Wellbeing

Wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday season.  

Enjoy time with family and friends and take some time for self-care.  

The Wellbeing team looks forward to reconnecting with students, staff and families in 2025.

To our Year 12 students who have just received their ATAR, this is a continuation of your journey.  For those who have achieved their goal by getting the ATAR they worked towards and will receive their first preference for a University course, CONGRATULATIONS…your hard work has paid off. For those who have not received the ATAR they were hoping for, try not to get too caught up in focusing solely on your score.  Remember that you are more than a number on a page and your success will be measured in so many ways.  

How far does this track stretch on for? Who knows, but there will be plenty of twists and bends that will bring you surprises and take you places you may never have thought of going.  Enjoy the adventure of finding out where your new path is going to take you.

When you overcome challenges and hurdles, you are building a tool kit of resources that you can utilise forever.

Transitioning from one year level to the next

Transition can be stressful.  It can make you feel a bit anxious and apprehensive.  So what can we do about managing and minimising that stress, and making it a more joyful experience?

• Recognise that moving is a big thing. It is an event that will serve as a milestone in your life. Milestones are often the way that we categorise our lives into a timeline eg. moving house, going on a holiday, finishing primary school, first job, sports days, excursions, etc.

   

• View the change as a challenge, not as a threat. Take an event that you are afraid might overwhelm you and turn it into an occasion you can rise above and conquer.

• Changes in routine can serve as stimulation to your nervous system and allow you to grow new neural pathways.  

   

• Remember other times you have had to navigate transition and use the knowledge that you coped with that to give you strength.

• Use your support network.  Teachers, friends, parents, siblings, Wellbeing staff, sub-school staff.  We are all here to help you through.

• Realise that change is inherent to our life.  Without change, and staying in our comfort zone, would make our lives very dull indeed.  People enter your life and leave it, material possessions come and go, and careers evolve and change.  No one gets through life without change of some sort.  Don’t fight it.  Embrace it and let it make you stronger and wiser.

• Use your time during the school holidays to get organised.  Create a study schedule that will help you navigate term 1 next year.  The smoother your transition, the calmer you will feel and the quicker, this will become your new normal.

Happy holidays

Kerri Haworth

Director of Wellbeing

Check out the following Community Events and Support Services:

Opportunities for Free Counselling

For further information or to register your interest: 

https://forms.gle/P9Q4DBwWaM2kLMZN8 

Meet the Semester 2 Wellbeing Team

Kerri Haworth               Nella Foley                      Nicole Huang                   Donna Hurst

Director of                       Mental Health                 Counsellor                         Counsellor       

Wellbeing                        Practitioner

                       Daniel Ferdinands         Jane O'Callaghan          Zee Lim                       

                       Youth Engagement         Youth Worker                   Provisional                     

                       Officer                                 Les Twentyman              Psychologist               

                                                                     Foundation   

We will also be welcoming Jeremy Zivin, Provisional Psychologist in Term 1.                     

Wellbeing Contact Form

Contact our Cheltenham Secondary College Wellbeing team directly with any concerns or issues and one of the team will get back to you. The form can be accessed here.

Helpful Contacts

Headspace

http://www.headspace.org.au/

Headspace Centres can be a one-stop shop for all young people who just need some help with everyday stuff or wellbeing and physical health. 

Kids Helpline

https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Kids Helpline is across Australia, it is free, private and confidential 24/7. Mainly for young people aged 5 to age 25.

Call them on.. 1800 55 1800

Lifeline

https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Provides all Australians everywhere experiencing a personal crisis allowing 24-hour support. Call them on.. 13 11 14

Beyond Blue

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Provides information and support which helps tackle head-on the effects of mental health issues no matter where or what age. 

Call them on.. 1300 22 4636

Parentline

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/serviceprofiles/parentline-service

Fantastic service for parents and carers of young children from a few days of age all the way up to 18-year-olds. This service offers counselling and support which is confidential and anonymous on all issues around parenting.  Call them on...13 22 89.