Welcome back to Term 3. We hope that you all had a wonderful holiday break and are feeling refreshed.

Kerri Haworth

Director of Wellbeing

Meet the Semester 2 Wellbeing Team

Kerri Haworth Nella Foley Nicole Huang Donna Hurst

Director of Mental Health Counsellor Counsellor

Wellbeing Practitioner

Daniel Ferdinands Jane O'Callaghan Zee Lim Jade Duran

Youth Engagement Youth Worker Provisional Provisional

Officer Les Twentyman Psychologist Psychologist

Foundation

We are also supporting the following tertiary students to complete their placement hours for their various courses being undertaken through numerous universities and institutes which includes, but not limited to, Masters of Counselling. Chelt.Sec’s support of their placements ensures that there is a continued and sustained growth of qualified professionals entering the field of mental health support work. Their contribution to the team and their support of our students is highly valued.

Jackie Teese Ronald Zhang Tongli Chen Doris Dai

Michaela Liu Glenda Li Aarti Srivastava Harry Li

Siya Narayan Jo Karaoglan Julieta Rosales

We have built a partnership with the Institute for Social Neuroscience who are affiliated with the Danny Frawley Centre and work closely with the St Kilda Football Club. Through this partnership we are hosting two of their provisional psychologists to complete their placement. What this means is that we have onsite psychologists that can provide free psychological services to our students during school hours. These services are strictly limited and only by referral from the Director of Wellbeing in consultation with the relevant Subschool Director and Brooke Matthews. A discussion will then take place with the student and their family to determine whether the service is appropriate for them. There are no direct referrals from parents or students to the services at school.

Alternatively, if you feel your young person would benefit from sessions with a psychologist, low-cost services are also provided directly by ISN at the Danny Frawley Centre for families who would like to liaise directly with them. They can also perform cognitive testing at a very low and capped fee. The Institute can be contacted by phone 9008 1616.

ISN's cognitive behavioral therapy for ADHD Groups are starting soon...

ADHD For Adults Group - offered via Telehealth or in person at our Clinics in Kew, Moorabbin, Bundoora and Sydney CBD.

This group helps you to have a clearer understanding of what ADHD is, what it means for you, and how it impacts on your day-to-day life. You will learn practical strategies and skills to assist with focussing attention, time management and completing tasks.

Run by psychologist Harry Morris

KEW CLINIC LOCATION

STARTS: Monday 29th July 2024, 4.30-6.30pm (4 week group running for 2 hours)

$95 per session (Medicare rebate of $66.65 available per session with GP referral)

ONLINE GROUP

STARTS: Tuesday 30th July 2024, 2.30-4.30pm (4 week group running for 2 hours)

$95 per session (Medicare rebate of $66.65 available per session with GP referral)

What's happening in Wellbeing for Term 3?

Year 7

Social Connection Group has been developed to support students transitioning into Secondary School. This will be run by Carly Schreiber (Secondary School Nurse – School Nursing Program/Partnership Nurse). The program is designed for a small group of 10 students and will run for one period per fortnight on a Wednesday, for a total of five sessions during Term 3 2024. The program goals are:

Enhance social and psychosocial functioning for students in Year 7.
Help students to understand stress and how this feels in the body.
Learn healthy coping strategies for stress management.
Assist students with identifying appropriate and inappropriate social behaviours, and positive friendships.
Help increase emotional regulation and improve communication skills through activities and group discussion
Increase empathy based on improved social skills
Increase friendships and therefore reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.

Year 8

29 July - Courage to Care Victoria - Upstander Program. In this workshop, students learn about the dangers of racism, discrimination, anti-semitism, and bystander behaviour.

Year 9

29 July - Felstead Education - Power Nutrition. Power Nutrition takes students beyond the general dietary messages they have previously received and focuses on empowering them to make positive food choices to:

optimise their academic performance
better manage stress
strengthen their immune system
build their ability to focus and concentrate
have more energy
sleep better
enhance their mental health

Students will leave the program with a real understanding of the role food and nutrition plays in their ability to succeed. The students will take part in a critical thinking activity on evaluating the ingredients lists on food packaging to determine whether something was representative of what it was advertising, e.g. Helga’s Spinach and Herb wraps only contain 1% spinach. They will understand how different nutrients are broken down to affect concentration levels, stress and their ability to relax, and will leave the session feeling confident in their ability to make the best dietary choices that will see them achieve their full potential.

