Student Services

Wellbeing Team

The Wellbeing team continues to support students with their emotional needs.  We know that holidays can be a difficult time for some students and this fact sheet may be useful to you.

A reminder of other supports that can be accessed 24/7:-

• eheadspace https://headspace.org.au/assets/Uploads/ONLINE-SERVICES.pdf  
• Kids Help Line https://kidshelpline.com.au/  (1800 55 1800)
• Lifeline https://www.lifeline.org.au/ (13 11 14)

The Wellbeing team are deep in planning programs and support services for 2020.  We received some great news from the Department of Education regarding our Breakfast Club and as from Term 2, 2020 will receive food from the Victorian Food Bank.  During Term 1, 2020 breakfast club will run each Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from the Maker Space and we welcome back Kris, our long-term Manager, and Alisha Gibson, our Youth Worker, who will make sure students leave with a full belly!

We have special lunchtime activities planned and students will find information via their compass newsfeeds and flyers around the school.  We encourage students to come along with their friends and be involved in the great opportunities that will be on offer.….more details will come in 2020.

We will have the City of Casey 360 bus visiting us on 13/2, 28/2, 20/3/2020.  Don’t forget to check out the City of Casey Youth Services School Holiday Programs.  They have some fantastic opportunities for things to do over January.  Check out their website for further information. https://www.casey.vic.gov.au/youth-events

In 2020 we will continue to have the valuable services of Mr Julian Couzins, Psychologist and Ms Mel Kemper, Psychologist from Oz Child who provide counselling to students under the Medicare Mental Health Care Plan.    We are also supported by Maddy from Foundation House who can provide 1:1 support for students from a refugee background.

For parents/carers requiring some additional strategies in raising teenagers, here’s some information on a useful parenting program run by Parentzone, commencing in 2020.

Careers Team

Year 12 students have now received their ATARs and 1st round December offers for University or TAFE courses are released on 18/12/2019.    A reminder to students of important dates for VTAC for 2020 courses.

Linda Rackham leaves us at the end of 2019 to take up a new leadership position at another school.  Best of luck Linda and on behalf of the school community, thank you for your years of service to Hampton Park Secondary College.

We have a new careers team in 2020 and are now planning engaging and meaningful programs to assist students with their future goals.  Programs will be implemented from Year 7 to Year 12 and students are welcome to drop-in to see a Career Practitioner in the CRC.

Inclusion Team

It has been a very big term for the Inclusion Team. 

On 20th November 2019 we held a parent/carer information forum for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).   Mr Bruce Watson, the presenter disseminated valuable information for students that may be eligible for NDIS support and the process to register.  

Here’s a reminder of some important contact details:-

• Latrobe Community Health Service 1800 242 696
• NDIA 1800 800 110
• Translating & Interpreting Service 1800 131 450

Other highlights included the morning tea on the 3rd December 2019 for International Day for People with a Disability.  It was very special for our inclusion aides who received a ‘thank you’ card from students they support in the classroom.  Students joined our aides in ‘Celebrating Individuality’ and a great time was had by all who attended.

Other good news was our successful application to the Department of Education regarding Equipment Boost Funding.  We will be utilising the counselling rooms in the Wellness Centre to be set up as sensory rooms.  Sincere thanks to Natalie Rule and Liz Murray who prepared this application – well done ladies!

We farewell Liz Murray at the end of 2019 after 14 years of service as a consulting speech pathologist at Hampton Park Secondary College.  We wish Liz all the best in the future and sincerely thank her for years of dedication to improving student outcomes at Hampton Park Secondary College.

In closing, on behalf of the entire Student Services Teams (Wellbeing; Careers/Pathways and Inclusion) we wish our students and their families a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year and we look forward to seeing you all again in 2020!

Kurt Fearnley Visit

On Thursday 5th December 2019 we had a very special guest at a whole school assembly.  Mr Kurt Fearnley AO is the Patron for the International Day for People with a Disability, a three time Paralympic gold medallist, a two time Commonwealth Games gold medallist, participation in more than 40 marathons, including the New York, Chicago and London marathons.  Kurt climbed Papua New Guinea’s Kokoda Track to raise awareness for men’s health in 2009, and in 2012 was part of the crew that steered the Investec Loyal to victory in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.  Kurt is also a proud husband and father, teacher, public speaker, an Officer of the Order of Australia, and was recently named New South Wales Australian of the Year for 2019.

Kurt dropped in to speak to students about his life story and his wish for inclusion of all people with a disability.  Kurt gave students details of his upbringing in a small country town in New South Wales and the challenges he faced as he began his prestigious racing career.  Kurt’s powerful message was that his greatest challenge in life had not been his disability, but the limitations others placed on him.  Kurt explained that during the greatest challenges of his life, this is where he learned the most about himself.  He encouraged students to strive to be their best and be inclusive of others.  We sincerely thank Kurt for his time and his inspirational words to our school community.