If you require urgent mental health care during the holiday break, please contact your GP or any of the following for support:

KIDS HELPLINE LIFELINE BEYOND BLUE PSYCHIATRIC

(24 HOURS) (24 HOURS) (24 HOURS) TRIAGE SERVICE

1800 55 1800 13 11 14 1300 224 636 1300 369 012

You may also contact Headspace or Kingston Youth Services for counselling services.

In case of emergency, please call 000 or attend the Emergency Department of your local hospital.

Transitioning From One Year Level To The Next

Transition can be stressful. It can make you feel a bit anxious and apprehensive. So what can we do about managing and minimising that stress, and making it a more joyful experience?

Recognise that moving is a big thing. It is an event that will serve as a milestone in your life. Milestones are often the way that we categorise our lives into a timeline e.g., moving house, going on a holiday, finishing primary school, first job, sports days, excursions, etc.
View the change as a challenge, not as a threat. Take an event that you are afraid might overwhelm you and turn it into an occasion you can rise above and conquer.

Changes in routine can serve as stimulation to your nervous system and allow you to grow new neural pathways.
Remember other times you have had to navigate transition and use the knowledge that you coped with that to give you strength.

Use your support network. Teachers, friends, parents, siblings, Wellbeing staff, sub-school staff. We are all here to help you through.
Realise that change is inherent to our life. Without change, and staying in our comfort zone, would make our lives very dull indeed. People enter your life and leave it, material possessions come and go, careers evolve and change. No one gets through life without change of some sort. Don’t fight it. Embrace it and let it make you stronger and wiser.

Use your time during the school holidays to get organised. Create a study schedule that will help you navigate term 1 next year. The smoother your transition, the calmer you will feel and the quicker, this will become your new normal.

Happy holidays,

Kerri Haworth

Director of Wellbeing

Check out the following Support Services:

We are open to any new referrals up until COB on the 23rd of December 2025 for any new, non-crisis-related supports for young people and family. This support begins again from January 5th 2026. Young people and families are welcome to reach out to us themselves.

For further information or to

register your interest:

https://forms.gle/P9Q4DBwWaM2kLMZN8

A Path To Follow

We are open to any new referrals up until COB on the 23rd of December 2025 for any new, non-crisis-related supports for young people and family. This support begins again from January 5th 2026. Young people and families are welcome to reach out to us themselves.

Wellbeing Contact Form

Contact our Cheltenham Secondary College Wellbeing team directly with any concerns or issues and one of the team will get back to you. The form can be accessed here.

Helpful Contacts

Headspace

http://www.headspace.org.au/

Headspace Centres can be a one-stop shop for all young people who just need some help with everyday stuff or wellbeing and physical health.

Kids Helpline

https://kidshelpline.com.au/

Kids Helpline is across Australia, it is free, private and confidential 24/7. Mainly for young people aged 5 to age 25.

Call them on.. 1800 55 1800

Lifeline

https://www.lifeline.org.au/

Provides all Australians everywhere experiencing a personal crisis allowing 24-hour support. Call them on.. 13 11 14

Beyond Blue

https://www.beyondblue.org.au/

Provides information and support which helps tackle head-on the effects of mental health issues no matter where or what age.

Call them on.. 1300 22 4636

Parentline

https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/serviceprofiles/parentline-service

Fantastic service for parents and carers of young children from a few days of age all the way up to 18-year-olds. This service offers counselling and support which is confidential and anonymous on all issues around parenting. Call them on...13 22 89.

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