Student Health & Wellbeing

Wellbeing Support for the School Holidays 

Visit the below guide for tips and resources for parents, carers and families to support the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people in their care during the school holidays. This includes services to reach out to if more support is needed.

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 probelsm early
• reduce the pressure on workign 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 helath care for secondary students at our school.

Parents/Carers can support the success of this program by talking to your child about the intiative and encourageing 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:

pakenhamsc.vic.edu.au/doctor.

We know many families head away during the school holidays to locations near water, including lakes, rivers and beaches.

Water Safety over the School Holidays 

To help families stay safe around water these school holidays, please find below some water safety resources that may help:

• Surf Life Saving Australia’s Beachsafe websitewhere you can view a location and the closest patrolled beaches (available in 132 languages – click on the ‘Select language’ tab). This information is also available in an app which you can download from the Beachsafe website. The app includes videos with tips for visiting Australian beaches, in 8 languages: English, Arabic, Hindi, Korean, Japanese, Malay, Traditional Chinese and Simplified Chinese.
• Vic Emergency’s Get to know our warning signs website, including posters translated into Arabic, Dari, Vietnamese, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese.

Life Saving Victoria’s Water safety tips.

Autism Acceptance Month 

April is Autism Acceptance Month (AAM) and a great opportunity to celebrate our autistic students, learn more about how we can support and include them, and help foster understanding and acceptance of autism among all students. AAM is an offshoot of the United Nations’ sanctioned World Autism Awareness Day on Tuesday 2 April 2024. The day will begin a month of global events to celebrate autistic people.

Our school is committed to understanding, including and celebrating our autistic students and values the contribution they and their families make to our school. 

To celebrate AAM, we would like to share some resources that support autistic students and their families. 

The Department of Education has worked with organisations for autistic people and lead researchers in autism to develop new resources for schools to help us better understand, support and celebrate the strengths of autistic students. We hope you find them useful and insightful.

• AllPlay Learn Inclusive School Communities: Monash University’s AllPlay Learn team has developed evidence-based guidance and resources on how to create inclusive school communities where everyone feels welcome and supported. It includes videos on engaging with other parents, using inclusive language and student resources you can share with your child or children.
• Amaze has produced videos and tip sheets for parents on how to include families of autistic children. 
• The Art of Learning video.

More support for autistic students 

The department has established the Diverse Learners Hub to help meet the needs of diverse learners, including autistic students. It is key initiative of Disability Inclusion and flagship of the Autism Education Strategy.

The hub provides evidence-based advice, information and resources on best-practice inclusive teaching for autistic students.

Parenting Program

Tuning in to Teens helps guide parents through a five stage emotional coaching program. This program offers parents an alternative parenting style to help improve communication and emotional awareness. 

Throughout the program we will cover a range of topics, including:

• Improving conversations with your teen
• Helping prevent behavioural challenges through emotional coaching
• Managing adolescent emotions, worries and anxieties
• Encouraging emotional intelligence to help deal with conflict and improve relationships

Covid-19 Reminder

There is at present an increase in community transmission of COVID-19 in Victoria.

You can help us keep our school as safe as possible by taking 2 important steps:

1. Ensure your COVID-19 vaccinations are up to date. Information on how and where to get vaccinated is available on the Get vaccinated webpage.
2. If your child shows symptoms of COVID-19, please ensure they stay home and get tested. The easiest way to test is to use a rapid antigen test (RAT).

Free RATs are available from your local council where you can collect 2 packs of 5 RATs and an extra 2 packs for each person in your household. People with disability and their carers can get 4 packs of 5 RATs. You are not required to have a Medicare card and you can collect RATs as many times as you need. You can also buy RATs at supermarkets, pharmacies and other retailers.

If your child has symptoms but tests negative, please ensure they stay home until they no longer have symptoms.

If the RAT test result is positive, please ensure they say home for at least 5 days and until there are no more symptoms.

Thank you for your support – these steps will help us all stay well.

Foster Carers urgently needed

Becoming a foster carer is both life-changing and rewarding. You can change a young person's life by opening your heart and your home to them. Whilst at times it can be challenging, our training and accreditation equip you for these challenges, and you will have the support of a dedicated MacKillop staff member 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more information please call 1300 791 677 and/or visit their website at:

mackillop.org.au/fostercare

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.