Wellbeing

The Brentwood Secondary College Wellbeing Team provides a proactive and comprehensive Wellbeing Program that builds and promotes a sense of belonging and resilience for all students, including their parents and the wider school community. With a combination of multi-disciplinary team members, we offer an inclusive and safe environment for students to access support services including counsellors, psychologists, social workers, and other allied wellbeing professionals.  

 We believe that all students should have the opportunity to reach their full potential and achieve a meaningful pathway. In conjunction with the Framework to Improving Student Outcomes (FISO 2.0) Policy, the Wellbeing Team is committed to building students’ strengths and a secure learning environment where all students feel culturally, emotionally and physically safe, reflecting the school values of Respect, Growth, Achievement and Responsibility. 

Mission Statement 

The Brentwood Wellbeing Team strive to provide a safe, supportive and inclusive environment. Our aim is to empower our students to thrive by using a preventative, proactive and strengths-based approach. We work holistically and collaboratively to build the social, emotional and academic wellbeing of our students. 

 The Wellbeing Team
Assistant Principal – Director of Wellbeing: Aaron Palmer 

Chaplain/Youth Worker: Rod Dungan 

Mental Health Practitioners: Laura Seymour & Mariani Mariani 

School Counsellors: Marrissa Kourtis & Jack King 

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, emotional, and behavioural difficulties, family issues, grief and loss, school refusal, risk-taking behaviour, child safety concerns, and other mental health concerns.  

Services Available Through the Wellbeing Team 

 Referral to the Wellbeing Team 

• • Students can self-refer to the Wellbeing Team by visiting the Wellbeing Hub – located at the A8 building (beside the Music Department building).  
  • 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 also request an appointment for their child or themselves by contacting the Wellbeing team via phone. 

 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. 

• • Presentations and workshops for students and parents 
  • LGBTQIA+ Club – to raise awareness and support for sexual and gender diversity and inclusiveness in the school community 
  • R U OK? Day – to raise awareness of engaging in regular and meaningful conversations with others 
  • EAL (English as Additional Language) Club – to build a safe space and connection of international students with the school community  
  • Mental Health Week 

 Child safety and wellbeing at Brentwood Secondary College: information for families and the school community 

In 2022, The Victorian Government announced new Child Safe Standards to further strengthen child safety across organisations, including schools. The new standards recognise the critical importance of families and the broader school community in maintaining and promoting child safety and wellbeing. 

Brentwood Secondary College is committed to providing a child safe and child friendly environment, where students are safe and feel safe.   

Our child safety and wellbeing policies outline the measures and strategies we have in place to support, promote and maintain the safety and wellbeing of our students:    

• • Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy 
  • Child Safety Code of Conduct 
  • Child safety Responding and Reporting Obligations Policy and Procedure 
  • Complaints Policy 

• • Student Wellbeing and Engagement Policy 
  • Bullying Prevention Policy 
  • Volunteers Policy 
  • Visitors Policy 
  • Digital Learning Policy 

 As valuable partners in promoting and maintaining child safety and wellbeing at Brentwood Secondary College we welcome and encourage your feedback. 

If you have any suggestions, comments or questions in relation to our child safe policies and practices, please contact Brentwood Secondary College at brentwood.sc@education.vic.gov.au or by phone on 03 8545 0300. 

 Students with Special Needs 

Brentwood 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 quality education (Contact Phil Van Ginneken). 

For students funded under the Department of Education and Training’s Program for Students with a Disability, we have an experienced team of Integration Aides that support students in the classroom. Additional staff are employed as required to meet the needs of our students. 

Wellbeing Partnerships 

Headspace: Students can access a mental health clinician every fortnight Tuesday. 

Student Support Service Officers from the Department of Education (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. 

Where To Go for Help
In the event of experiencing mental health concerns, significant distress, escalating crises or any form of abuse, there are a number of experienced, trained and supportive members of staff available to you should you need to contact them privately or confidentially. These people include the ‘trusted’ teacher, House Leader, Head of House and any member of the Wellbeing Team. 

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 a significant issue affects their child’s health or wellbeing. 

Community Services Contacts (Click to Download)

24 Hour Numbers 

• • After Hours Child Protection Emergency Services 131 278 
  • Kids Helpline 1800 551 800 
  • Lifeline 13 11 14 (SMS 0477 131 114) 
  • Police / Fire / Ambulance 000 

• • Crisis Assessment and Treatment Team (CATT) 1300 606 024 
  • Sexual Assault Crisis Line 1800 806 292 
  • SuicideLine Victoria 1300 651 251 

Contact the Wellbeing Team:  8545 0338