Director of Student Services Update

Dear Families, Students and Community Members,

The Wellbeing Team have had a very busy year, with many students requiring additional support from our staff in a range of areas. Our Wellbeing Team have provided a range of short term intervention for students who required additional support and assisted students/families with external referrals where longer-term mental health support was required. 

Our team has also implemented a range of Tier 2 group programs, including the Mindfulness Wednesday program, Diversity and Inclusion Group (DIG), RESPECT Group, Breakfast Club, Social Group and worked alongside Kingston Youth Services throughout the year with additional programs. We have also worked closely with Evon from Headspace Bentleigh this year, who supported many of our students on a Friday through the Enhancing Mental Health Support in Schools (EMHSS) program and thank her for all of her valuable support this year! 

We also would like to send a huge thank you to Mel and Michael from the Wellbeing Team who are moving into new roles in 2025, your expertise and amazing support for our Mordialloc Community will be greatly missed and we wish you both all the best in your next chapters!

Moving into 2025, if you child requires wellbeing support assistance, or you would like advice regarding mental health support for your child, parents or carers can send an email to:  wellbeing@mc.vic.edu.au. 

Students are also welcome to self-refer by sending an email to: wellbeing@mc.vic.edu.au, or they can be referred via their Year Level Coordinators (YLCs). 

Mental health support, resources and advice are available for students and families to access over the school holidays:

Two fact sheets for students and families have been developed in 19 different languages to:

• support positive mental health and wellbeing of students
• identify signs students may need mental health support
• access available support.

Information for parents, carers and families

This fact sheet provides tips and resources for parents, carers and families of children and young people in their care over the school holidays. This includes services to reach out to if more support for them is needed

 For parents and carers – Wellbeing support over the school holidays (English) (pdf - 156.17kb)

Information for students 

This fact sheet provides tips on looking after your mental health and wellbeing over the school holidays and information on the services available to you if you need to reach out for support.

For students – Wellbeing support over the school holidays (English) (pdf - 198.48kb)

Further information and factsheets that are developed in 19 different languages please visit https://www.vic.gov.au/mental-health-supports-students-over-school-holidays

Local mental health supports for students and families:

Kingston Youth Services (located opposite Mordialloc Station) offer 1:1 counselling support, a drop in at Platform 81 Hangout on Friday afternoons and social groups including the YS Art Club, Cook Bake Create, Queer in Kingston (QIK), Pride Connect and YA Chat:https://www.kingstonyouth.org.au/Home

https://www.kingstonyouth.org.au/support/mental-health/youth-counselling-services

https://www.kingstonyouth.org.au/get-involved/social-groups

We also hold a partnership with Headspace Bentleigh (located next to Moorabbin station):

https://headspace.org.au/headspace-centres/bentleigh/

Headspace offer 1:1 support for students, sessions are either bulk billed or on a sliding scale, depending on family income. Headspace Bentleigh supports young people aged 12-25 who can access qualified mental health professionals, youth-friendly GPs, drug and alcohol counsellors, vocational service providers and the specialist early psychosis program.

E-Headspace: https://headspace.org.au/online-and-phone-support/Headspace has a range of ways to support you online or by phone. You can get support for your mental health by simply creating a headspace account. Chat with a clinician, we are open 9am – 1am (Melbourne time) 7 days a week for a 1-on-1 chat with a trained clinician. It’s a confidential, free and a safe space to talk about what’s going on.

Kids Help Line: https://kidshelpline.com.au/Kids Helpline is Australia’s only free (even from a mobile), confidential 24/7 online and phone counselling service for young people aged 5 to 25. Qualified counsellors at Kids Helpline are available anytime and for any reason.

Financial and family based supports over the holidays:

Chelsea Community Support Services:https://www.mycommunitylife.com.au/Clubs/Chelsea-Community-Support-Services

Chelsea Community Support Services provides information, support and financial relief to struggling individuals and families in the area. We use community development principles to inform and support people to manage their low incomes and access all available schemes (Centrepay, Utilities payment plans , No Interest Loans). We believe in providing a hand up rather than a hand out although there are times when people in crisis need a food voucher and/or food from our pantry (through Foodbank Victoria and in partnership with Pantry 5000).

Frankston Community Support: https://www.frankston.net/

Community Support Frankston Inc (CSF) is a not-for-profit community support agency that provides services, including emergency food, grocery vouchers, help with utility bills, referrals and advocacy, for people who live or work in the Frankston LGA.

Bayside Community Information and Support Services (BayCISS): https://www.mycommunitylife.com.au/Community/Bayside-Community-Information-and-Support-Services-BayCISS

BayCISS is a drop in service providing assistance to members of the community in times of need or crisis.  We provide a safe, non-judgemental, impartial and supportive environment for people to come for assistance.  Forms of assistance available include food, bills and budget assistance, legal advice, tax help, family counselling, occasional child care and neighbourhood house programs, casework, education support program and information and advocacy.

Orange Door: https://www.orangedoor.vic.gov.au/support-families

We work with all types of families and support can be tailored to meet the diverse needs of you and your family members. All families can experience difficult times and sometimes need extra help and support for a range of reasons. We can help if: you are worried about the wellbeing and/or development of your child(ren) or young people. your family needs help to get through stressful times, which may be caused by a range of reasons including separation, mental health, grief, drug and alcohol abuse, financial worries, illness or living with a disability, you need extra help managing the behaviour of your child(ren) or young people, someone at home is making you, your children or young people, or another family member feel unsafe or afraid or you have concerns for a vulnerable child or young person in your community.

Sarah Letho

Director of Student Services