Wellbeing Update

INCLUSIVENESS AT LOWANNA COLLEGE

OUR LGBTIQA+ COMMUNITY

Standout Group

The Standout Group is held on Mondays at lunchtime, alternating weeks for Junior (7-8) and Senior (9-12) groups. LGBTQIA+ and ally’s are welcome. See Naomi, our College Nurse, in the Wellbeing Office, for more information.

GENERAL WELLBEING INFORMATION 

SMILE SQUAD

Smile Squad isn’t visiting our school right now, but you can still access this high-quality service, completely free of charge. You can visit Latrobe Community Health Service at their community dental clinic. Please contact the team at any time to book an appointment. Just let them know you would like to book a Smile Squad appointment. Contact the team at:

Latrobe Community Health Service

81/87 Buckley Street Morwell

1800 242 696

The Smile Squad look forward to seeing you soon.

LIVE 4 LIFE 2026 – MOVING FORWARD

As mentioned in our previous newsletter, Lowanna College will continue to lead the important work around the Prevention of Youth Suicide facilitated through the Live 4 Life initiative. This will include more staff being trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid. Other staff who have previously completed this training will complete refresher courses and our Year 8 and 10 students will participate in the Teen Mental Health First Aid training.

We will hold special days to raise awareness for this important topic and others.

WELLBEING TEAM

We are pleased to advise that our new Wellbeing Leader and new Student Counsellor will be commencing in early Term 2! 

Below is a list of our Wellbeing Team staff: 

• Michael Naughton – Mental Health Practitioner / Social Worker
• Donna Garsia – Wellbeing Coordinator / Out of Home Care Support
• Larnia Sobott – Wellbeing Officer
• Glenda Noordam – Chaplain
• Naomi Mock – Secondary School Nurse
• Emily Vernon – Koorie Coordinator
• Chloe Hedges – Koorie Engagement Officer

It is with mixed emotions that we wish our Chaplain Glenda all the best as she finishes up at the end of Term 1 and enters the next stage of her life - retirement! Glenda has been a huge asset at the college and has supported hundreds of students and staff throughout the time she has worked here. We are so lucky to have had Glenda contribute to the lives of our students and staff and we wish her all the best in the future.

EXTERNAL SUPPORTS ONSITE AT LOWANNA:

• Jacob Hardy – Youth Insearch Onsite Support

If you feel your child would benefit from support from any of our team, please do not hesitate to reach out. We are happy to have a discussion with you about the supports we can provide or to discuss external supports available to young people and their families.

ADOLESCENT & FAMILY MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING SUPPORTS

• HEADSPACE, Morwell – 5136 8300 OR  1800 650 890
• LIFELINE – 13 11 14
• LIFELINE TEXT – 0477 131 114 (6pm to midnight)
• KIDS HELPLINE – 1800 551 800
• THE ORANGE DOOR – 1800 319 354
• 1800RESPECT – 1800 737 732 (National Sexual Assault, Domestic Family Violence Counselling Service)

HEADSPACE GROUPS

See attached flyer for more information. 

BREAKFAST CLUB 

A reminder that Breakfast Club is available Monday to Friday from 8am to 8.30am. We encourage students who have not had a bite to eat to come along and get some toast and a hot milo. A healthy breakfast is just the thing we need to help us start the day well. 😊

The Breakfast Club Team are also looking for anyone who would like to volunteer their time to help on the days we provide Breakfast Club. Please let the Wellbeing Team know if you’d like to help. We are also looking for donations of Milo and cheese. Any donations can be given to the General Office or the Wellbeing Team. 

SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

We wish our students and their families a safe school holiday break and look forward to seeing you back on Monday 20 April. For those travelling, stay safe on the roads.

We encourage our students to get a healthy balance of rest, study and exercise during their school holidays, so they come back refreshed and energised for Term 2.