Wellbeing Update

Caitlin Ridgeway

Student Wellbeing Co-ordinator

Amy Dyer

Mental Health Practitioner

Term 2 has been an enriching and supportive time across our school community, with a range of impactful programs delivered to teaching staff, parents, and students.

Our dedicated teaching staff continued their professional development through the SAFEMinds training, which focuses on early intervention strategies and practical approaches to identifying and responding to emerging mental health challenges in young people. To strengthen this knowledge, many staff also completed Youth Mental Health First Aid refresher courses, updating their accreditation and ensuring they are equipped with the most current, evidence-based strategies to confidently support students navigating mental health difficulties.

For students, targeted wellbeing initiatives were offered throughout the term. Year 12 students had the opportunity to participate in the ‘Study Without Stress’ program—an opt-in, evidence-based series that addresses the unique pressures of completing VCE. This program encouraged students to explore their own experiences with stress, and helped them build practical skills to manage challenges such as anxiety, perfectionism, procrastination, and effective time management. Students were empowered with tools to foster resilience, self-awareness, and healthy study habits.

Additionally, a group of Year 8 and 9 students engaged in a dynamic and affirming Flourish Workshop, designed to promote self-empowerment, personal growth, and social connection. Through guided reflection and group activities, students reported feeling genuinely seen, heard, and supported. Feedback highlighted a sense of increased belonging, with feedback from participants sharing they felt “less alone” and more connected to their peers.

Next term we will begin to roll out our Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) program with our Year 8 students. tMHFA is a skills-based training program designed to teach adolescents how to identify, understand, and respond to mental health challenges in their peers. The program empowers young people with the knowledge and confidence to recognise signs of mental distress and to offer appropriate initial support.