Wellbeing News

Acknowledgement of Country

Lyndale Secondary College respectfully acknowledges the Bunurong People of the Kulin Nation, the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we learn, work and come together. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples in our community. We honour their rich cultures, ongoing connections to Country and deep commitment to education, storytelling and community life.

Wellbeing & Inclusion – End of Year Message

As we come to the end of another busy and rewarding year, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to our amazing Wellbeing and Inclusion team. Their tireless commitment to supporting our students, families, and wider school community has been nothing short of extraordinary. Every day, they show compassion, dedication and professionalism, and we could not be prouder of the work they do.

This year we celebrated the successful launch of the Lyndale Community Pantry, a wonderful food-relief initiative that has grown far beyond its original purpose. It has become a place of genuine social connection, where families come together during our monthly morning teas to share stories, support one another and strengthen our community bonds.

It is an absolute privilege to share in your family’s journey as we work together to provide a safe, welcoming and supportive educational experience for every young person at Lyndale. We know it takes a collective effort to raise healthy, resilient and confident teens, and we are always here to help wherever we can.

Our Wellbeing Team has continued to provide a broad range of services for students, while also reaching out to families through food-hamper deliveries, welfare library loans, and warm referrals to external support services.

Our Inclusion Team has likewise worked tirelessly throughout the year, supporting students across all areas of learning, engagement and wellbeing. Their work is grounded in care, patience, and deep respect for every learner, and the impact of their efforts is felt across our whole school.

We are also grateful for the ongoing support of our Doctors in Schools Program, which has been a valuable resource for students throughout the year. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Dr Sam for her time, care and contribution to our school community, and we wish her all the very best in her next role.

As part of our commitment to the Marrung Aboriginal Education Plan, we continue to honour and celebrate Treaty, reflect on the long struggle for recognition by Victoria’s First Nations peoples, and strengthen our work towards self-determination in education across all areas of school life here at Lyndale.

To borrow the words of Nelson Mandela: “A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.”

As we look ahead to 2026, we are excited to continue working in partnership with our richly diverse school community, strengthening the programs and connections that help our young people thrive.

Warm regards, Michelle Lewis

Assistant Principal Inclusion, Wellbeing and Community Connections

SCLO Wrap Up

SCLO has supported 70 students of African heritage at LSC including but not limited to one-on-one support, SSG support, uniform and learning material support, as well as parent support and engagement.

Attendance has improved this year with 86% of the students with an attendance of 80% and above, and 98% of students with an attendance of 70 and above.

Several programs run for the whole school including the “I belong” – Upstander workshop by Eric Agyeman, Two Anti racism training sessions one of which included Sports figures such as Elaine Grigg from Western Bulldogs WFC, and Melbourne Victory FC players and coaches with One Love Australia. Some tailored programs Healthy Teens and Boys to Noblemen were run for small groups of about 20 students in Term 2&3.

Community Engagement especially with parents was fostered through the Community Pantry with support from Refugee Education Support Program (RESP) run by CMY in collaboration with Dandenong Community Learning Centre. Several families accessed fresh produce and dry foods once a month. This grew significantly from 7 families to 35 families. Furthermore, a few parents attended Parent Teacher Conferences in Semester 1 &2 that had previously never attended, including students that were once worried about attending the same.

This year has been busy with a new Homework club that started in Term 2 and has successfully assisted students with homework and running workshops on Journaling, Writing short stories, Black Australian stories of success and Self-awareness. They have also run holiday programs in Term 2, 3 and will also be running in the last week of the holidays.

With the help of the Assistant Principal, four students in Year 11 were successful in acquiring the Kids under Cover Scholarship from the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing. This will go a long way in supporting the families with all school needs in their final two years of education.

Wellbeing Wrap Up

As we come to the close of another wonderful year at Lyndale Secondary College, the Wellbeing team would like to thank all our students and families for their enthusiasm, commitment, and ongoing involvement. Throughout the year, we delivered a range of programs designed to support and celebrate student wellbeing.

The Le Mana Pasifika Program supported Māori and Pasifika students by fostering wellbeing, cultural identity, leadership, and engagement. Our International Student Program helped international students connect with the local community and build a strong sense of belonging, while the Muslim Girls Group program provided a safe and supportive space that promoted connection, confidence, and wellbeing.

We also delivered the KOMAK Program, which promotes respect, inclusivity, and positive relationships between Afghan students, the school, and the wider community. We partnered with Consent Labs to deliver workshops on consent, boundaries, and respectful relationships, supporting a consistent culture of safety and awareness. The Blue EDGE Program ran across two terms and provided interactive workshops, physical activities, and life-skills sessions to build resilience, confidence, and positive decision-making.

Students also explored creativity through the ArtBus Program, alongside valuable presentations from Dolly’s Dream, Red Frogs, and Reach.

This year, we recognised R U OK? Day, Wear it Purple Day, IDAHOBIT Day, and Headspace National Wellbeing Day, promoting care, inclusion, respect, and positive mental health across our school community.

As we enjoy the holiday break, we encourage anyone who may be struggling to reach out for support. If you’re feeling worried, stressed, or simply need someone to talk to over the school holidays, the following services are available:

Lifeline: 13 11 14 – 24/7 telephone support
Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800 – phone or online counselling for ages 5–25
Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 – mental health support
Headspace: 1800 650 890 – support for young people aged 12–25
Parentline Victoria: 13 22 89 – support for parents and carers
eheadspace: https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/ – online chat, email, or video support
ReachOut: https://au.reachout.com/ – mental health information and peer support

In an emergency, please call 000.

Remember, it’s okay to ask for help — your wellbeing matters.

We wish all our students and families a restful and safe holiday break and look forward to welcoming you back next year for another fantastic year of learning, growth, and wellbeing.

Child Safety Processes: Important information for all members of our school community.

Under Victorian law, all registered teachers, school principals, early childhood educators, youth workers, out-of-school-hours care staff, medical professionals, nurses, police officers, and psychologists are mandatory reporters. This applies across all school settings, government, Catholic, and independent, and includes Department of Education and Training (DET) and non-DET staff.

Mandatory reporters are legally required to report any incident, disclosure, or reasonable suspicion of child abuse or harm, including physical, emotional, sexual abuse, or neglect. These responsibilities apply regardless of when or where the concern arises.

Mandatory reporting is not about making judgments or accusations. It is a vital safeguard that ensures concerns are passed on to the appropriate authorities who are trained to investigate and support families when needed. Our shared goal is to protect the rights, safety, and wellbeing of every child and, wherever possible, to work in respectful partnership with families.

Importantly, failure to report a known or suspected incident of abuse is a criminal offence under the Children, Youth and Families Act 2005 (Vic).

Additionally, all adults in Victoria, regardless of their profession, have a legal obligation under the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) to act if they know or suspect that a child is being sexually abused. This includes the Failure to Disclose and Failure to Protect offences, which apply beyond the scope of mandatory reporting.

Finally, if you are planning to volunteer at school be it whether for excursions, classroom help, or events, you must hold a Volunteer Working with Children Check (WWCC).

This is a requirement under Victorian law and part of our school’s commitment to upholding child safety standards.

✅ It’s free for volunteers

✅ It’s quick and easy to apply

✅ It helps us meet our legal obligations and keep everyone safe.

Apply here: https://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au