Reflecting on an Inspiring Year: Growth, Resilience, and Connection in 2024

As 2024 draws to a close, the Wellbeing Team takes a moment to celebrate an incredible year of connection, growth, and resilience. This year has been a testament to the strength and resilience of our school community, and it has been a privilege to support and walk alongside students and staff on this journey.

Throughout the year, we’ve witnessed our students grow in confidence and resilience. From embracing new challenges to building stronger connections with their peers and teachers; each milestone has been a source of inspiration. These moments remind us why we are so passionate about our work and deepen our commitment to fostering a school environment where everyone feels supported, valued, and empowered to thrive.

A special congratulations goes to our graduating Year 12 students. Your hard work, determination, and perseverance have brought you to the end of a significant chapter in your lives. We are excited for what lies ahead for you. Whether you are pursuing further education, joining the workforce, or exploring other pathways, we have no doubt you will approach your future with the same dedication and resilience you’ve shown this year. We wish you success and fulfillment in all your future endeavours.

To our incredible staff: Thank you for being the backbone of our school community. Your unwavering commitment to student wellbeing has made a profound impact on our students’ lives. Through your support, encouragement, and dedication, you’ve helped create a nurturing environment where students can flourish academically, socially, and emotionally. Your efforts are deeply appreciated, and we couldn’t do this without you.

As we look toward 2025, we are filled with excitement and anticipation for what’s to come. The Wellbeing Team is already planning a range of initiatives and programs designed to further enhance our students’ and staff’s wellbeing. These will include workshops, events, and collaborative opportunities that aim to build resilience, foster connection, and promote a strong sense of belonging across our school.

We encourage everyone; students, staff, and families to share your ideas with us. Your insights and suggestions play a vital role in shaping our wellbeing initiatives. Together, we can create experiences that truly meet the needs of our diverse school community. Keep an eye on Compass for updates about upcoming events and opportunities to get involved. By working together, we can continue to create a supportive, inclusive, and thriving environment for all.

Finally, we want to wish everyone a safe, restful, and joyful holiday season. Take time to unwind, recharge, and spend time with loved ones. Thank you for being part of a remarkable year. We look forward to reconnecting with you all in 2025.

School Connections to Community Grows in Support

The Wellbeing Team at WHSC are embarking on a partnership with Crossway Life Care next year to give all our students a little more support they may need during school hours. Helen Etueni from Lifecare was very generous and donated 10 Big Boxes of Kindness to some of our students’ families to help make their Christmas extra special. The Wellbeing Team are hoping to continue this partnership with Crossway Life Care and provide students with a fresh supply of fruit and bread as needed.

With more community connections, the Wellbeing team hope to grow and support students in any way we can.

We are keen to initiate clubs for students to join and learn new skills, collaborate and make friends.

The Clubs in the pipelines are Gardening Club and Tinker Club, which is primarily a hands-on activity where students disassemble objects and possibly make things out of the parts. If you are interested in helping out these clubs, please contact the school for more information on how you can get involved. We hope to expand the range of clubs next year, so keep a look out for them in the Newsletters. If you want to get involved but you don’t have time, you can help by donating equipment, materials, tools, plants or passing on contacts that may be useful. Please help us grow our Community Connections.

Looking After Yourself Over the Holidays

As we enter the final stretch of the school year, the last few weeks can be extremely stressful. It is important to be conscious about your mental health and self-care. Here are some tips to look after your mental health:

Eat well and exercise regularly
Get enough sleep
Set aside some time each day to relax
Put time into activities and relationships that make you feel good
Set yourself short and long-term goals to look forward to
Try to deal with problems sooner rather than letting them build up (It OK to ask for help!)
Set boundaries around the usage of technology and social media
Be aware of how drugs and alcohol can affect your mental health
Connect with your family, friends and community.

For further tools and tips:

Visit headspace and explore tips on a healthy headspace including their Health headspace action plan
Learn about positive mindsets, building your mental wellbeing and building a healthy relationship with drugs and alcohol at ReachOut.

Should you or a loved one require support outside of school hours, see below for list of local and national support services.

Useful Resources for Students and Families

Headspace: 24/7 phone counselling service for 12 to 25 year old’s.

P: 1800 650 890

www.headspace.org.au

E-Headspace: 24/7 online counselling service for 12 to 25-year old’s.

www.eheadspace.org.au

Beyondblue: 24-hour Phone and online counselling for mental health.

P: 1300 22 46 36

www.beyondblue.org.au

Beyondblue also have a series of podcasts on various topics. 

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/get-support/not-alone

Lifeline: 24-hour phone crisis support and suicide prevention services.

P: 131 114

www.lifeline.org.au/get-help/online-services/crisis-chat

Kids Help Line: 24/7 free phone and online counselling for 13 to 25-year old’s.

P: 1800 55 1800

www.kidshelpline.com.au

Q-Life/Switchboard: Free Online and Phone Counselling, information and advice LGBTIQ peer support and referral for people wanting to talk about sexuality, identity, gender.

P: 1800 184 527

www.qlife.org.au/resources/chat

VicHealth: Health promotion enabling people to increase control and over and improve health. Physical and Wellbeing activities: https://www.vichealth.vic.gov.au

5 Ways to Wellbeing: Introducing 5 ways to improve your psychological and emotional health: https://5waystowellbeing.org.au/

1800 RESPECT: 24/7 free online and telephone counselling for Family Violence Affected Family Members.

P: 1800 737 732

www.1800respect.org.au

Men’s Line: 24/7 Support, referrals and counselling for men over the phone and online.

P: 1300 78 99 78

www.mensline.org.au

Suicide Call back Line: 24/7 Phone counselling, online counselling and Video Chat.

P: 1300 659 467

www.suicidecallback.org.au

Parent Line: State wide telephone counselling and support service for all Victorian parents and carers of children from 0-18 years. Experienced social workers, psychologists and family therapists can give families counselling and information around a wide range of parenting issues.

P: 13 22 89

W: Parent Line Link

Black Dog Institute provides a free online resilience course – Mind Strength - for 14 to 16 years, as well as their parents / carers. 

This site also provides information posters – one for students and the other for parents: https://www.blackdoginstitute.org.au/education-services/schools/school-resources/mindstrength/

Blokes Psychology has offices based in Scoresby.  They are a unique service as their primary target client group are males from the age of 5 onwards – they also work with people who want to learn how to support and communicate with the males in their life:

https://blokespsychology.com.au

The Team

Celine Tsang-Student Wellbeing Leader/Counsellor

Celine.Tsang@education.vic.gov.au 

Fosia Mohamud-Mental Health Practitioner

Fosia.Mohamud@education.vic.gov.au 

Madeline Mitchell- Art Therapist/Counsellor

Madeleine.Mitchell2@education.vic.gov.au

Annette Paterson- PSD Coordinator (Program for Students with Disabilities)

Annette.Paterson@education.vic.gov.au

WHSC Newsletter

Respect | Excellence | Creativity

Issue 17 · 12 Dec 2024

In this issue