Family Wellbeing

MHiPS Initiative: Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL)

I’d like to take a moment to introduce myself or reintroduce myself to many of you. My name is Katharine Tsoucalas, and I’m excited to step into the role of Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL) this year, working at school from Monday to Wednesday. I’ve been part of the OPS community since 2018, teaching across Year 1 to Year 6, and it’s a privilege to continue supporting our students, families, and staff in this new role.

My position is part of the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative, which takes a whole-school approach to wellbeing. This includes promoting positive mental health, supporting preventative and early intervention strategies, and assisting with the early identification of students who may need additional support. I work closely with staff and families to strengthen wellbeing supports and connect students to appropriate services when needed.

I bring a background in education, psychology, and mental health, holding a Bachelor of Psychology, Bachelor of Business (Human Resources), a Master of Teaching (Primary), and a Graduate Diploma in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. These experiences guide my passion for creating safe, supportive environments where children feel seen, understood, and ready to learn.

I will also be sharing helpful articles, strategies, and insights in our newsletter, and uploading additional resources on Compass for families and staff to access at any time. To support understanding of the MHiPS initiative, I’ve included an informative MHIPS puzzle at the bottom of the page, designed to give more insight into mental health and wellbeing in primary school settings.

If you’d like to learn more about how I can support your child’s wellbeing this year, please feel free to contact me directly at katharine.tsoucalas@education.vic.gov.au, or through your child’s class teacher.

Hey OPS Families, Meet Your School Counsellor!

I'm Ashu, and I'm so excited to be joining the Oakleigh Primary School community as your new Student Counsellor!

A Little About Me

I have a Master of Counselling from Monash University and I love helping kids figure out their feelings. You know those big emotions that can make everything feel overwhelming - whether it's friendship issues, school stress, or just having a tough day? I'm here to help your child learn how to navigate all of that with skills they can use for life. My office is also a safe space for them to work through stressful situations happening at home.

I'll be around on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and my door is always open (well, metaphorically - sometimes literally too!).

What I Care About Most

Every child is different, and every family brings their own unique story and background to our school. I'm big on culturally competent counselling, which is just a fancy way of saying: I see your child for who they are, I respect where they come from, and I'm here to support them in a way that makes sense for your family and culture.

When kids feel understood and have the tools to manage their emotions, everything else gets easier - friendships, learning, even those tricky moments at home. That's what I'm here for.

How This Works

I offer one-on-one sessions, group sessions and fun wellbeing activities. For ongoing counselling, I'll need your permission first (paperwork will be sent home). But if your child needs someone to talk to about something that happened during the day, I can help with that right away.

Want to Explore Counselling for Your Child?

If you'd like to reach out or learn more about how counselling can support your child in the coming year, feel free to reach out to me or through your child’s class teacher or Bron. I'm looking forward to getting to know everyone and supporting the students in their journey at OPS!