The Homestead Senior Secondary College Wellbeing Team provides a proactive and comprehensive Student Wellbeing Program that builds and promotes a sense of belonging and resilience for all students. We believe that all students should have the opportunity to reach their full potential and achieve a meaningful pathway, post school.
The Wellbeing Team is committed to building students' strengths and a secure learning environment where all students feel culturally, emotionally and physically safe.
The Wellbeing Space offers a safe and inviting environment for students to seek help and access support services. The Wellbeing Space is aligned with the Department of Education’s approach to improving student outcomes by using a ‘student centered' approach and improving accessibility, by bringing services within the gates of the school.
Democratic Principles
Consistent with DET requirements, HSSC will:
- ensure that any proposed program or content delivered by anyone associated with our organisation complies with the requirement that education in Victorian government schools is secular and is consistent with the values of public education, Department policies and the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic).
This includes, programs delivered by visitors are to be delivered in a manner that supports and promotes the principles and practice of Australian democracy including a commitment to:
- elected government
- the rule of law
- equal rights for all before the law
- freedom of religion, speech and association
- the values of openness and tolerance
- respect the range of views held by students and their families.
The Wellbeing Team
We have a small but growing Wellbeing Team, which means we know our students well.
The team consists of:
- Rebecca Collins: Assistant Principal: Wellbeing, Engagement and PSD Leader
- Ana Jovel: Wellbeing Coordinator
- Jas Bhatia: Wellbeing Counsellor
Referral to the Wellbeing Team
- Students can self-refer to the Wellbeing Team by visiting the Wellbeing Space opposite the locker bays on level 1.
- Principals, teachers and support staff can arrange for a referral to the Wellbeing Team if they have concerns about a student’s wellbeing.
- Parents can request an appointment for their child with the Wellbeing Team by contacting the team via phone. In some instances, a student may be referred to an external support service. We also respect the fact that some students and parents may prefer to seek professional support independent from the school setting. In such cases, the Wellbeing Team values working collaboratively with external services. In all cases, we encourage parents to communicate with the school if there is a significant issue affecting their child’s health or wellbeing.
- Parents can also complete a referral form which can be accessed via the following link
- Students can complete a self-referral form via the Star icon in Compass.
Student Wellbeing Services
The members of the Wellbeing Team are experienced in a range of areas and are passionate about helping students navigate their way through the various social and emotional challenges they may face.
These challenges may include:
- Social difficulties
- Emotional challenges
- Behavioural difficulties
- Learning needs
- Family challenges, including family break-up
- Grief and loss
- School refusal
- Risk-taking behaviours
- Mental health issues
- Child safety concerns
Services Available Through the Wellbeing Team
- Individual counselling for students
- Triage counselling
- Positive mental health promotion and liaison with school-wide programs relevant to student wellbeing
- Therapeutic, individual and group focused programs supporting stress management, academic anxiety and other pressures associated with the late teen years
- Student Support Group meetings, with parents and young people, to support any any learning, behavioural, social or emotional concerns they have
- Referral to external support services, including, if appropriate, specialist assessment and treatment services
- Hardship supports for students in need, such as books, uniforms etc. and linking it with further community supports, if needed by families.
Child Safety
Homestead Senior Secondary College is continually developing an organisational culture that protects children from abuse and reflects its commitment to child safety. Our Commitment to Child Safety and Child Safe Code of Conduct can be found here.
Further information about the Child Safe Standards can also be found on the DET Victoria Website here.
Students with Special Needs and the Program for Students with Disabilities
Homestead Senior Secondary College has a commitment to improving the learning outcomes for all students, by acknowledging and catering for their diverse learning needs. We provide an inclusive educational program that ensures all students have access to a quality education.
For students funded under the Department of Education’s Program for Students with a Disability, we have a growing team of experienced Integration Aides that support students in the classroom. Additional staff are employed as required to meet the needs of our students. For more information on this program, please read the Disability Inclusion pack.
Disability Inclusion Profiles, 2023
Disability inclusion is a new way for Victorian government schools to support students with disability. It involves initiatives to help teachers and school staff across Victoria build their knowledge and skills in inclusive education and provide schools with more funding to support students to learn at school. Disability inclusion also introduces the disability inclusion profile, which helps schools understand a student’s strengths, what they need to help them learn, and how the school can support them. This video explains the profile, how it works and your role as a parent or carer.
