Student Wellbeing

Achieving Your Personal Best

As part of our whole-school commitment to Student Wellbeing, St Bede's College offers professional counselling to all students. Wellbeing is an intrinsic component of our College's strategic framework to help each student achieve their personal best.

These sessions are open to everyone, helping them to achieve a strong sense of self, develop resilience and positive mental health - essential components to happiness in life.

Across both our Bentleigh East and Mentone campuses, the Wellbeing Team is supporting around 400 students with counselling sessions. The support can range from a one-off check-in session, to long-term regular sessions. These sessions are confidential, conducted during school hours and covered via school fees.

In Term 2, we welcomed two new Team Members, Ms Pooja Gupta (Psychologist) and Ms Robyn Bierman (Provisional Psychologist), who are providing full-time wellbeing support to students at our Bentleigh East campus. At our Mentone Campus, the team is supporting students in both a 1:1 setting, as well as in group counselling.

Group Counselling offers a safe space for all attendees, providing a good sounding board, where students can connect with others facing similar experiences. All counselling students may even have their session co-hosted by our divine therapy dog, Remi!

We're pleased to also offer a variety of Student Wellbeing-centred programs on campus, including Seasons for Growth, the weekly lunchtime Games Cove, the Child Safe School Student Sub Committee and inclusivity in action group, One Beda to name just a few.

Seasons for Growth is a new program that focuses on dealing with grief and loss. We're welcoming students to take part in this and develop emotional and social wellbeing after loss. Simply reach out to Brother Tony to enquire.

We warmly encourage any students and families that feel that they would benefit from school counselling support to reach out to the Wellbeing Team via email:

Mentone Campus counselling@stbedes.catholic.edu.au

Bentleigh East Campus counselling.bentleigh@stbedes.catholic.edu.au

Staying Safe Online (Free Webinar)

Technology is a central part of educational and social development today. As fundamental and exciting this connection to technology may be, many parents are seeking information and advice about how to keep kids safe online.

A free Parent Information Session is being hosted by Kingston Youth Services and YSafe, Australia’s leading provider of online safety education.

Thursday 8 August (online)

7.00-8.00pm

This practical, evidence-based session will cover the most important points that all families need to know about online safety, covering key information about:

Social media and gaming
Screen time recommendations
Step-by-step instructions on how to set up a cybersafe home for children of all ages

Pushing Up for Mental Health

Thank you to the 704 students, staff and families who participated in and supported the St Bede's College team in the Push-Up Challenge. Collectively, we've raised more than $8,700 for Movember. We're so proud of everyone's efforts in helping us do good for men's mental health!

Scott Cadby PACFA Reg. Clinical (21605)

Wellbeing Coordinator

BA (Psych) MPsychotherapyCouns