Child Safety & Wellbeing
Fostering Student Wellbeing
I would like to offer you all a warm welcome to Huntingtower in 2026. I am Raz Sappideen and I am very much looking forward to leading the Wellbeing space at Huntingtower this year. As someone who is passionate about the wellbeing of myself and others, I endeavour to create a wellbeing framework that will benefit all students in their journey by building their capacity for social and emotional learning through Respectful Relationships, Mindfulness, and Positive Education.
Through the work of the Wellbeing Team, Year Level Coordinators, and Mentors, the Extended Mentor Program aims to ensure that kindness and respect is the motivating factor that leads our decision making. Through evidence-based mindfulness and insight practices, we are focusing on equipping our young people with the skills and tools to emotionally regulate during the challenging times that they may face throughout the year.
This work cannot stand alone, and outcomes are bound to be more fruitful if we can work collaboratively around this space by reinforcing some of these positive behaviours at home, such as:
Creating an environment that where your child or children feel safe and supported to have open conversations about their day and any challenges they may be encountering.
Create and maintain positive and well-balanced boundaries around screentime.
Establish healthy habits in regard to diet, sleep, study, exercise, extra-curricular commitments, and rest.
Model and encourage mindfulness practices, resilience, critical thinking skills, and compassion
ACCESSING WELLBEING SUPPORTS AT HT
As mentioned, we have a great team of staff and counsellors working in the wellbeing space at Huntingtower. You child’s mentor teacher is always there to offer immediate support and guidance throughout the year and should be the first point of contact. Additionally, the Year Level Coordinators and I are readily available should you feel the need to discuss your child’s wellbeing needs.
Furthermore, we have a dedicated team of counsellors and a passionate Learning Enrichment Team that are always willing to offer advice and expertise to ensure your child is accessing their unlimited potential.
To further support your family, we encourage you to explore SchoolTV, an invaluable resource that provides evidence-based information on a range of topics related to parenting, mental health, and student wellbeing. From managing stress and building resilience to navigating social media and understanding adolescent development, SchoolTV offers practical strategies and tools for families.
It is an honour and privilege to be leading the Wellbeing Space at Huntingtower in 2026, and I am looking forward to working with this incredible team and school community to provide rich and meaningful experiences for your child. Should you have any questions or would like to know more about the Mentor Program, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s mentor, YLC, or myself via email or contact the school office.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Together, we can make 2026 a meaningful and purposeful year full of growth, understanding, and success.
Mr Raz Sappideen
Head of Wellbeing
Child Safety at Huntingtower
At Huntingtower we are committed to providing a nurturing school environment where our students are safe and feel safe, where their participation is valued, their views respected, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Our child safe policies, strategies and practices are inclusive of the needs of all students. The welfare of each child and young person studying at Huntingtower is the school’s paramount concern. Huntingtower has a zero-tolerance policy for child abuse and is committed to promoting child safety.
Everyone employed or volunteering at Huntingtower has a responsibility to understand the important and specific role they play individually and collectively to ensure a child safe culture in which the wellbeing and safety of all students is at the forefront of all they do and every decision they make. We encourage any student who feels unsafe to contact one of the School’s Child Safety Champions.
Huntingtower’s Child Safety email address for parent and community feedback – ChildSafety@huntingtower.vic.edu.au. We look forward to hearing from you.
Elevate Education
Huntingtower has been working closely with Elevate Education for a number of years and is proud to continue this working relationship. Elevate Education runs a number of webinars, workshops and programs aimed at improving study skills through behavioural change. They are also offering a webinar series directed at how parents can best support their child through school.
You can access and register for this series at: https://go.elevateeducation.com/auparentwebinars
Below are the dates of the webinar series:
How You Can Help Your Child Manage Their Time, 25 February, 6:30-7:30pm (AEDT)
How You Can Make Technology an Ally (& Not the Enemy!), 11 March, 6:30-7:30pm (AEDT)
How You Can Help Improve Your Child's Memory, 25 March, 6:30-7:30pm (AEDT)
School Transitions
Whether it is starting school for the first time, moving up to a higher grade or embarking on a journey through secondary school, there is no doubt that any school transition is a very exciting time for children and parents. It means your children are growing up!
However, transitioning is an ongoing process. It can continue long after students have entered their new environment and may encounter difficulties at a number of different stages. These stressors may appear as anxiety and frustration and result in negative or disruptive behaviours. Such behaviours can become problematic making the transitioning process even more difficult for children and parents.
SchoolTV provides parents with practical strategies to assist their child during the transition process and reduce stress and anxiety levels.
Click on the image above to access resources on School Transitions