Wellbeing
Wellbeing Team
Get to know the Wellbeing Team
Amanda Xavier is the Wellbeing Coordinator and the Leader of the Doctors in Secondary Schools government initiative at Melton Secondary College. Amanda has been working in education for 10 years, 6 of those being at MSC and has had various roles within careers, wellbeing, teaching and student support.
Prior to working in education Amanda worked in residential care and drug and alcohol community organisations with disadvantaged young people.
Amanda is passionate about working with and advocating for young people and is a strong believer that emotions are the gatekeepers of the intellect therefore, positive wellbeing results in better academic outcomes.
Stacey James started at Melton Secondary College at the beginning of Term 4, 2015. She previously work in the Department of Education regional office in Horsham for over 5 years. Her role was as part of Student Support Services Team where she travelled to schools across Western Victoria as a visiting Social Worker.
Over her time working in the education setting, Stacey has developed particular skills in working with student dealing with mental health issues.
At MSC, Stacey has enjoyed working on proactive programs and education session for school staff.
Daniella Giampino has worked in secondary schools for the past 2 years as a school counsellor, starting at Melton Secondary College Term 3, 2016.
Previously Daniella worked at a youth refuge for teens aged between 16 and 24 years, and as an applied behavioural analysis therapist for children aged between 2 and 6 years. Daniella enjoys working with groups of students in proactive programs.
Daniella oversees the Indigenous students at the school, including AIME excursions and the Koori Club.
Chris Lang has worked at Melton Secondary College for the past two and a half years. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree and a Graduate Diploma in Adolescent and Child Psychology.
He has been working with adolescents in both schools and community agencies for over twenty years in a variety of government funded programs but predominantly with young people at risk of homelessness, those in Out-of-Home care and at risk of leaving school prior to completion.
Chris has a particular interest in dealing with issues of anger and runs the RAGE and Triggers, Choices and Control programs at the school.
Nathanael Poljak is a Registered Nurse and runs the Secondary School Nursing Program which aims to reduce risk to young people and promote better health in the wider community.
The goals of the SSNP are to:
- Play a key role in reducing negative health outcomes and risk taking behaviours among young people, including drug and alcohol abuse, tobacco smoking, eating disorders, obesity, depression, suicide and injuries.
- Addresses prevention of ill health and problem behaviours by ensuring coordination between the school and community based health and support services.
Nathanael contributes in supporting the school community in addressing contemporary health and social issues facing young people and their families. This has included working with eSmart in cyberbullying issues, Melton council in addressing safe driving in our community, and gambling awareness issues with VRGF (Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation). Nathanael has currently worked on addressing Family Violence and Respectful Relationships in Melton SC and the community by presenting education in the classroom and in small groups within the school.
Secondary School Nurses are employed through Regional Offices of the Department, with most nurses allocated to two secondary schools.
Parenting Support Opportunity
Tired of fighting with your teen? Worried about their behaviour? Sign up now to our free online program for parents of tweens and teens!
Parents want to raise teenagers who are respectful and responsible, happy and confident. But, helping your teen navigate adolescence can be stressful and unpredictable. Researchers at The University of Queensland are excited to offer Australian parents of pre-teens and teens (aged 10-16 years) the opportunity to try a brand new online parenting program for free as part of a research trial. The program is based on the successful Triple P: Positive Parenting Program. We are looking for parents who are experiencing conflict with their teenager or have concerns about their behaviour. You will be asked to complete questionnaires to help test the effects of the program. To find out more or register for the study, visit: https://exp.psy.uq.edu.au/parentingteens/project/online
Teen Triple P Online Project