Year 11

12 August - batyr - Stressed Out. 'Stressed Out?' focuses on coping with stress and anxiety. It delves into when anxious feelings are beneficial and provides coping strategies. Lived Experience Storytellers share personal insights, equipping students to navigate academic and social pressures.

Year 12

15 July - batyr - Future Proof. 'Future Proof!' prepares students to support and maintain their mental health and navigate life beyond school. This program prepares students to cope with change and instill confidence in tackling future challenges.

Throughout the term - the Wellbeing team will meet with Year 12 students for a check in to monitor stress levels and provide tips and strategies in the areas of study habits, time management, managing stress, and remind them of the importance of self-care. They will be provided with a ‘Survival Tips for Year 12’ brochure which will support them as they navigate the final stages of Year 12 leading into their end of year exams.

Various Year Levels

Through our partnership with the Institute for Social Neuroscience (ISN), we will be able to provide the following programs to small groups of students that will run for four sessions over four weeks during Pastoral Care:

ADHD for Teens; CBT for Anxiety; Social Skills for ASD; and Skills for Performance (Year 11 VM students).

Two members of our team are currently doing some professional development through a program called Secret Agent Society. The program will then be delivered to eight ‘cadets’ which will upskill those young people with ASD to learn to decode how they and others feel and behave. During their ‘Cadet Club Meetings’ they will collect secret codes and gadgets and be given special missions to practice using their new ‘spy skills’ at home, school and play. See here for more information Secret Agent Society. This is a research backed program endorsed by the Department of Education.

Awareness Days

Wear It Purple Day - 30 August

RU Ok? Day - 12 September

Website usability testers needed!

We are recruiting participants for a round of usability testing - this time for our new Youth Services website that is being developed! All selected testers will receive a $50 gift card!

What's involved?

All you need to be involved is a device (desktop, laptop, or mobile device), stable internet connection, and a quiet indoor space. You will be given a set of tasks to complete and be required to 'think aloud' as you complete them so we can see what works well and what needs improving. Testing takes approximately one hour and will be recorded.

Register Your Interest here.

Please note: Registrations close at 11:59pm on Sunday 28 July. Registration does not guarantee selection.

Get a $50 gift card

All registered candidates will be contacted and notified of their selection in the week starting Monday 5 August. If you are selected and participate in the usability test, you will receive a $50 gift card within four weeks of completing the testing. If you are not selected for this round of testing, we may still contact you for future usability tests to see if you are available.

Questions? Don't hesitate to contact the Youth Services team on 1300 369 436.

Kingston Youth Services - Parent Information Night

Fiona Sanford, CEO, Flourish Journey

Wellbeing Contact Form

Contact our Cheltenham Secondary College Wellbeing team directly with any concerns or issues and one of the team will get back to you. The form can be accessed here.

Helpful Contacts

Headspace

http://www.headspace.org.au/

Headspace Centres can be a one-stop shop for all young people who just need some help with everyday stuff or wellbeing and physical health.

Kids Helpline

https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Kids Helpline is across Australia, it is free, private and confidential 24/7. Mainly for young people aged 5 to age 25.

Call them on.. 1800 55 1800

Lifeline

https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Provides all Australians everywhere experiencing a personal crisis allowing 24-hour support. Call them on.. 13 11 14

Beyond Blue

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Provides information and support which helps tackle head-on the effects of mental health issues no matter where or what age.

Call them on.. 1300 22 4636

Parentline

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/serviceprofiles/parentline-service

Fantastic service for parents and carers of young children from a few days of age all the way up to 18-year-olds. This service offers counselling and support which is confidential and anonymous on all issues around parenting. Call them on...13 22 89.

Community News

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