STUDENT WELLBEING

Georgie Hunter

Social Worker/Student Wellbeing

Coordinator (SWC), Team Leader

Tina Doyle

Social Worker/Student Wellbeing 

Trish Guy

Mental Health Practitioner (MHP)

Bridgette Van Der Zee

Student Wellbeing Assistant

Vic Downey

Secondary School Nurse

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Krizza Salugsugan

Student Wellbeing

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Student Wellbeing Services

The Student Wellbeing Hub is in A Block next to the Junior Sub School Office. The Student Wellbeing Team provides initial support and referrals to external services for students and their families. As well as individual support for students, the team offers lunch time activities, small group work and participates in whole school events. Student Wellbeing facilitate several different external professionals who come onsite and can also support students who may need to have an OT/Speech Pathologist appointment at school. 

Additionally, we have Catholic Care Youth Refugee Case Manager Nestor Estampa who is based in the SW Hub on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Nestor supports EAL students with pathways and facilitating the CALD Women’s Group, in partnership with Student Wellbeing.

Vic Downey is our Secondary School Nurse and is based in Student Wellbeing on Mondays and Tuesdays. Vic’s role is predominantly focused on health promotion and support across various aspects of school. Vic is also available to see students who may have health related questions. Students can contact Student Wellbeing or drop down to the Wellbeing Hub on these days.

Students can self-refer to Student Wellbeing as needed. Parents/Carers can contact Student Wellbeing by calling the Main Office on 5240 5800.

Doctors in Secondary Schools

The Doctors in Secondary Schools (DiSS) program is still operating at NGSC each Thursday. The clinic is staffed by Nurse Kate and Dr Bianca. Students can see the nurse or doctor for a wide range of reasons and referrals can be made online https://bch.org.au/contact/youth-referral/ or by contacting one of the Student Wellbeing Coordinators. Parents/carers can also contact Student Wellbeing for enquiries.  

We also have Bec Confoy (Psychologist) who is based at school on Wednesdays. Referrals and enquires about an appointment with Bec are managed through the DiSS Clinic. 

The Geelong Project

The Geelong Project (TGP) is a program ran by Barwon Child Youth and Family (BCYF) that is focused on early intervention and supporting young people to remain engaged in education. NGSC are supported by youth workers who come in multiple days across the week. Referrals to the Geelong Project are provided through the SW Team.

Breakfast Club

Breakfast Club is supported by volunteers and is held in B Wing each morning from 8:00 am. All students are welcome to attend for a social breakfast with their friends. There is no cost involved.

Lunchtime Activities 

Lunch time groups offer a variety of activities for students, free of charge. Please check the Student Wellbeing noticeboard and Compass for what is on each day. Students are invited to make suggestions for lunch time activities that they would like. Lunch time groups are a great opportunity to build peer connections and have positive experiences at school. These groups are facilitated by a member of the Student Wellbeing Team or teaching staff. 

Some of these groups include Dungeons & Dragons, Anime Club, Mindfulness, Arts/Crafts, Jewellery Making, Karaoke, Cultural Appreciation Club and Chess Club. We also have an art lunch time group on Fridays and an LGBTQIA Support Group each Tuesday at lunchtime. Students can see a member of the Wellbeing Team if they have any questions.

Financial Support

Secondhand School Supplies

All families are encouraged to contact Secondhand School Supplies. They have used uniform items and textbooks at reasonable prices.

Stock changes frequently so if they do not have what you need check with them again as it may have come in. Address: 9 Star Street, Geelong

Uniform Support

Student Wellbeing provides uniform support through the State Schools Relief program. Please contact the team if you need assistance or students can come down to Wellbeing and see a staff member.

Food Assistance

The Student Wellbeing Team can be contacted if you need urgent food assistance or to talk about other support options.

Good Shepherd No Interest Loans

No Interest Loans (NILs) for individuals and families on low incomes allows access to safe, fair and affordable credit. Loans are available for essential goods and services such as fridges, washing machines, car repairs and medical procedures for up to $1,500. Repayments are set at an affordable amount over 12 to 18 months.

NILs is offered by 170 local community organisations in over 600 locations across Australia. Chances are there will be a local NILS provider near you or one who can help over the phone. For more information, please go to    https://goodshep.org.au/services/nils/

Some local NILS providers:

Salvation Army - Corio & Northern Suburbs Community Support Service

92 Cox Road, Corio

03 9388 5500

Vinnies NILS Geelong

(St Vincent De Paul Society)

Pakington Street, Geelong West

03 5334 2844

Uniting Care

272 Torquay Road, Grovedale

03 4210 1108

Accessing Centrelink 

Accessing Centrelink can be difficult. Below are a couple of links that will help.

