WELLBEING

Wellbeing Update

The Wellbeing Team were involved in series of sessions with our Year 12 students on Friday last week to support them in their transition from school and beyond. Topics covered included preparing for exams, choices about what to do after school (courses, jobs) nutrition, sleep, relaxation, where to get support, and legal issues. 

The team also promoted Wear It Purple Day on Friday, celebrating diversity and providing purple cupcakes, jelly beans, balloons and ribbons for students. 

In this newsletter you will find information about a new initiative that provides families who do not have access to NBN at home 12 months free internet service. Please read and take advantage of this offer.

There is also some information about a free session on School Avoidance that should be valuable for parents who are facing this with their students.

Please feel free to contact a member of the Wellbeing team should you have any concerns about your young person.

Regards,

Jenny Eastwood, Chaplain

Term 4 Regional Parenting calendar 

Please see attached the Term 4 Regional Parenting Calendar. This includes articles regarding timetables about education classes available.

SUPPORT YOUR CHILD’S EDUCATION WITH 12 MONTHS FREEINTERNET AT HOME

The Australian Government has established the School Student Broadband Initiative to provide free home internet for one year for up to 30,000 eligible families with school-aged students.

The initiative aims to boost education opportunities. NBN Co is leading the rollout of this initiative across the country.

How the School Student Broadband Initiative can help your child

Children who can access online learning at home as part of their education are more likely to engage in classroom activities. 

Access to fast internet at home can also support children to build their digital skills, learn how to safely use the internet and take part in a world that is more reliant on digital technology.

Eligibility: 

To be eligible, families must:

- have a child living at home enrolled in an Australian school in 2023

- not have an active National Broadband Network internet service at their home (having a mobile internet service does not affect eligibility)

- live in a premises that can access the National Broadband Network through a standard connection. NBN Co will check this for you after you apply

- register interest with your school and complete a consent form to be assessed for eligibility.

How the School Student Broadband Initiative works

If you are eligible, your home internet service will be provided at no cost for one year with a participating internet provider over the National Broadband Network. Each internet provider has its own step-by-step process to get you connected, which may involve you providing identification.

Once you sign up, the internet provider will help you set up your connection. The initiative does notinclude devices such as a computer or tablet. Other members of your household can use the internet service provided through this initiative.

The one-year period will start from the day your service is activated with your chosen provider. At the end of the one-year period, you will not be placed onto a paid service by your internet provider without your consent. The Australian Government is considering options beyond the one-year free period.

How to apply

- Ask your school for a copy of the School Student Broadband Initiative consent form.

- Complete the consent form and return to the school.

- NBN Co will use student address details on the consent form to confirm eligibility.

- If you are eligible, NBN Co will issue a voucher for your family to use to sign up with a participating internet provider. This will be provided to you by your school.

Please note: NBN Co will review the home address for eligibility. No personal information other than your main home address will be shared with NBN Co. Please see the consent form for details about how personal information will be used.

Find out more

For more information about the School Student Broadband Initiative, visit: https://www.infrastructure.gov.au

'Wear It Purple' day

On Friday 25th of August we celebrated Wear It Purple day, the day was about promoting and empowering inclusion. Wear it Purple day activities were held during lunch time, purple cupcakes and purple ribbons were available to students and crafting activities were also available for students to participate in. Wellbeing staff that were apart of the event were dressed in purple wigs and purple accessories to help promote the awareness of the day. Overall the day was a success and staff and students had fun!

Keeping Compass Green

The Engagement and Wellbeing team started the year off on making Compass Green. This

 means acknowledging ‘school wide positive behaviours’ and awarding students with green chronical entries linked to the school values of Community, Courage and Integrity. Points are

 collected across the houses each term. The house that wins will receive a special lunch at the end of the term. Parents/guardians can go onto Compass to see your if your child has received a green chronical entry and chat about what they mean. Each of the year levels celebrate these entries in mentor groups and individual achievements in assemblies. 

Attendance

Daily school attendance is important for young people to succeed in education and to ensure they don’t fall behind both socially and developmentally. Young people who regularly attend school and complete Year 12 or an equivalent qualification, have better health outcomes, better employment outcomes, and higher incomes across their lives.

Our college places great importance in all students being at school on time, every day the school is open for instruction.

We understand that sometimes getting your child to school may be difficult and our college is very happy to work with you to improve your child’s attendance.

If you would like to discuss this further, please contact me on (03) 5277 1177.

Thank you.

Sonia Raschilla, Head of First Aid and Attendance

Our Inclusion Team for 2023

Inclusive Practices Learning Specialist: Shona Scorringe

Shona is in her final year of a Master of Specialist Inclusive Education at Deakin University. She has previously taught English as an Additional Language and low literacy students in the Northern Territory and in China. Shona teaches Literacy in the Vocational Major (formerly VCAL) and is passionate about applied learning. Shona is leading our inclusion team and our transition to the Disability Inclusion reform.

