Mental Health in Primary School

Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) is a framework being expanded to all government primary schools across Victoria in recognition of the important role schools play in supporting the mental health and wellbeing of children and young people. The framework is reinforced by evidence-based tools and professional development from the University of Melbourne to support schools to assess their unique needs and create a whole school approach.

For Solway this involves a multi-tiered system approach that:

Builds the capacity of school staff, in particular classroom teachers, to identify and support students with mental health concerns in the classroom.
Creates clear referral pathways internally (within school) and externally (to community services) for students identified as requiring further mental health assessment and support.
Coordinates targeted mental health support for students by working with regional staff, school wellbeing and leadership teams, teachers, parents/carers and external organisations.
Advocate for student voice and agency in their wellbeing and mental health needs.

Part of the model is for Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders (MHWLs) to complete the required training and take on the responsibility to:

Build staff capacity to support student mental health through development and delivery of professional learning and support.
Plan and implement a whole school approach.
Support the creation of clear care pathways.
Support teachers to implement evidence-based strategies and wellbeing supports.
Work to enhance mental health literacy across the school community.

Find out more about the program here:

Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS)

Every eligible government and low fee non-government primary school is funded to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.

www.vic.gov.au

The wellbeing of our students at SPS has always been a priority for teachers and families.

Some examples of the wellbeing work we have and will continue to undertake include:

School Wide Positive Behaviour Supports
Resilience Rights and Respectful Relationships,
Positive Classroom Management Strategies
Adding Friendology lessons
Partnering with Deakin University to place student counsellors
Hosting Student Support Group Meetings
Disability Inclusion Profile applications

Currently this work is being led by Sarah Watkins in her role as Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader and Maddie Muir’s role as Wellbeing and Engagement Leader across the school.

If you have any questions, please reach out to Sarah or Maddie for more information.

URSTRONG AT SOLWAY

Next semester, we will begin implementing URSTRONG’s whole-school friendship strategy to support students in developing positive, healthy friendships.

URSTRONG’s whole-school friendship strategy has improved the social climate in schools around the world, connecting over a million kids, parents, and teachers with a common language of friendship. We are proud to be a URSTRONG School and are committed to empowering your children with friendship skills. Below you can find some extra information about the program, as well as the URSTRONG Glossary, so you can gain an understanding of the language we’ll be using with students.You are invited to take advantage of a FREE Parent Membership to access hundreds of resources – including an 8 session video series. This will allow you to learn the same language & strategies that will be taught in the classroom through the Friendology 101 curriculum. We hope that, as a URSTRONG Family, you will reinforce the important messages of empowerment, self-compassion, & kindness at home.

As a next step, we would recommend:

We believe that empowering our students with these skills will create a culture of kindness at our school and we hope that, together, we can support your children to have healthy, feel-good friendships.

Maddie Muir

Year 3 Teacher

Wellbeing & Engagement Leader

Solway Primary School Newsletter

Issue 7 · 04 Jun 2026

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