The first link is to information about Youth Allowance for students:

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/youth-allowance-students-and-australian-apprentices

The links below provides information for those who have been affected by Covid-19:https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/individuals/subjects/affected-coronavirus-covid-19

https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/mental-health-resources-coronavirus-covid-19

Centrelink can be very difficult for people to navigate, particularly if English is not your first language.  Students who would like to access the Centrelink Interpreter Service can call 131 202 and will need to state their preferred language twice. They will then be transferred to an interpreter who will assist them with their inquiry. This service can also provide students with their CRN (customer reference number) over the phone which will enable them to apply for payments.

This service is available from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday.

Key Support Contacts 

Youth Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

Kids Helpline: 1800 551 800

Family Violence: 1800 015 188

Lifeline: 13 11 14

13Yarnsafe: 13 92 76

eHeadspace: headspace.org.au/eheadspace

Mental Health and Wellbeing Hub (North Geelong) 

Address: 12-14 Thompson Road North Geelong Website: https://www.ermha.org/wellbeinghub/Contact: 0498 566 674

A free service that offers one-on-one and group support for people in the community and to build strengths within themselves. Areas include:

• connection to the community
• the benefits of healthy routines and choices
• developing skills to cope with uncertainty and change
• explore alternatives to substance use
• practical support for changes in employment
• general mental health and wellbeing
• linkage to local services, and a whole lot of self-care

NGSC Website

We invite you to visit the Student Health and Wellbeing webpage, on the NGSC Website, to look around and explore its contents. Go to https://ngsc.vic.edu.au, from the main menu select 'About' and then select 'Student Health and Wellbeing'.

Information within the Student Health and Wellbeing portal outlines services we provide here at NGSC to support student Health and Wellbeing.  There are also 'Resource Rooms', for parents and students. Within these rooms, there is a host of links to relevant websites, supportive services, and popular free Apps to try.

The NGSC Student Health and Wellbeing webpage includes Barwon Health's 24/7 support line for young people and families. This triage service is for mental health crises and can be accessed by calling 1300 094 187. The Barwon Health Triage Team is equipped to deal with emergencies and to facilitate referrals to appropriate services for ongoing support.

Of course, our site also lists online supports, phone numbers and recommended apps to further support students and families during times of difficulty. 

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

INFORMATION FOR PARENTS

Every Victorian child should have access to the world of learning opportunities that exist beyond the classroom. The Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund helps ensure that no student will miss out on the opportunity to join their classmates for important, educational and fun activities. It is part of making Victoria the Education State and the Government’s commitment to breaking the link between a student’s background and their outcomes.

CAMPS, SPORTS & EXCURSIONS     

FUND (CSEF)

School camps provide children with inspiring experiences in the great outdoors. Excursions encourage a deeper understanding of how the world works while sports teach teamwork, discipline and leadership.  All are a part of a healthy curriculum.

CSEF is provided by the Victorian Government to assist eligible families to cover the costs of school trips, camps and sporting activities.

If you hold a valid means-tested concession card or are a temporary foster parent, you may be eligible for CSEF. A special consideration category also exists for asylum seeker and refugee families. The allowance is paid to the school to use towards expenses relating to camps, excursions or sporting activities for the benefit of your child.

The annual CSEF amount per student is:

• $125 for primary school students
• $225 for secondary school students

HOW TO APPLY

New applicants should contact the school office to   obtain a CSEF application form or download from the website below. 

If you applied for CSEF at your child's school last year, you do not need to complete an application form this year unless there has been a change in your family circumstances. 

You only need to complete an application form if any of the following changes have occurred:

• new student enrolments: your child has started or changed schools this year.
• changed family circumstances; such as a change of custody, change of name, concession card number, or new siblings commencing this year.

Check with the school office if you areunsure.

PARENT  EDUCATION EVENTS - Term 4, 2023 

All Regional Parenting Service programs along with MELI (formerly Barwon Child Youth & Family (BCYF) and Bethany), Family Relationship Centre, Drummond St Services and Barwon Southwest Region programs will be offered face to face or online. Bookings are essential. For details of dates, times and 

venues please see below. 

BRINGING UP GREAT KIDS The First 1000 Days 

The first 1,000 days of life is a program for parents with children aged under 2 years and designed to nurture parents as they embark on their journey. It provides parents with knowledge about brain development and an understanding of how children grow and what they need. The centrality of family relationships and opportunities for parents to reflect on their own childhood and how to connect with their children are all explored. 