Located in the Year 8/9 Building 

Monday - Friday

Shona.Scorringe@education.vic.gov.au

Inclusion Support: Georgie Barker

Georgie is currently studying a Master of Disability Studies, specialising in Deaf and Hard of Hearing at Macquarie University. She also has a Master of TESOL with a background working with English as an Additional Language and low literacy students. Georgie teaches in our English domain and will be supports our Inclusion team with Student Support Group meetings and developing Individual Education Plans. She is looking forward to working with students to achieve positive learning outcomes.

PSD Coordinator, Inclusion Support: Kerryn Cramp  

Kerryn has worked at Western Heights College for 23 years as an Education Assistant and as our PSD coordinator. She works in the classroom and within the Inclusion team, making referrals for assessments. Kerryn is a valuable member of our team who is passionate about the team she works with and grateful for her colleagues and students.

Located in the MYR Building

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday

Wellbeing Contacts:

Pastoral Care

College Chaplain: Jenny Eastwood 

Located in the Purple/Grey building 

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday

jennifer.eastwood@education.vic.gov.au  

• Pastoral Care: Students, staff, parents
• Loss and Grief 
• Management and Referrals – MHP/TGP
• Mentoring Programs – GROW, RAISE, etc. 

Health Promotion Nurse: Lisa Cooper

Located in the Purple/Grey building

Monday & Tuesday

lisa.cooper@education.vic.gov.au

• Classroom support: sexual health, cyber health, and special programs/activities – Idahobit, diversity, etc. 
• Individual health support for students
• Implements and leads supporting health programs – i.e., ‘Docs and Teens’
• COG & Batforce liaison 
• Staff first aid training and other related professional learning

Mental Health Practitioner: Jordy Morgan

Located in the Admin building

Monday - Friday

Jordan.Morgan@education.vic.gov.au

Jordy has experience working with young people and adults who are experiencing a range of mental health or social difficulties. 

• Counselling support to young people, individually and in group settings
• Support students to connect with external services
• Promote mental health awareness and prevention

Barwon Community Legal Service: Emma Cvitak and Madelaine Landini

Located in the Purple/Grey Building

Mondays & Fridays

whcschoollawyer@barwoncommunitylegal.org.au

• Free and confidential legal help for individual students about common legal issues, including: Family violence or trouble at home; Consent in relationships, sexting and dating; Getting official documents like birth certificates; Issues with Police or Court; Cyberbullying, harassment and online safety; Vaping, Smoking and Partying; Scams; Feeling unsafe; Issues at work; Experiencing any harm; and Fines
• Classroom programs

We are here to help students understand their legal rights and responsibilities. 

Koorie Engagement Support Officer: Sarah Upton

0421 780 718 

Sarah.Upton@education.vic.gov.au 

Sarah is a proud Gunditjmara woman who has been living in beautiful Wadawurrung country for 4 years and has been involved in the education system for several years as a generalist teacher. She has always been passionate about Koorie students achieving high outcomes during their education journey.  Sarah feels fortunate to be working as a Koorie Engagement Support Officer (KESO) within her local Aboriginal community. She is a lifelong learner and firmly believe that education is essential to building solid foundations to empower students and their families have a voice and allow them to make positive independent strong choices to benefit them in the future which will allow them to feel like they can be the best version of themselves and contribute to society in a positive manner. 

Engagement and Wellbeing 

Learning Community Leaders: Marli McCarthy (7), Ben Cook (8), Louise Van Dugteren (9), Roger Conron(10), Claire Sullivan (11), Brett Bullock (12).  

• Supporting students in the relevant community with a focus on attendance, engagement and wellbeing.
• Leading the implementation of SWPBS and Berry Street.
• Contact point with students, families and mentors

WELLBEING SUPPORTS

If you are worried about your child, or any person and their mental health and well-being outside school hours or during weekends you can contact the Barwon Health Mental Health Triage for urgent support 24/7 on 1300 094 187.

Two important messages to promote are that all of us should seek help from others when we feel down or vulnerable and that young people should tell an adult if they are worried about a friend or themselves.

Please find the following helpful numbers and websites to keep us connected and provide the support necessary to maintain positive mental and physical health: 

LOCAL SUPPORTS:

• Headspace Geelong – 5222 6690, www.headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/geelong/
• Bellarine Community Health – 5253 0400, https://www.bch.org.au/services/all-services/youth-services

 GENERAL:

• Lifeline – call 13 11 14 for this free Australia-wide crisis support service which operates 24 hours a day, 7 days per week OR TEXT: 0477 13 11 14 between 6pm – midnight, 7 nights a week
• Kids Help Line – call 1800 55 1800 for free counselling and advice for young people between the ages of five and 25.
• Headspace – eHeadspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds. (Open 9am-1am daily.
• Reachout – visit their website for information, tools and support for young people with mental health issues.
• Alcohol and drug foundation – free health advice for young people on alcohol and drug use, including mental health.
• Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636 https://beyondblue.org.au (Phone support all day, every day. Online support 3pm-midnight every day).
• Suicide Callback Service – 1300 659 467. Phone support all day, every day, and follow-up calls.

Good self-care practices are important in taking care of ourselves and our mental health. Remember, it is ok to ask for help. Take care of yourself, and each other and do not hesitate to reach out to a member of our wellbeing team in our school community if you need some additional support.