Melton Mail

Wellbeing Team 2023


The Student Wellbeing Team is well equipped to provide comprehensive support to students throughout their senior secondary education. This support is provided through a passionate, diverse and experienced team of practitioners who are committed to enhancing student wellbeing and promoting resilience for all students as they navigate various social and emotional challenges. 

 

Duty Worker:

Please direct all general enquiries to the front office and ask to speak to our Wellbeing Duty Worker or email: wellbeingmelton@meltonsc.vic.edu.au

 

Meet the Team

Alan Devine, Director of Student Services and Operations

 

 

 

 

Colin Kiel, Wellbeing Leader

 

 

 

 

 

Stacey James (Case Management/Counselling) – Located in the Wellbeing Duty Office, Stacey provides support for students in Years 7 – 12, predominantly who have external supports in place but needing case coordination and secondary support at school.

Chloe McBain (Mental Health Practitioner) – Chloe will be working across the school to provide mental health support for young people. Chloe will be working with young people in a more therapeutic space for a limited number of sessions, directed by the student needs.

 

Alisha Pitisano (Wellbeing and Engagement Officer) - Jules provides guidance, and resources to help individuals navigate challenges and promote positive mental health including assessing needs, offering support, collaborating with other professionals and coordinating programs within the school. Jules plays a vital role in fostering resilience and creating a supportive environment for our students to enhance their wellbeing.

 

Cynthia Flores (Secondary School Nurse/Health Promotions Tuesday/Thursday) –

The main aim of Kate’s role is to support the health & wellbeing of secondary school students, with a focus on health promotion. Activities Kate may support could include: whole school health promotion activities or events, classroom and small group education sessions, and limited primary health care, including student assessment, referral & support .

Liam Jilla (Student Counsellor) – Liam has recently joined our Wellbeing team. Liam’s role involves providing guidance, personal and social support, and assistance to students. He offers counselling and crisis intervention. Liam is able to advocate for students' rights and well-being, make referrals when necessary, and contribute to creating a positive school environment.

Ellie Priest (Student Counsellor) – Ellie has also joined our team recently in the role of Student Counsellor. Ellie is able to assist students with counselling and crisis intervention as well as making referrals when necessary to external services

 

Some of our Wellbeing Services include:

  • Individual and group counselling
  • Case Management (Attendance, Students with External Supports)
  • Parent meetings
  • Student Support Group Meetings
  • Breakfast Club (Monday,  Wednesday,  Friday)
  • Programs – small group and whole year level
  • Lunch Time and Before School Programs
  • External referrals
  • Liaison with external agencies
  • State School Relief applications
  • Doctors in Secondary School’s program

Crisis Support Services If you or someone you know is in a crisis and require immediate support, there are several organisations that support crisis situations regarding youth mental health.

MSC Wellbeing Team and Confidentiality

The Wellbeing Team at Melton Secondary College provides counselling and group work with limited confidentiality. 

We have a duty of care for the wellbeing and safety of all the students we work with. 

Whilst we aim to keep discussions confidential, we may need to share information with other services if we are concerned about a student’s safety and/or the safety of others. Sometimes this may need to happen without the students’ permission.

 

It’s important to understand that limited confidentiality applies:

  • Where there is risk of harm to self
  • Where there is risk of harm to others
  • Where someone is harming  the student
  • During discussions within the Wellbeing Team

 People that may be contacted include:

  • Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
  • Police
  • Parent/Guardian
  • Doctors or Specialist
  • Mental Health Services

Doctors in Schools:

Does your young person have trouble with sleeping, skin, asthma or any other health concern?? 

The Doctor’s in Secondary Schools Program at MSC has relaunched and appointments are now available for students. We are lucky to have Dr Phyo and a Nurse from Headspace Melton available each Thursday to support our students and it is FREE.

Having a Doctor available once a week aims to: 

  • provide medical advice and health care to our students
  • make seeing a GP more accessible to students
  • provide assistance to young people to identify and address any health problems early
  • aim to reducethe pressure on working parents and community-based GPs.

Students can make appointments in the following ways:

  • scan QR code and send an expression of interest 
  • speak to the Duty Worker at the Wellbeing office 
  • visit DS1 on a Thursday during their breaktime and talk to the nurse 
  • Email wellbeingmelton@meltonsc.vic.edu.au
  • Parents/guardians/carers/staff members can send an email to wellbeingmelton@meltonsc.vic.edu.au or call the school on 9743 3322 to talk to wellbeing team. 

The program’s consent and confidentiality policy was developed in consultation with experts including: the Australian Medical Association, the Australian Education Union, Parents Victoria and the Victorian Association of Secondary School Principals.

Consistent with Australian common law, the program recognises that:

  • any student who wants to see the GP will be permitted to book an appointment
  • the GP will decide whether the young person is mature enough to consent to medical treatment or whether parent/carer consent is needed – as is the case with all GPs in the community
  • the right for a young person’s health information to be kept confidential will be respected unless the disclosure is with the consent of the young person or it is otherwise permitted by law – as is the case with all GP practice in the community

Please follow the link below to access the consent and confidentiality policy.

State Schools' Relief

What is State Schools’ Relief?

State Schools’ Relief (SSR) is a not-for-profit organisation working closely with all government schools across Victoria, assisting and improving the lives of tens of thousands of disadvantaged students each year, and their families, experiencing financial disadvantage with school clothing, shoes and other essential items.

Their practical service ensures that every student, regardless of their background, can attend school in warmth and comfort, with a greater sense of belonging and improved self-esteem, which in turn enhances their educational engagement. In Victorian state schools, 1 in 10 students are supported by State Schools Relief.

 

Melton Secondary College – SSR application process

To enquire whether your family is eligible for State Schools Relief support, please contact the MSC Wellbeing Team on 9743 3322. Please note that some personal information may be required to support your application.

State Schools Relief will subsidise the cost of uniform items and there will be a balance to pay for most items.

Eligible students can apply for the following items per calendar year:

Summer (Terms 1 & 4)

1 x dress

1 x school shorts

Winter (Terms 2 & 3)

1 x winter skirt

1 x long pants

All year (Terms 1 – 4)

2 x white shirts (short or long sleeve).

1 x pair school shoes (lace-up or T-bar).

1 x jumper

1 x PE polo shirt

1 x PE shorts

 

*All other uniform items are unable to be applied for through State Schools Relief.

 

Once an application has been approved by State Schools Relief, the Wellbeing Team will make contact with the primary contact on file for each student regarding the collection of items.

White shirts and school shoes will be delivered to MSC directly, while all other uniform items applied for (and approved) will be issued as a voucher which will be sent directly to the Uniform Shop for use to subsidise the cost of uniform on collection. 

 

Uniform Shop

39 Bakery Square, Melton

Monday – Friday 1pm – 5pm

Saturday 10am – 2pm

Phone: 0492 996 952

For all State Schools’ Relief enquiries, please speak with a member of the MSC Wellbeing Team on 9743 3322.