The Disability Inclusion Profiles will be introduced to Homestead in 2023. The Wellbeing Team will make contact with the relevant Families in relation to organising a time to discuss your student’s needs. If you have any questions, please contact Rebecca.Collins@education.vic.gov.au
Wellbeing Partnerships
Mental Health Practitioner: Students can access a mental health practitioner at school one day a week. Further information is to be provided on this program as it develops.
Student Support Service Officers (SSSO): Student support services comprise a broad range of professionals including psychologists, speech pathologists and social workers. They work as part of an integrated health and wellbeing team within networks of schools, focusing on providing group-based and individual support, workforce capacity building and the provision of specialised services.
Wellbeing Programs
The Wellbeing Team and staff facilitate and/or support a range of proactive, preventative and early intervention programs across the school.
Below are examples of some of the health, wellbeing and inclusion programs scheduled during the year.
Whole School Programs
- Breakfast Club – Run by student volunteers and staff, with resources kindly provided by Foodbank, this program promotes good health and positive community relationships and allows students to start the day off well, together. Breakfast Club runs each Tuesday and Thursday from 8 am to 8.45 am
- Presentations – Presentations on cyber bullying, bullying and community safety provided by external support agencies, such as Victoria Police
- Stand Out Group – To raise awareness and support for sexual and gender diversity and inclusiveness in the school community. A student led initiative to support LGBTQI+ and straight allies within the school community, to foster leadership and empowerment
- Parent Support - Offer parents support and counsel in their role as cares of students at Homestead
- Restorative Support - Provide support and mediation for students in conflict with each other
- Transition Support - Supporting students smooth transition to school and managing their anxiety
- EAL and International student support - Support for students in managing their transition and assimilation
- Re-Engagement Support – A holistic approach to support students who may have disengaged from their education
- Re-Engagement Program – A needs based, targeted support for long term school refusal and absenteeism, providing students and family with support to reconnect with the school, supported by the Navigator Program
- Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships – covers age appropriate social and emotional learning.
Wellbeing Events that we Celebrate as a School
Initiatives we are proud to be a part of
- The Safe Schools program helps schools foster a safe environment that is supportive and inclusive of LGBTI students.
- Be You, supported by Beyond Blue: Be You is a national initiative for educators, aimed at promoting and protecting positive mental health in children and young people.
- SAFEMinds, supported by Headspace in Schools, SAFEMinds in Practice training is for all staff and aims to increase their foundational knowledge of mental health and emerging concerns.
Community Contacts
- Wyndham Youth Services: https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/services/youth-services
- Counselling Team at Youth Services: 8734 1355 or online referral via https://www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/community-counselling-enquiry-form
- Women's Health West (Women, children and young people's family violence services) 9689 9588
- Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues 8594 1550
- Foundation House (support for refugees/asylum seekers) 8788 3333
- Uniting Wyndham (Housing Support) (03) 9051 2000
- Headspace, Werribee 8001 2366
- Parentzone (Anglicare) 1300 984 011
- Relationship Australia 1300 364 277
- Taskforce Drug & alcohol counselling 9532 0811
- QLIFE (support for LGBTI) 1800 184 527
- Child First 1300 775 160
- XXXX (Crisis accommodation) 9703 0044
- YSAS (Youth Support & Advocacy Service) 1800 458 685
- Western Melbourne Child and Family Services Alliance 1300 775 160
24 Hour Emergency Numbers
- DHS Child Protection Western Region Intake (Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm) 1300 664 977
- DHS Child Protection (After Hours) 131 278
- Directline drug/alcohol info 1800 888 236
- Family Drug Help Line 1300 660 068
- Family Violence Service ‘Safe Steps’ 1800 015 188
- Grief Line 12 noon-3 am 1300 845 745
- Kids Help Line 1800 551 800 Life Line 13 11 14
- Police / Fire / Ambulance 000 Psychiatric
- Triage Team – Mental health issues 1300 369 012
- Sexual Assault Crisis Line 1800 806 292
- Suicide Help Line 1300 651 251
- Parent Line 13 22 89
- Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636
Contact the Wellbeing Team: 7379 9600
