Our final newsletter for the 2023 year! What a year it has been in the Wellbeing space. There is not a week that goes by that I do not feel incredibly grateful for the amazing team I work with and the privilege of the work we do with our amazing students and families here at Fairhills High School. We would love to acknowledge and celebrate the success of all our students making it through the 2023 academic year- we are aware that school can be challenging for some students for many reasons. The resilience shown by many of our students in the face of adversity in continuing to ‘show up’ for their learning, their friends and themselves is truly amazing. We encourage parents and caregivers to join us in celebrating student resilience and the hard work that they have put in for 2023. It is also a good time for parents to show compassion to yourselves as you continue to navigate the challenges of parenting and adolescence while you support the young people in your lives.

A Wellbeing wrap from us. The amazing Wellbeing Team this year has been our Chaplain- Gail, our Mental Health Practitioner-Mariani, our Health Promotion Nurse- Kaye (Term 3 and 4), Kerrie and Sarah, our amazing volunteer Counsellors and Sarah, Eliza, Anita and Callum, our incredibly skilled Counselling placement students. Between us we have coordinated, developed and/or delivered a range of whole school, targeted and one to one services and programs for our students this year. We rolled out termly whole school awareness raising campaigns including- Reconciliation Week, RUOK?Day, IDAHOBIT, National Day of Action against Bullying & Violence and Mental Health Month; facilitated 2 Expressions therapeutic art groups, facilitated weekly Q-Squad lunchtime groups, delivered a Vaping Education program across Years 7-9; coordinated Man Cave and Reach Foundation seminars across Year 10-12 and Pat Cronin Foundation presentations to year 10’s, coordinated student dental care, facilitated a Healthy Habits Day for Year 11’s, as well as sessions within the Middle School THRIVE classes, Year 7 Orientation program and the Year 11 Conference. On top of this we have provided access to short term counselling, case management and referral pathways for many students. We have continued to support our students and families with our food program, including Breakfast Club, free Tasty Truck sandwiches and fortnightly Food Pantry for families in need. We have continued to support training counselling students on their professional placements, who in turn provide much needed support for our students. We have trained in Youth Mental First Aid, Teen Mental Health First Aid and the Shark Cage program. The skill and commitment of the team over the year has been unquestionable.

We extend our deepest thanks to everyone who has supported the Wellbeing program over the year. In particular we would like to thank our incredible community volunteers from Knox Baptist Church and Hillsong who support our Breakfast Club program. Every day these incredible humans give their time to set up, serve and connect with students who access Breakfast Club, either before school or at recess. These incredible volunteers also pick up sandwiches from Tasty Trucks and deliver them to the school for our students. Without them, our food program would not operate.

We are also grateful to Foothills Community Care and Hillsong who have provided frozen meals and pantry items for our community over the year. Their continued support means we can support families in need.

This week we have farewelled Anita and Callum, our two incredible counselling placement students who have now finished their placements and will graduate their counselling degrees. We are deeply grateful for the support they have provided many of our students and although we are sad to see them go, we are excited for their future as counsellors where they will further share their skills, warmth, compassion, and kindness to the wider community. We will welcome two new counselling placement students, Anita (yes, another amazing Anita) and Allysha who will commence with us in Term 1, 2024.

We wish everyone safe and happy holidays and for those who celebrate Christmas, a Merry Christmas. We look forward to seeing you all in the new year and continuing to support the health and wellbeing of our students.

Peta Cartwright | Student Wellbeing Coordinator

Accessing support through Wellbeing – Students

The Wellbeing Team can support students to navigate challenges that may be impacting on their ability to engage in learning or general feelings of wellbeing. This can include: transitions and adjusting to change, family or relationship difficulties, grief and loss, mental health concerns, drug and alcohol concerns, and many other challenges that young people encounter.

An initial appointment with a member of the wellbeing team will be an assessment of need with the student or family which will help to decide the best support option for the student. Support options available through the Wellbeing Team are:

• Individual short term counselling, psychoeducation and skills development
• group programs
• referrals to external support agencies.
• students may also be encouraged to access self-help strategies or resources.

