Wellbeing

The Brentwood 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. The Wellbeing Team is committed to building student’s 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.

The Wellbeing Team
Brian Clements, Rod Dungan, Maddy McKellar and Alex Lough.

The Wellbeing Centre

Offers a safe and inviting environment for students to seek help and access support services, i.e. counsellors, psychologist, social workers, wellbeing and other allied wellbeing professionals.

The Wellness Centre is aligned with the Department of Education’s approach to improving student outcomes by using a ‘student centred’ approach and improving accessibility, by bringing services within the gates of the school.

Referral to the Wellbeing Team

Students can self-refer to the Student Wellbeing Team by visiting the Wellness Centre located opposite the Library (see the purple walls)
Principals, teachers and support staff can arrange for a referral to the Student Wellbeing Team if they have concerns about a student’s wellbeing
Parents can also request an appointment for their child with the Student 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 Student 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.

Student Wellbeing Services

The members of the Student 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
Child safety concerns

Services Available Through the Student Wellbeing Team

Individual counselling for students
Triage counselling
Positive mental health promotion and liaison with school-wide programs relevant to student wellbeing
Therapeutic for individual and group focus on stress management, anxiety and academic pressure
Student Support Group support with parents and young people regarding any learning, behavioural, social or emotional concerns they have.
Referral to external support services and specialist assessment/treatment services
Support for students in need (books, uniform etc).

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: ‘trusted’ teacher, House Leader, Head of House and any member of the Wellbeing Team.

Child Safety

Brentwood Secondary College is continually developing an organisational culture that protects children from abuse and reflects its commitment to child safety. Our Statement of Commitment to Child Safety can be found on the Policies page, as can our Child Safe Code of Conduct and other relevant policies and information, such as the Visitors and Volunteers Policies. The Community Information booklet provides our College community with vital information on how we are meeting the requirements of Ministerial Order 870 – the Child Safe Standards. If you have any questions in relation to the Child Safe Standards, please do not hesitate to contact our Child Safety Officer, Brian Clements on 8545 0300.
Further information about the Child Safe Standards can also be found on the DET Victoria Website.

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 a quality education. (Contact Phil Van Ginneken)
For students funded under the Department of Education’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

Mental Health Clinicians: Students can access a mental health clinician via a mental health care plan at school each Friday.

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

Breakfast Club – Run by the Salvation Army to promote good health and relationships and start the day well together. Breakfast Club runs each Tuesday from 8 am
Presentations – Presentations on cyber bullying, bullying and community safety
LGBTIQ+ Club – To raise awareness and support for sexual and gender diversity and inclusiveness in the school community
Parent Support: offer parents support and counsel in the care of students at BSC
Restorative support: provide support and mediation for students in conflict with each other, support for students on with-drawl.
Re-connection and Outreach Program: Support for students and family in reconnecting with school
Transition approach: Supporting students in the reconnection with school and managing their anxiety
EAL and International student support: support for students in managing their transition and assimilation
Empower Youth Program – Inclusive program for students from CALD background
Health & Wellbeing Days – To promote health wellbeing and have fun participating in workshops
National Day Against Bullying – All students participate in activities on this day
R U OK? Day – To raise awareness of engaging in regular and meaningful conversations with others
Mental Health week

Community Contacts

Monash Community Health Service 5990 6789
Centre for Multicultural Youth Issues 8594 1550
City of Monash Youth Services 9705 5200
Monash Information & Support Service 5996 3333
Foundation House (support for refugees/asylum seekers) 8788 3333
Hanover Dandenong – Housing Support 1800 825 955
Headspace, Knox 1800 367 968
Parentzone (Anglicare) 1300 984 011
Relationship Australia 1300 364 277
Springvale/Monash Legal Service 9545 7400
Monash Community Link 9547 0511
Taskforce Drug & alcohol counselling 9532 0811
QLIFE (support for LGBTI) 1800 184 527
Uniting Connections (Child First) 9705 3939
XXXX (Crisis accommodation) 9703 0044
YSAS (Youth Support & Advocacy Service) 1800 458 685

24 Hour Numbers

DHS Child Protection Southern Region Intake (Mon-Fri 9 am to 5 pm) 1300 655 795
DHS Child Protection (After Hours) 131 278
Directline 24 hr 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

Contact the Wellbeing Team: 8545 0338