Parents and students can feel free to contact Student Support staff should they require assistance with issues that may impact on a student’s enjoyment of and success at Western Port Secondary College.
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Team member
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Role
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Availability
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|---|---|---|
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Christine Williams
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Wellbeing Coordinator
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Mon-Fri
|
|
Jack Waller
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School Chaplain
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Mon-Tues
|
|
Jack Waller
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Defence School Mentor
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Wed-Fri
|
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Shannon Vogt
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Mental Health Practitioner
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By referral
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|
Education Support
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Social Worker
|
By referral
|
|
Education Support
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Speech Pathologist/Visiting Teacher
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By referral
|
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Cathy Griffin
|
School Nurse
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Thu-Fri
|
|
Trudy Connellan
|
Wellbeing
|
|
Western Port Secondary College has an extensive Student Support Team.
Role of the Wellbeing Coordinator:
Student Wellbeing Co-ordinator and Student Support Team Leader is responsible for one-to-one counselling, referrals, small group programs, referrals to Education Support Services and parent and community liaison.
Defence School Mentor:
The Defence School Mentor provides support to students of Australian Defence Force members and families, particularly assisting students to manage the challenges of transitions.
Social Worker
(DEECD Student Support Services) provides individual counselling, family outreach and early intervention programs. Referrals via Student Wellbeing Co-ordinator.
School Nurse
Responsible for health promotion & education, liaison with community agencies and confidential individual health counselling
http://www.education.vic.gov.au/
Education Psychologist
(DEECD Student Support Services) assists with learning, behavioural & emotional difficulties, and assessments. Referrals via the Student Wellbeing Co-ordinator
Other DEECD Student Support Services
by referral (SWC). Provides: support in areas such as Speech Pathology, the Visiting Teacher Service, assessment, and support for students with specific physical needs. Includes work with family & relevant external agencies. Referrals via Student Wellbeing Co-ordinator.
College Chaplain
– College Chaplain (sponsored by Korus Connect)
The chaplain has a unique role in creating positive relationships with students and walking with them through their tribulations and their joys. The major focus of the chaplain’s role is pastoral care, mentoring, counselling and is strongly involved in the formation and implementation of proactive student wellbeing programs and also plays a positive role in helping students work within the broader community.
Korus Connect | We help build communities that are connected, supported and whole.
Student Wellbeing Program Support
Individual Support
Team members provide confidential support to students either by referral from staff members, parent requests or student self-referrals. Where long-term support is required, referrals may be made to local community agencies.
Program Support
The Student Support Team has Health Promotion as a priority. We build strong links with networks in the local community and ensure that our college embraces relevant health promotion policies and develops curriculum using a whole school approach. Partnerships with agencies and parents are important in building links which can contribute to reducing risk factors recognised in our local community.
Prevention and early intervention are a priority. The Student Support Team delivers intervention programs and uses external agencies to enhance the college program. Programs are provided by key stakeholders in our community such as Youth Services, our local Community Health Service, Victoria Police, and local Service Clubs.
Meditation Spiral Garden.
Research shows that health outcomes are better for people who have connections to their community. Medical research also shows that regular meditation improves health outcomes and can reduce blood pressure, stress levels, and increase coping capabilities.
The aim/purpose of the project has been to:
1. To build stronger connections within the school community and with parents and families, local agencies such as Peninsula Health, Community groups such as Hastings Rotary and the broader community
2. Improve wellbeing outcomes – the mental health of young people
3. Improve health outcomes for young people by building self-esteem and pride through engagement in the project and build relationships with the broader community
4. To provide a quiet, tranquil reflective space that can be used by and enjoyed by the whole community
5. Provide experimental learning opportunities that develop skills and pathways to the world of work for students and promote community involvement
Students across the school and people from the local community have taken part in the construction and development of the spiral meditation path and garden in our Outdoor Classroom.
The garden provides a quiet reflective space for students and the broader community when they need time out or are angry, distressed or upset. It is a place where students can leave their troubles behind when they walk through the arched entryway. We have provided a space where they can relax and feel tranquil and calm.
Support services available to help
Child protection phone: 13 12 78
Kids Helpline phone: 1800 551 800
Lifeline phone: 13 11 14
Alcoholics Anonymous Phone: 9429 1833
Al-Anon Anonymous Phone: 9642 3330
Depression – ‘Beyond Blue’ Phone: 1300 224 636
Drug Counselling Phone: 1800 888 236 (24hrs)
Gamblers Help Phone: 1800 858 858
Narcotics Anonymous Phone: 9525 2833
Sexual Assault Phone: 1800 806 292
Women’s Crisis Line Phone: 9373 0123
Family Solutions Phone: 1300 721 383
(Counselling, financial and family support)
Legal Aid Hastings Phone: 59792762
AIDS line Phone: 1800 133 392
Bunurong (Koori Health) @ Dandenong Phone: 9794 5933
Eating Disorders Phone: 9885 0318
CAMHS (Child Mental Health and Counselling/ self-referral) Phone: 1300 369 012
Family Planning Health Services (Box Hill & Cranbourne) Phone: 96544766 & 96544766
Frankston Youth Resource Centre (Youth services) Phone: 9784 1868
Frankston Integrated Health Services (Community health & Koori outreach) Phone: 9784 8100
Headspace (Youth, Drugs and Mental Health) Phone: 9769 6419
Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic (Carlton) Phone: 9347 0244
Peninsula Community Health Services (Health and Counselling) Phone: 5979 2894
Peninsula Drug and Alcohol Program (Pendap) Phone: 9784 8100
Youth Services Mornington Shire (Youth support and Outreach) Phone: 5986 3585
