Mental health in
Schools
Dear Families,
Many families already know me through my many years of work at Carnegie Primary School. I am pleased to now be working in the role of Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHiPS).
The Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative, introduced by the Victorian Department of Education, strengthens student wellbeing through a whole-school, prevention-focused approach. The role is primarily about building staff capability and strengthening classroom and school-wide practices, rather than providing individual counselling.
I bring to this role extensive experience as both a teacher and a parent, along with a strong commitment to recognising each student’s individual strengths, background and needs. My focus is on working collaboratively with staff to ensure students experience safe, predictable and connected learning environments.
In my role, I work to:
- Support teachers to respond to students’ social, emotional and mental health needs
- Build staff capability in evidence-informed wellbeing, regulation and engagement strategies
- Strengthen consistent Tier 1 classroom and whole-school practices that promote belonging and readiness to learn
- Assist with early identification and targeted support planning in collaboration with staff and leadership
- Work alongside CPS wellbeing approaches, including Respectful Relationships and SWPBS
- Support coordinated connections with families and internal and external services when appropriate
What this means for families
In practice, families will continue to see a strong focus on safe, calm and predictable classrooms, consistent wellbeing language across the school, and early communication when additional support may be helpful. The role works alongside our existing supports to ensure students experience connected, inclusive learning environments every day.
The MHiPS role complements the strong wellbeing work already in place at CPS. By strengthening teacher capability and whole-school consistency, we aim to support all students to develop the skills and confidence they need to thrive socially, emotionally and academically.
It is an incredible opportunity for CPS, and I look forward to continuing to work alongside our staff and community to support student wellbeing at Carnegie Primary School.
Janette Taylor Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHiPS)