Advice for school communities

The NSW Department of Education is introducing proactive measures to limit the impact of COVID-19 in our schools.

The Premier has announced that from Tuesday 24 March parents are encouraged to keep their children at home and access their school's learning from home programs.

These measures have been put in place to help minimise the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic in NSW.

We continue to work closely with NSW Health and the Australian Government to monitor and respond to developments and to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff.

If you or your child is unwell with a respiratory illness, stay at home until symptoms clear up.

The best way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is the same way you would protect yourself from catching flu or other respiratory illnesses. Please refer to teacher resources on the importance of handwashing.

Mental health support

Support services to find the right service for your family

Family referral service 1300 339 016

Can assist with navigating what service to access.where to go based on family needs. Offers assistance with domestic violence services, housing and accommodation, financial assistance, counselling/mediation services, parenting programs, mental health support. Self-referral or the school can make a referral for you. There is a support personal locally who will contact you to arrange an appointment.

Mental health line 1800 011 511

State wide 24 hour mental health telephone access service. Anyone with a mental health issue can use the MH Line to speak to a mental health professional and be directed to the right care for them. Anyone including education staff members can access advice and information about relevant service through the MH Line

Health Services

Broken Hill Base Hospital

Immediate risk of harm/emergency - call 000 or present to EMERGENCY department at hospital. Presentations to Emergency department will be referred to CAMHS for follow up, risk assessment.

Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) 08 8082 6111

Situated in Crystal Street (new community health building), CAMHS provide a service for children and young people up to 18 years and their parents or caregivers who have emerging, identified or who are at risk of developing significant mental health issues. CAMHS is a mental health specialist service for young people moderate to severe mental illness and their families and/or carers. Self-referral or school referral (with parent consent).

GP/Paediatrician

It is important to discuss any mental health concerns with your GP. GP's may create a mental health plan (allows for medicare rebates) and refer to a psychologist/counsellor. Many of the local clinics/health centres also have.a psychologist/counsellor attached to their practice, e.g. Maari Ma, InterHealth, GP Super Clinic, Clive Bishop. GP's may:

1) develop a mental health plan (this allows access to counselling under medicare)

2) complete general health check (check that there are no other issues)

3) refer to a paediatrician/psychiatrist/psychologist or may access telehealth.

Other mental health supports/services locally

Headspace 02 9393 9699 (goes to Broken Hill office)

231 Blende Street self-referral or school referral (with parent consent). Headspace provides support, information and advice to young people aged 12-25 years. Online and telephone support is also available through www.eheadspace.org.au. Website also has great resources for young people and their families www.headspace.org.au

Catholic Care 08 8087 3477

Self referral or school referral (with parent consent)

Mental health

Financial counselling

Counselling

Family support

Mental health support for children and their parents

Carers support

Parenting groups (both men and women)

Mission Australia

Self referral or school referral (with parent consent)

Family support 08 8087 2518

Homelessness - youth

Parenting groups (both men and women)

Brighter futures - FACS referral usually 08 8084 3705

Lifeline 08 8087 9109

Self referral

Financial counselling

Counselling (mental health, relationship support or grief and loss)

Gambling counselling

Youth counselling

Lifeline 131314 or www.lifeline.org.au

Lifeline is a 24 hour telephone and online counselling service

Helplines and online support

Parent Line 1300 130 152 www.parentline.org.au

Parent Line is a helpline that provides counselling and support for parents as well as general parenting advice and information. Common topics that parents and carers talk to us about include child and adolescent development and ways to manage behaviour. Parent Line is open from 9am to 9pm Monday to Friday and 4pm to 9pm on Saturday and Sunday

Raising Children www.raisingchildren.net.au

The Raising Children website provides free, reliable, up-to-date and independent information for families. Funded by the Australian Government, reviewed by experts and non-commercial. Designed for busy families and full of tips and tricks for you to try, our content is easy to find and easy to digest. Articles, videos and interactive resources are tailored to different ages and stages, taking you from nurturing a newborn to raising a confident, resilient teen - and helping you to look after yourself as a parent too.

Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 www.kidshelpline.com.au

Kids Helpline is a 24 hour telephone and online counselling service (webchat) for children and young people up to 25 years. Information and resources also for parents.

School Support

Classroom teacher

Please discuss concerns with class teacher. Class teacher may discuss concerns with supervisor and refer to Learning and Support Team if needed.

Learning and Support Teacher/Team

May include a meeting with parent, staff or outside agencies involved with the student tp discuss support strategies/update or create plans, may include individual support/mentoring for class teacher, may include parent meetings with class teacher/team, may include referral to school counsellor, in school supports/programs or outside services, may include whole class intervention/support, may include involvement with group (Catholic Care, Drumbeat, targeted group with social worker student LaST).

School counsellor

Referral through principal (immediate concerns and/or Learning and Support team.

Primary Health Care Nurse

Able to support with information/referrals to help services as part of learning support team. Available for appointments, please contact the office.

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