Supports Through Wellbeing
TRIAGE TEAM
Student Wellbeing Officers provide a wide range of supports to student in need. These supports can include brief counselling, problem solving skills, resource provisions, regulation techniques, study skills support, communication skills and information provision. Wellbeing also provides State Schools Relief, food packages and uniform provision where needed. Student Support Groups (SSG’s) are co-ordinated by Donna Blake - for any SSG queries please contact donna.blake@education.vic.gov.au
Triage runs on an appointment basis, students seeking an appointment can make one through our administration worker. Appointments are usually 15-20mins long and focus on singular presenting issues.
Triage will always make time to see students in crisis, and use their discretion to see students on a needs basis.
MENTAL HEALTH PRACTITIONER
Megan is a qualified school-based mental health professional who provides direct counselling support to students who are experiencing mental health concerns that impact their schooling.
Sessions generally run for 1 period and focus on goals that students identify. MHP sessions are completely voluntary, and parental consent (unless deemed mature minor) is required.
Megan may also work with parents and/or relevant staff members if indicated within the means of confidentiality.
Referrals to the MHP will be identified through Student Wellbeing Officers triaging information and bringing it to the meeting. If it is identified that a student would benefit from a referral consent will be obtained.
EXTERNAL REFFERALS
Wellbeing staff have strong connections with local service providers of specified ongoing support. Where necessary student wellbeing officers will support students in making referrals to local service providers.
Some examples of external supports that the wellbeing team liaise with and make referrals to include:
- Brophy services
- Police Youth Liasion Officers
- Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS)
- Centre Against Sexual Assault (CASA)
- SOCIT
- Headspace
- Orange Door
- Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)
- Safe Schools
PROGRAMS:
DOCTORS IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS (DISS)
Doctors in Secondary Schools (DiSS) is an initiative the Victorian Government has introduced to selected secondary schools to assist students with:
- Making healthcare more accessible to students
- Provide assistance to young people to identify and address any health concerns
- Reduce pressure on working parents
DiSS are available for appointments each Wednesday 9am-3pm.
Appointments can be booked through HotDoc here
Students can also attend wellbeing for support when booking an appointment.
CONFIDENTIALITY AND INFORMED CONSENT
The DiSS program is governed by the same laws on consent and confidentiality for medical treatment by a GP as are applied in the general community. As in standard practice in Medical Centres, the GP will assess if a young person is a mature minor with respect to the issue for which they are seeking medical treatment.
Students who are not mature minors cannot give consent to their own medical treatment. Students who are mature minors can consent to their own medical treatment. The assessment as to whether a young person is a mature minor may vary for different issues.
For the purposes of the Doctors in Secondary Schools program, mature minors are students who are under the age of 18 years and have sufficient maturity and cognitive and emotional capacity to understand the nature and consequences of seeking and obtaining health care. This will be reviewed by the GP upon consultation and individually assessed. Students over 18 are automatically considered to be mature minor.
If the GP decides the student is not a mature minor and the student wants to pursue treatment, their parents or carers will be informed so that their consent is sought prior to commencing any treatment.
Click on this link to find out more about our Brauer College Wellbeing Team
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