Climate and Culture- Social Emotional Wellbeing
Communicating with the SWPBL Climate and Culture Team
If you have any questions relating to our SWPBL framework, please email:
Stacey Bowles: stacey.bowles@education.vic.gov.au
Llewela Humphries: llewela.humphries@education.vic.gov.au
Damien Kitch: damien.kitch@education.vic.gov.au
Welcome to 2023
Welcome everyone to 2023, we have some exciting plans for Upwey South Primary School this year in the area of SWPBL.
Term One will see the SWPBL Culture and Climate team oversee the following:
- School Wide Acknowledgment System: In2023 we will continue to use house points and Green Gotchas to acknowledge positive behaviours seen at school. More information about Green Gotchas will be included in the next newsletter.
- Let'sTALK Mentors and Buddies: following on from 2022 we will continue to implement the Let'sTALK Buddy program. Later this term students from Years 3 - 6 will be invited to sign up to be a Let'sTALK Buddy (along with out school captains and SWPBL captains) if they are interested. Students will complete training on the role of a Let'sTALK Buddy and be supported by Let'sTALK Mentors (school staff). We are planning an exciting new addition to our Let'sTALK Buddy program this year with designated Buddy areas within the Morris Road and Junior Playground to be set up later this term. More information and updates to follow.
- Student Voice and Agency: In 2023 we will be moving away from having elected Junior School Council Reps from each class instead having it open to any student who wants to participate. Meetings will commence later this term.
Inspire Health and Medical is partnering with our school!
We are pleased to share with you that our school has secured a partnership with Inspire Health and Medical (formerly Yarra Valley Psychology), to provide in-school counselling services to students.
(https://www.inspirehm.com.au/the-story-behind-inspire/),
Throughout schools across Victoria, student counselling is a much needed (and under resourced) service. Many of our families are currently experiencing first-hand the difficulties associated with trying to gain access to support services for their children. Therefore, we must be grateful that we have been presented with the opportunity to enter a partnership with Inspire, as the resources do not exist for this partnership to occur across schools within our region.
Our allocated and fully qualified School Counsellor is Carvin Winans. Check out the images below to find out a little more about Carvin.
Please be aware of the information below:
Is there a cost involved to access the service, and does my child require a Mental Health Plan?
There is no cost involved for the family.
Your child does not require a Mental Health Plan to access the service. This is due to the fact that the counselling sessions are delivered by a fully qualified School Counsellor, as opposed to a medical practitioner.
There is also no limit on the number of sessions a child may access. Access to sessions, and duration (in weeks) will be determined between the Counsellor, the school, and the parent/carer.
How are sessions structured?
Our School Counsellor, Carvin, is in the school two days per week, with one day dedicated to individual therapy sessions and the second day dedicated to proactive group sessions as directed by the school. Student-needs are prioritized in partnership with the school and the parent/carer. Prior to any child commencing, a confidential discussion will take place between the Counsellor and the parent/carer.
Will each child who is referred be able to access the service?
Unfortunately, this is not achievable within the current mental health environment. Referrals will be prioritized on a needs basis from within our own school cohort.
If I wish for my child to access the service, what do I need to do?
Please complete the referral form below and return it via the instructions on the form.