Welfare Aim: Parents and students can feel free to contact welfare staff should they require assistance with issues that may impact on a student’s enjoyment of and success at Western Port Secondary College. Team Members Team member Role Availability Helen Smith Acting Welfare coordinator Mon-Friday Justine Ferrari Youth work/Defence Mon-Thurs Robyn Minty Health educator/Nurse Thurs, Fri. Mathew Bodley Chaplain Mon, Thurs, Fri.   Psychologist By referral   Social Worker By referral For particular information about each team member click on roles. For particular services available in the local community please click on the link services.   Western Port Secondary College has an extensive Welfare Team. Members of the team are:- o Helen Smith - Acting Student Welfare Co-ordinator and Welfare Team Leader is responsible for one to one counselling, referrals, small group programs and parent and community liaison o Justine Ferrari - Youth & Family /Australian Defence Forces Counsellor and Transition worker. Responsible for early intervention programs/counselling and supporting ADF students and their families. Referrals can be arranged with Helen Smith , our wellbeing coordinator (or self- referral) o Robyn Minty - College Nurse from Early Childhood Dept. responsible for health promotion, health education areas and confidential individual health counselling (including self referral) http://www.deecd.vic.gov.au o Mathew Bodley – College Chaplain (sponsored by Access Ministries) A major focus of the chaplaincy role is pastoral care, mentoring and counselling; supporting the college and the broader community http://www.accessministries.org.au/index.php?section=chaplaincy o Psychologist (dept of education and early childhood development student support services) assists with learning, behavioural & emotional difficulties. Please discuss your concerns with Helen Smith to arrange a referral o Social Worker (Dept of Education and early childhood development student support services. Provides: individual counselling, family outreach and early intervention programs. Please discuss your concerns with Helen Smith to arrange a referral | return to top of this page | return to home page | to site map | Student Welfare Program Support Individual Support Team members provide confidential support to students either by referral from staff members, parent requests or student self referrals. Often where long-term support is required, referrals are made to local community agencies who may be supported by our wellbeing team where possible. Program Support The wellbeing team prioritises Health Promotion school philosophy which builds strong links with networks in the local community and ensures our college can embrace policy and curriculum utilising a whole school approach. Partnerships with agencies and parents are important for building strong links which contribute to reducing risk factors recognised in our local community. http://www.ahpsa.org.au/files/framework.pdf The focus on addressing prevention and early intervention programs is a priority. The team delivers such programs or acts as a resource for them. Other programs are provided by key stakeholders in our community such as youth services and community health services where the need is indicted. Some examples of our programs are: • Footprints Program: our personal development curriculum program .Students cover such areas as self esteem, conflict management, individual learning styles and health education. It is our aim to get a picture of the "whole" student. In this way we will be better able to cater for the individual learning needs of each student at the college. Wellbeing staff supports teachers directly in planning and with the delivery of wellbeing-related programs within the footprints curriculum. • We offer to assist year 7 students with our Peer support program. This is similar to programs that occur in Primary schools. Two Peer leaders, per class, have recently undertaken a training program and they will work with students commencing on orientation day and throughout the 2009 school year. Peer Leaders have pledged to:- - actively encourage all students to become involved in school activities - show patience and confidently assist Year 7’s to work as a team. - assist Year 7 students to solve problems and resolve issues - demonstrate support and friendship to all. Peer leaders play a major part in ensuring year 7 students are supported in the classroom and out in the school yard and they provide a vital support role to the Footprints teachers. • Communities that Care project- Mornington Shire – youth engagement programs which reduce risk factors by reorientating services and providing a strong focus on programs which have been recognised in protecting our young people. • Respect Protect Connect program delivered by the ‘Women’s Health in the Southern region’- a protective behaviour anti- violence educational session providing Yr 8 students the realistic view of healthy relationships • Alcoholics anonymous community education programs including Alanon and Alateen program supports- a community education program providing real views about alcohol as a community issue and the impact of alcohol misuse including resources in our community for support • Ambulance Victoria ADAPT- students gaining an insight for party safe and community issues relating to keeping safe at parties • ‘Reducing the risk’- a student skills program delivered as part of the healthy relationships sexual health curriculum; encourages students to gain skills in assertive behaviours when being pressured by peer groups, relating in particular to healthy relationships • Fun Fit program- a self esteem program building links with community agencies to develop healthy active lives through the use of the local pool , healthy eating coaching and increased physical activity • Reality Baby program- a student parenting program reducing risk for pregnancy and enhancing students realistic views of parenting and skills associated with their care of a computerised baby • Mental Health projects eg FRIENDS www.familylife.com.au/mental-health-services/default • QUIT program offered to students by self referral • Health Days promoting healthy living • Small groups promoting connectedness • Chaplaincy support • Links with Shire youth services • Headspace outreach programs- http://www.headspace.org.au | return to top of this page | return to home page | to site map | Support services available to help Critical support (24 hrs) Child protection phone: 13 12 78 Kids Helpline phone: 1800 551 800 Lifeline phone: 13 11 14 Helpline information Alcoholic’s Anonymous phone: 94291833 Al-Anon Anonymous phone: 9642 3330 Depression –‘beyond blue’ phone: 1300 224 636 Drug Counselling phone: 1800 888 236 (24hrs) Gamblers Help phone: 1800 156 789 Narcotics Anonymous phone: 95252833 Sexual Assault phone: 1800 806 292 Women’s crisis line phone: 9373 0123 Local Support Organisations Family Solutions phone: 1300 721 383 Counselling, financial and family support -Legal Aid Hastings phone: 59792762 Health Services Aidsline phone: 1800 133 392 Bunerong (Koori Health) @ Dandenong Phone: 97945933 Eating Disorders phone: 98850318 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: 97841868 Frankston Integrated Health Services (Community health & Koori outreach) Phone: 97848100 Headspace (Youth, Drugs and Mental Health) Phone: 97696419 Melbourne Sexual Health Clinic (Carlton) Phone: 93470244 Peninsula Community Health Services (Health and Counselling) Phone: 59792894 Peninsula Drug and Alcohol Program (Pendap) Phone: 97848100 Youth Services Mornington Shire(Youth support and Outreach) Phone: 59863585 Online support, counselling and information: http://www.aa.org.au http://www.a-lanon.org.au http://www.beyondblue.org.au http://www.counselling online http://www.gamblershelp.org.au http://www.headspace.org.au/frankstonpeninsula | return to top of this page | return to home page | to site map |