Smile Squad

The Smile Squad team from RFDS are coming to our school in August and September.

Smile Squad is the Victorian Government free school dental program. This means ALL students can get a free dental check-up, preventive services, and treatment at school.

How to access free dental care

We need your consent before we can provide services. Consent is usually provided by a

parent or guardian.

Sign up to Smile Squad at: https://bit.ly/smilesquadvic

OR use the below QR code:

Please complete and submit the consent form by 01/08/2024, paper copies will be collected from the office 19/08/2024.

Paper copies of the consent form have been sent home with all primary students. Please contact the school office if you would like to request one for your secondary student. The electronic consent form can be translated into more than 100 languages, and the paper form is currently available in 13 languages.

Do I need to attend my child’s appointment?

No, you do not need to attend your child’s appointment. You can attend if you would like to, and you can take your child to the community dental clinic if you prefer.

Appointments can be arranged before or after school should this be more convenient.

Please keep your phone handy during the Smile Squad visit should the Team need to contact you regarding your child during their visit.

L2P’s Program

The Buloke & Loddon L2P Learner Driver Mentor Program is part of a statewide initiative funded by the Transport Accident Commission (TAC) and managed by Vic Roads. The aim of the program is to reduce the number of driver fatalities by giving learner drivers supervised experience in many different environments and situations, building self-confidence, trust and safety on our roads. The program aims to provide assistance to young people who are facing significant barriers to completing their mandatory 120 hours of supervised on road driving experience through the support of Volunteer Mentors from the community. Young people are matched with fully licensed volunteer mentors and have access to a sponsored vehicle to gain driving experience. L2P is free for eligible young people. To join an L2P Program, you need to:

Be between 16 and 20 years of age
Hold a current learner’s permit, and
Not have access to a vehicle, a supervising driver or both.

To become a volunteer mentor in the L2P program, you need to:

Be over 21 years of age
Hold a current full Victorian drivers licence, and
Meet requirements of the L2P program.

Our driver mentors offer coaching, support and guidance to the learner drivers while they learn the skills required to become safe, fully licensed drivers.

If you would like to apply for this program, please contact Jess McGurk at the College.

Consent

Recently, the Federal Government have launched a new campaign around consent in hope of supporting adults to educate our young people. The newly created website, consent.gov.au, supports parents and carers with advice on engaging young people about consent. This exciting development provides conversation starters and discussion guides to broach the topic of consent with young people as well as guides for talking to other adults.

This article published by the ABC gives a great overview of this new campaign and the research that supports the need for it.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-05-26/consent-parent-conversation-teenagers-sexual-education/103542740?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

ASIST Training

Lifeline Loddon Mallee are delivering a suicide prevention program, 'Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training' (ASIST). This is a two-day workshop, open to anyone aged 16+, that teaches participants to carry out life-saving interventions for people at risk of suicide. The first will be in Charlton and details can be found below:

Date: Wednesday 31st July 2024 & Thursday 1st August 2024

Time: 9:00am-5:00pm

Location: Charlton Park Community Bank Complex

Sign up here

Youth Outreach Recovery Support

Youth Outreach Recovery Support (YORS) is a Mental Health Community Support Service (MHCSS) for young people aged 16-25 years who are experiencing mental health symptoms or significant psychological distress.

Young people can self- refer to this service or with the young person’s consent, referrals can also be made by family members or carers, schools, youth services, GPs, private and public mental health clinicians.

Attached to the newsletter is some further information. If you would like any further information or support in accessing this service please contact Jess McGurk.

Wellbeing Room

The Wellbeing Room continues to be a busy space! We’ve enjoyed sharing lunchtimes with students enjoying Lego, sewing, craft or just a quiet space at the break times.

Community News