Referrals to see someone from the team are made through year level leaders. Parents, students or teachers with concerns are encouraged to speak to their year level leader. Students or parents can also make an appointment directly with someone from the Wellbeing Team by attending the Wellbeing Centre, calling the school office or contacting us via email at wellbeing@fairhillshs.vic.edu.au

Year level leaders who are made aware of concerns by a teacher will always endeavour to make contact with parents before referring a student to the Wellbeing team.

All counselling sessions with students are confidential and information is only shared if a student is deemed to be at risk of harm.

If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, please contact kidshelpline or lifeline on the numbers at the bottom of this page.

What’s on in Wellbeing?

The Wellbeing Centre is open at recess and lunchtime for students who need a quiet, safe place to regulate or access support. The centre is also used for lunchtime group programs which are advertised through compass or on notice boards.

Q-Squad, our LBGTQIA+ group runs every Thursday lunchtime.

Accessing Support – Families

Most families, at some stage, need a little extra support to manage the normal challenges of life as well as the more difficult situations that arise. If you are experiencing hardship, stress or circumstances that are impacting on the wellbeing of your family life or your ability to cope, the Wellbeing Team can help to connect you with community services that can provide support. Please contact the Wellbeing Team via the school phone number or via email at wellbeing@fairhillshs.vic.edu.au

School Holiday Activity

Established in 2009 in Melbourne, Australia, Satellite Foundation is an accessible, caring not-for-profit organisation that connects and empowers young people who have a family member living with mental health challenges. These challenges can impact all family members, so Satellite takes a whole-of-family approach including peers and the wider community. Satellite’s creative programs support the ongoing growth and transformation of young people so they can realise their full potential. During the school holiday, Satellite will be offering free programs and workshops including:

At Home with Satellite – Online Workshop*
Ages 12-14 years
Dreamboards
Tuesday 16 Jan 1pm-3pm
*At Home with Satellite is a workshop via Zoom, participants will be sent a parcel in the mail with all the creative materials needed to create all the wonderful things that the workshop provides.

Create & Connect Workshop – In person.

Geelong – Bluebird Foundation
Ages 14-17 years
Wednesday 17 & Thursday 18 January

Create & Connect Workshop – In person
Yarra Youth Centre, Fitzroy
Ages 12-15 years
Thursday 25 January
For in-person workshops, transport support can be provided.

If students are interested, please express your interest by sending email to mariani.mariani@education.vic.gov.au, our Mental Health Practitioner. We will then complete a referral to Satellite Foundation. Once submitted, Melanie (family liaison 8-13 years) or Ned (youth liaison -14+ years) will reach out to the family/young people via SMS and arrange a time for a casual chat & answer any question they might have about joining Satellite and the program.

What’s on

Clothing Support – Thread Together

We recently partnered with Thread Together to provide free and brand clothing for students in need. Thread Together collects brand new unsold clothing from all around the country, saving it from landfill. Thread Together believe that people in need deserve the dignity and choice of new clothing, without judgement. If your children need any help with clothing, please contact the Wellbeing team for further assistance.

Breakfast Club

With the support of volunteers from local churches- Knox Baptist and Hillsong Church we are able to provide a breakfast club 5 days a week for our students, including a Pancake Breakfast every Thursday morning. All students are welcome.

Food support for families in need

Each fortnight on a Tuesday after school from 2:48pm – 3:08pm we have food support available for families who may be in need, for whatever reason. We have a selection of frozen meals and pantry items that families can collect from the former school canteen area without question or judgement. We know that access to food can be a real challenge for some families and we feel strongly about supporting the basic needs of our students and families. Watch out for compass posts each fortnight.

External food support options

The following community agencies provide food support for families in need.

Cybersecurity: Resources

eSafety’s express learning series provides parents and carers with practical tips and advice on common online safety concerns. The videos are 5 to 10 minutes long and cover four important topics, including:

• Setting up parental controls
• Digital technologies and mental health
• Cyberbullying and online drama
• Online sexual harassment and image-based abuse

Cyber Safety Project provides a whole community approach focused on developing future skills, lifelong habits and self-regulation when innovating and using digital technologies for work, life and play. To create safer communities our educational programs and proactive teaching strategies will engage the whole community with learning how to participate safely and responsibly in a digitally-engaged world. To learn more about family workshops and webinars for parents or carers, please visit https://cybersafetyproject.com.au/families/