Wellbeing & Engagement  

International Women's Day 

Education plays a powerful role in shaping a gender-equal future. On International Women's Day we celebrated the achievements and potential of girls and women everywhere and recommitted to creating opportunities for our talented students to learn, lead and thrive in a world free from gender bias, stereotypes and discrimination. Pictured are some of the amazing students who are currently studying VCE Specialist Maths with us in front of our mural and a map of students who are enrolled with us around Victoria.

Harmony Week 

At CHES, we celebrate the rich diversity that makes our school community vibrant. With students joining us from all around the state and representing a wide range of cultures and backgrounds, we emphasise and support inclusion, respect, and belonging every day. Harmony Week reminded us that inclusion and belonging matters – it helps us feel connected, confident, and proud to contribute to our shared story. Australia’s story of multiculturalism begins with the world’s oldest continuing cultures, and today more than half of Australians were either born overseas or have at least one parent born overseas. That is something we can be proud of. Here at CHES, we are committed to continuing to choose respect over division and inclusion over prejudice, and contributing to an even stronger Australia for everyone.

International Day Against Homophobia, Biphobia, Intersexism, and Transphobia (IDAHOBIT) 

Observed each year on 17 May, IDAHOBIT reminds us that every person deserves to live with dignity, safety and belonging. The 2026 theme, At the Heart of Democracy, highlighted a simple truth: when everyone is respected and included, our communities are stronger. At CHES, we are committed to being a place where every student and staff member feels seen, valued and supported. 

We stand with the global LGBTIQA+ community and against all forms of discrimination, whether they appear in laws, institutions, families, or everyday interactions. To every LGBTQIA+ person in our community: you belong here, exactly as you are. To every ally: your actions matter. By listening, learning, speaking up and creating safe spaces, you help build a kinder and more inclusive world. 

National Reconciliation Week 

At CHES, Reconciliation Week was an opportunity to reflect, learn and continue moving toward a more respectful and united future. Our Indigenous mural stands as an important symbol within our grounds - recognising and celebrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, histories, and voices. Our mural reminds us of the importance of the truth telling, connection and ongoing reconciliation through understanding and education. We acknowledge the strength and resilience of First Nations peoples and reaffirm our commitment to listening, learning, and fostering meaningful reconciliation. This year, we were all in for reconciliation.

Tune-In Tuesdays - CHES Wellbeing Support

Each Tuesday, our Mental Health Practitioner - Meaghan Morley - shares updates, guidance and support for our students through our dedicated Student Wellbeing channel on Teams. 

With a busy semester 2 ahead, we all encourage students to reach out to their base school teachers, their base school wellbeing team, their CHES teachers, or our CHES Mental Health Practitioner for support. Students can also access the support services listed below.

To our students - looking after your mental health is just as important as looking after your physical health. This semester, many of our suggested wellbeing activities will focus on how you're feeling and help you to become more aware of any signs of stress, anxiety, sadness, or overwhelming feelings. If you notice changes in your mood, emotions, or wellbeing, reaching out for support early can make a huge difference and help prevent things from becoming more difficult.

Remember, asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. There are people who care about you and want to support you. Please don't hesitate to reach out, we are here for you and ready to help.  💙

Smiling Minds

We also suggest downloading 'Feeling it' in the Smiling minds app. The final years of school can be a challenging rollercoaster of emotions to navigate so Smiling Minds have developed videos, meditations and activities to help you through and help you learn the skills that promote mental wellbeing and create the habits to thrive. The  website  Feeling It NEW — Smiling Mind has further information that you may find useful.

Meaghan Morley & Louise Nugara (Student Wellbeing)

Privacy Policy

CHES collects and uses student and parent personal information for standard school functions or where permitted by law, as stated in the Department of Education's privacy policy and the our privacy collection notice: https://www.vic.gov.au/schools-privacy-policy 

The CHES Photographing, Filming and Recording Students policy describes how we collect and use photographs, video and recordings of students. The policy also explains when parent consent is required and how it can be provided and withdrawn. 

We ask parents to also review the guidance we provide through the Digital Technologies policy and the Acceptable Use Agreement (both found at https://www.ches.vic.edu.au ) on how we use Learning technologies safely at the school, and what parents can do to further protect their child’s information. If after reviewing the guidance, you have any questions or concerns, please do contact us: ches@education.vic.gov.au or 03 9063 1170.