BRINGING UP GREAT KIDS 

Bringing up Great Kids is a 6-week supportive program for parents of children aged 12 months to 9 years. 

The program aims to: • develop parents’ skills to enhance communication with their children. 

• promote positive interactions between parents and their child/ren. 
• encourage the development of a child’s positive self-identity. 

CIRCLE OF SECURITY 

Circle of Security is an 8-week supportive program for parents of children aged birth to 5 years. 

The program aims to: 

• help parents understand how to build feelings of security for children in their early years. 
• assist parents with skills to build on the positive relationship with their child. 
• develop confidence in parents to respond to their child in a way which builds a secure foundation for children. 

TUNING IN TO KIDS 

Tuning in to kids is a 6-week supportive program for parents of children aged 4 to 10 years. 

The program aims to: 

• help parents teach and support their child/ren to understand and manage their emotions. 
• support parents in encouraging children to express emotions appropriately. 
• maximise children’s social, behavioural and learning outcomes. 

BRINGING UP GREAT KIDS Parenting Adolescents 

The program builds on maintaining positive relationships and interactions between parents and adolescents during the ages of 10 to 17 years. This 6-week program will look at having a better understanding and being able to support your adolescent. 

• Finding meaningful ways to stay connected with you adolescent. 
• Understand that all behaviour and interaction have a meaning attached to it. 
• Develop an increased understanding about the messages that they communicate to their adolescent through their behaviour, actions and attitudes. 
• Develop skills to identify and manage their stress associated with parenting. 

STEPPING STONES 

Stepping Stones is a 5-week program for families with a child who has a disability. The program aims to help parents use Positive Parenting to acquire new skills and knowledge. Skills are practiced and parents receive constructive feedback about their use of skills. 

OUR KIDS – Parenting After Separation 

Our Kids is a 6-week course on parenting after separation and the impact of parental conflict on children. The course encourages parents to focus on the needs of their children and develop helpful communication strategies following separation. Courses run weekly for 6 weeks during school terms. Morning and evening sessions are available. 

THE DAD WORKSHOP 

This 6-week program will focus on giving you the tools you need to create a better life for your entire family.   

We will look at simple things you can do to improve: 

• your relationship with yourself. 
• your relationship with your partner; • your relationship with your kids. 

FLOURISHING FAMILIES 

A 5-week program for parents with children of all ages to discover how you can help your family to flourish.   

Learn about: 

• how you can promote resilience. 
• increase awareness of your family’s strengths. 
• create and nurture positive family relationships. 
• give feedback to support individual growth. 

BUBS TO TOTS 

Bubs to Tots brings mothers (up to 24 years) of children in the 1-to-2-year age group together for support and education.  

NO MORE SCAREDY CATS Reducing Anxiety and Building Resilience in Children 

A 4-week program for parents of children 5 to 12 years to gain an understanding of the increasing levels of anxiety in a child and strategies to help manage the 

“traps and tripwires” with strengthening sayings, questioning strategies and mindful exercises. 

TUNING IN TO TEENS 

Tuning in to teens is a 6-week supportive program for parents of teens aged 12 to 18 years. 

The program aims to: 

• support parents to connect and communicate with their teens. 
• assist parents with understanding adolescent development. 
• help parents to assist their teen to develop emotional intelligence. 
• remain empathetic and stay connected. 

LIVING WITH TEENS 

A model for building strong, secure connections. Living with Teens is a 3-week program. 

The program aims to cover: 

• what parents need to be able to meet teen’s needs. 
• what teens need from parents.
• adolescent development. 

BUMPS TO BUBS 

Bumps to Bubs brings young mothers and mothers-tobe (up to 23 years) with babies 0 to 1 year, together to support the journey of parenting. 

DADS TUNING INTO KIDS 

Dads Tuning into Kids is a 6-week supportive program specifically for Dads of children aged 3 to 12 years. 

The program aims to: 

• help dads to effectively tune in to their child’s emotions; 
• encourage dads to strengthen their emotional connection with their child; 
• support dads to build skills in emotion coaching to assist their child’s individual needs. 

POSITIVE PARENTING PROGRAM 

Available online via the Triple P website www.triplep-parenting.net.au/vic-uken/triple-p/ 

STRENGHTENING FAMILY CONNECTIONS 

Strengthening Family Connections is a free 8-week program for parents and their children aged 8 to 12 years. The program aims to build a positive family culture and strengthen family connections.  

Parent Education Events                                                                                                                                                                                                Term 4, 2023

Parent Education Events                                                                                                                                                                                                Term 4, 2023