receive thunderstorm warnings, and, where appropriate, keep students indoors when weather forecasts identify greater risk.
During the season, there are some things you can do to prepare and protect yourself and your family:
If your child has ever had asthma, talk to your doctor about what you can do to help protect them from the risk of thunderstorm asthma this pollen season, including updating your asthma action plan. Taking an asthma preventer properly and regularly is key to preventing asthma, including thunderstorm asthma.
If your child has hay fever, see your pharmacist or doctor for a hay fever treatment plan and check if you should have an asthma reliever puffer. These are available from a pharmacy without a prescription.
If your child has hay fever and experiences wheezing and coughing, it is important to make sure they don’t also have asthma. Speak to your doctor about an asthma action plan.
Where possible, avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October to December, especially during the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows. If you have your air conditioning on, turn it to ‘recirculate’.
Protect yourself this pollen season – managing asthma and allergies matters.
For more information, speak to your doctor. You can also visit the Better Health Channel website.
Protecting against mosquito-borne diseases
Warm and wet weather can result in greater numbers of mosquitoes and an increased risk of illness from mosquito bites. While the overall risk is currently low, some mosquitoes may be carrying diseases that make people sick.
The best protection against mosquito-borne illness is to avoid mosquito bites.
Families can protect against mosquito bites by:
covering up as much as possible with long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing
applying insect repellent that contains picaridin or DEET on exposed skin when outdoors
limiting outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are active
clean up and remove containers and items around the home that may hold water where mosquitoes may breed.
Families with any health concerns should see their doctor or phone NURSE-ON-CALL: 1300 606 024 (available 24 hours).
Free Japanese encephalitis vaccines
Japanese encephalitis virus is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes and can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain.
A free vaccine is available to some individuals to protect Victorians at higher risk of the virus.
For more information, including vaccine eligibility, refer to the Department of Health’s Japanese encephalitis webpage.
Find out more
For more information on protecting against mosquito-borne diseases, families can refer to the following Better Health Channel pages:
Protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease, including a handy checklist to help reduce mosquito breeding sites at home and resources translated into other languages.
The Orange Door
Tuning into Teens
Please call 9704 8377 to make enquiries about the Tuning into Teens program.
The Royal Children's Hospital Teen Health Information
Smiling Mind: Feeling It Short Videos for Students for all Year Levels
Secondary school presents students with new pressures and uncertainty. Students deal with many challenges – big transitions, changing identity, navigating relationships and finding purpose. The Smiling Mind: Feeling It series consists of 6 short videos and fact sheets covering essential wellbeing topics for secondary students. Please click on the button below to check out their short videos.
Doctors in Secondary Schools Program
Every Tuesday during term time, Dr. Patrick Halton and Nurse Em visit the College to provide primary health care for all our students. This service is free of charge, and students can consult with the doctor or nurse about any health concerns they would typically address with a GP or nurse in the community.
To book an appointment with the doctor and/or nurse:
Click the star icon at the top of your Compass homepage.
Select "Book Appointment with Doctors in Secondary Schools" from the drop down menu.
Submit the form.
You will be notified of your appointment time on the next Tuesday that appointments are available.
If you have any questions, please contact Allysha from Wellbeing at: allysha.coghlan@education.vic.gov.au.
Sun Smart
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
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.