Wellbeing Team

 Role Descriptions

These role descriptions are to detail the Wellbeing roles and responsibilities of positions within the College that are attached to specific, permanent roles

Mental Health Practitioner

Role: The Mental Health Practitioner is responsible for counselling students and developing action plans for individual cases. She can assist families to access appropriate referral to local agencies and provides advice to staff on wellbeing issues and concerns. 

Responsibilities include but are not restricted to the following: 

• Provision of direct counselling to students and other early intervention strategies
• Coordinating support for students with more complex needs
•  Developing support plans based on their learning behaviours and needs
• Supporting and assisting with the facilitation of the programs
• Providing resources to support staff with the learning needs of students
• Liaising with families and external agencies to support the learning of students'

• Other duties as required by the Principal

Reports to:  Wellbeing Coordinator

Psychologist

Role: The psychologist is responsible for counselling and support of at-risk students, administering relevant assessments, consultation with teaching staff, and liaising with families and external communities.  

Responsibilities include but are not restricted to the following: 

• Evidence-based counselling and therapeutic interventions for at-risk students 
• Supporting with behaviour management, including making behaviour support plans
• Completing relevant psychometric assessments e.g. cognitive, academic, behavioural screeners
• Supporting with school funding applications
• Developing the capacity of staff through individual supports and professional learning
• Liaising with external agencies to support students and families and make appropriate referrals as required
• Supporting the work of the Student Engagement Team
• Other duties as required by the Principal within the context of psychological competencies

Reports to:  Wellbeing Coordinator

Adolescent Health Nurse

Role: The Secondary School Nursing Program aims to support the health and wellbeing of secondary school students with a focus on health promotion and primary prevention to improve student health, wellbeing and learning outcomes. The SSN works collaboratively with students, teachers, wellbeing staff, school leadership and school communities to build capability and improve health outcomes.’ 

• make primary health care more accessible to students
• assist young people to identify and address any health problems early

Responsibilities include but are not restricted to the following: 

• Providing medical advice and primary health care for students and providing individual support as required
• Referring students and families to external agencies 
• Working collaboratively with the wellbeing team and staff to support promotion of the service and enhance student participation
• Supporting students through classroom  and small group educational sessions 
• Liaising with families and Health professionals to promote health education
• Supporting the work of the Student Engagement Team 
• Capacity Building  of staff through provision of education and resources

• Other duties as required by the Principal within the context of the AHN role

Doctor - Doctors in Schools Program

Role: This initiative funds general practitioners (GPs) to attend government secondary schools up to one day a week. The GPs provide medical advice and health care to those students most in need.

The objectives of the program are to:

• make primary health care more accessible to students
• assist young people to identify and address any health problems early
• reduce the pressure on working parents.

Responsibilities include but are not restricted to the following: 

• Providing medical advice and primary health care for students 
• Working collaboratively with the wellbeing team and staff to support promotion of the service and enhance student participation 

• Other duties as required by the Principal

Reports to:  Wellbeing Coordinator

Headspace Liaison

Role: The Headspace Liaison will plan a whole school approach focusing on positive mental health promotion, prevention of poor mental health and early intervention for students experiencing difficulties.  They can support schools to: 

• prepare your school community to be ready should a death by suicide occur 
• guide your school on how to support a young person at risk of suicide 
• guide your school response to a death by suicide and the subsequent recovery for the community. 

Responsibilities include but are not restricted to the following: 

• Providing mental health support for students
• Link students and families with further supports provided at headspace (Groups, Vocational Support, Family Support, AOD support, GP + Nurse)
• Working collaboratively with the wellbeing team and staff to support promotion of the service and enhance student wellbeing

Reports to:  Wellbeing Coordinator

Youth Participation Officer

Role: The Youth Participation Office is responsible for fostering connections between the college and the community by utilising the support and resources provided by the Merri-bek Council. 

Responsibilities include but are not restricted to the following: 

• Support the planning, development and implementation of lunch time and recess activities

• Consult and engage students in the planning and delivery of school wide social awareness activities and programs.

• Facilitating school and student connection to wider community-based support services, spaces and programs and relevant youth events, and activities.

• Promoting and developing social awareness
• Supporting the work of the SEWBT

• Other duties as required by the Principal

Reports to:  Wellbeing Coordinator