Wellbeing News
Creating Futures Together
Meet the team
The wellbeing team comprises of Celine Tsang- Student Wellbeing Leader/ Counsellor and Fosia Mohamud- Mental Health Practitioner. We have enjoyed getting to know and supporting the young people of WHSC in semester one. We are excited to continue to provide a safe space where student wellbeing and mental health is supported and advocated for.
Welcome Maddie - student counsellor
We are excited to have a counselling student join our wellbeing team who is in the final stages of her Bachelor of Arts Therapy. Madeleine Mitchell - (Maddie) joined our team in term two and will be with us for term three. Maddie has already commenced engaging with a number of our students. Below are her reflections:
My name is Maddie and I have had the privilege of being a part of the WHSC Wellbeing team for the past few weeks and am looking forward to being here next term. I am a creative Arts Therapist who works in a multi-modal, client centred way. During this time I have worked with a number of students facilitating both counselling and Arts Therapy sessions.
As an Arts Therapist I use art as a way for students to express emotions and communicate without words. Arts Therapy is process based and doesn’t require any skills or experience in visual art, it’s about having space to play and express yourself!
I have a beautiful cat that I talk about all the time, I love reading and being in nature.
To book in a session just fill in the Wellbeing student referral form below!
Wellbeing Space and Referral Process
The well-being space has been centralised for students and staff to have easy access to the well-being team for support. We are located in front of the canteen-towards the general staff room access. All students and staff are welcome.
Parents can contact the Learning and Wellbeing Leaders (previously known as the Year Level Coordinators) in each cohort to discuss any wellbeing concerns and the referral process.
As a first point of contact, students are encouraged to raise any wellbeing concerns with their teachers and the Learning and Wellbeing Leaders for referral. Students can also self-refer for wellbeing supports via student referral form click here. Referral forms can also be accessed via the wellbeing office, which is open to all students. Wellbeing staff will be in touch with students as soon as possible.
We encourage all parents and students to flag any wellbeing concerns early, so we can provide early intervention. Counselling sessions are confidential between students and the wellbeing team; unless there are any safety risks identified.
Event-Elephant Ed Workshop
This term WHSC wellbeing team partnered with Elephant Ed (an independent agency that specialises in delivering sex education to young people) to deliver a session on when is the right time? to our year 10 cohort. Students explored the following concepts:
- Combating peer pressure and promoting safe and healthy sexual relationships.
- Exploring why people engage in sexual activity
- Consent and communication /Safe environment
Students found the sessions interactive, informative and engaging.
Upcoming-Free Parent Webinar
Knox City Council Youth Services are partnering with LifeConnect, Neami National to provide a parent and carer webinar, “Reach Out and Connect: Suicide Conversation for Parents and Carers”.
In this webinar, parents and carers will receive information in recognising and supporting young people who may be at risk of Suicide.
For further information and registration to the webinar, see below:
Reach Out and Connect: Suicide conversation for Parents and Carers
Date: Tuesday 20 June 2023
Time: 7 – 8.30pm
Venue: Webinar via Zoom (online only)
Cost: Free
Bookings are essential
For further information please contact:
Michelle Pascoe, Knox City Council Youth Services michelle.pascoe@knox.vic.gov.au or 9298 8000
SPECIAL REPORT: Mobile Phone Separation Anxiety
The use of mobile phones and technology in schools has been a highly debated topic internationally, including in Australia. Almost all states and territories in Australia, have implemented full bans on mobile phones during class, recess, and lunch times, while allowing students to carry their phones during travel to and from school.
Critics argue that there is no evidence supporting the effectiveness of such bans, but this is a mischaracterisation. Studies have shown the positive impacts of mobile phone bans in schools. One study conducted in 2016, found that banning mobile phones led to an increase in student performance, with test scores improving by 6.4% of a standard deviation. Similar studies from Spain and Norway also supported these findings.
For parents concerned about mobile phone separation anxiety in their children, it is important to acknowledge it as a real issue and discuss the negative effects of phone addiction, such as sleep problems and mental health issues. Gradually introducing phone-free periods at home, setting clear expectations and boundaries and modelling healthy behaviours can help your child cope. It is also crucial to establish a support network and seek professional help if needed. Implementing mobile phone bans in schools allows for better focus on teaching and learning, minimising distractions and interruptions.
This Special Report will help address mobile phone separation anxiety and provide guidance on supporting your child’s wellbeing during this transition period. We hope you take a moment to reflect on the information offered, and as always, we welcome your feedback. If this raises any concerns for you, a loved one or the wellbeing of your child, please consider seeking medical or professional help.
Click on this link to view the Special Report https://whsc.vic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/special-report-mobile-phone-separation-anxiety
Looking after your mental health and staying safe over the holidays
As term two comes to an end and we enter into the holidays, we want to give you some resources to take with you to ensure you are taking care of yourselves and each other. Remembering that wellbeing encompasses many different elements and we need to tend to each element in order for our tree to thrive.
Image from: https://headspace.org.au/yarn-safe/mental-health-and-wellbeing/
The Department of Education have provided a wonderful resource for parents and carers regarding wellbeing support for students during the school holidays, which can be found here. It covers:
- Actions that support positive mental health
- Signs a child or young person may need mental health support
- Mental health support resources
- Family violence support and resources
- Selfharm and suicide prevention resources
If you have any questions about Mental Health resources or would like any particular Mental Health themes to be covered in the wellbeing newsletter; please feel free to get in touch with Fosia-our Mental Health Practitioner- fosia.mohamud@education.vic.gov.au
We hope you all have a lovey and safe term break and we look forward to reconnecting with students in Term 3.