Wellbeing Services

The Hampton Park Secondary College Wellbeing Team works proactively with young people, to empower them in reaching their full potential, by developing skills including resilience and independence.

We are committed to helping strengthen the supportive learning environment at HPSC, which ensures that all students feel culturally, emotionally and physically safe. Thereby reflecting the school values of Respect, Learning, Working Together.

Student Wellbeing Services

Using an holistic, strengths-based approach, the Wellbeing Team supports young people who may be experiencing challenges in the following areas:

Social
Emotional
Behavioural – including risk taking behaviours
Academic or school-based – including school refusal
Family – including family separation
Mental health – including grief and loss
Child safety concerns

We work directly with students, and their entire support systems, in the following ways:

Individual counselling
Prevention and early-intervention – including classroom and therapeutic small-group programs
Case management
Psycho-education and harm minimisation
Positive mental health promotion – including mindfulness meditation, stress management
Positive physical health promotion – including sleep hygiene and respectful relationships
Consultation with parents/carers regarding their child’s learning, behaviour, social or emotional needs
Liaising with parents/carers to provide information and support for the whole family
Consultation with, and referral to, external community support services as well as specialist assessment and treatment services
Provision of, and referral to, material aide for families in need
Breakfast Club
Whole-school celebration days and special events – including ‘R U OK? Day’ and ‘Wear it Purple Day’

The Wellbeing Team are located in A1. We receive referrals for students of concern from members of Hampton Park Secondary College staff, and students are also encouraged to self-refer.

Additionally, parents/caregivers are welcome to make contact with any member of the Wellbeing Team, to discuss concerns on (03) 8795 9400 or email us at contact_wellbeing@hpsc.vic.edu.au

Team Members

The Wellbeing Team are a multidisciplinary team, experienced in a range of areas. We strongly believe that education is a powerful tool to assist young people in achieving success, and actively work to remove any barriers students may face during their time at HPSC.

Debbie Edwards
Student Services Leader

Jacqueline Binns
Counsellor

Andii Dunuwille
Chaplain

Harlin Gandhok
Counsellor

Alisha Gibson
Youth Worker

Jana Mesic
Mental Health Practitioner – Social Worker

Kaye Walker
(Acting) Secondary School Nurse – Department of Education

Prue Smith
School Nurse

Partnerships

In order to best support our students, the Wellbeing Team works collaboratively with experienced community partners. The following youth-friendly clinicians are available within the college:

Melanie Kemper – Psychologist
Foundation House clinician

Unlike with members of the Wellbeing Team, referrals to these allied health professionals may require a referral from your GP, called a mental health care plan. There is still no cost to families for these services, which include 10 counselling sessions (per calendar year). If you have any questions about this process, please see this factsheet.

Given the present climate, these clinicians are currently operating via telehealth – using video chat and email, to support students. For further information on telehealth, please see this resource.

Resources

Below are some resources that may assist our Community during this time.

COVID-19 Pandemic Resources & Supports

The Wellbeing Team understand that in these uncertain times, families may be under a great deal of strain. We remain providing direct support remotely and continue to source creative and dynamic ways to aid our college community.

For a more extensive list of COVID specific resources, see our COVID-19 Updates page: COVID-19 Updates

During this rapidly evolving situation, the Wellbeing Team are aware that families might be confronted with difficulties they have not faced before. So that you can best respond to these challenges, we have compiled a list of support services and organisations which are accessible to our college community:

24 HOUR & CRISIS SUPPORT
Emergency Services	Ambulance, police, fire	000
1800 RESPECT	Family violence information and support	1800 737 732
Beyond Blue	Information and support for mental health challenges	1300 224 636
Child Protection	Southern region intake (Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm) After hours intake	1300 655 795 131 278
Direct Line	Drug and alcohol information	1800 888 236
Gambler’s Help Line	Counselling and support for gamblers and their family	1800 858 858
Grief Line	Counselling and support for bereavement (24/7 as of Sept 2020)	1300 845 745
Kids Helpline	Counselling and support for young people aged 5 – 25	1800 551 800
Lifeline	Crisis counselling and support specialising in suicide prevention	13 11 14
Psychiatric Triage Service	All ages mental health consultation and support	1300 369 012
Safe Steps	Family violence response service	1800 015 188
Sexual Assault Crisis Line	Crisis response, support for sexual assault – also staffed by SECASA	1800 806 292
Suicide Call Back Service	Phone and online counselling for those affected by suicide	1300 659 467

HELPLINES (not crisis services)
Butterfly National Helpline	Support around disordered eating or body image issues Mon – Sun: 8am – 12am	1800 334 673
Carer Gateway	Support for non-parental primary carers Mon – Fri: 8am – 5pm	1800 422 737
Disability Information Helpline	Support for individuals with a disability, and their family Mon – Fri: 8am – 8pm	1800 643 787
DrugInfo	Alcohol & Drug Foundation provides information on substances Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm	1300 858 584
eHeadspace	Phone, email, webchat counselling for adolescents Mon – Sun: 9am – 1am	1800 650 890
Family Relationship Advice Line	Support for families, including through separation Mon – Fri: 8am – 8pm and Sat: 10am – 4pm	1800 050 321
InTouch – Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence	Support for CALD women and children survivors of family violence Mon – Fri: 10am – 4pm	1800 755 988
Mind Australia Carer Helpline	Support for family, friends and carers of people with mental illness Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm	1300 554 660
No to Violence	Support around family violence prevention Mon – Fri: 8am – 9pm and Sat – Sun: 9am – 5pm	1300 766 491
Parent Line	Support for parents and carers of children and adolescents Mon – Sun: 8am – 12am	13 22 89
QLife	Support for LGBTQ+ sexuality, gender, identity and relationships Mon – Sun: 3pm – 12am	1800 184 527
SANE Australia	Support for adults with trauma or complex mental health issues Mon – Fri: 10am – 10pm	1800 187 263
WIRE	Women’s support for issues: financial, housing, relationship, legal Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm	1300 134 130

COMMUNITY AGENCIES
Australian Centre for Grief and Bereavement	Support and counselling for those bereaved through any cause	9265 2100
Andrews Centre	Endeavour Ministries charitable organization providing support	9700 4944
Better Place Australia	Family law information, counselling and mediation	8781 9111
City of Casey Youth Counselling & Support Service	Support for 10 – 25 year old’s, and their families or carers Adolescents can text the mobile number for intake	9792 7279 0417 347 909
CMY – Centre for Multicultural Youth	Programs and supports for refugee and migrant young people	8594 1561
Cranbourne Information & Support Services	Provides wide range of community information and supports	5996 3333
Djirra Aboriginal Family Violence Legal Service	Support to Aboriginal people experiencing family violence Mon – Fri: 9am – 5pm	1800 105 303
Family Life / Shine	Family support services working with vulnerable communities Programs / support available in multiple languages	8599 5344
Foundation House	Services to people who have experienced torture or trauma in their country of origin	8788 3333
Headspace	Youth (12 – 25 year old) physical, sexual, mental health supports	1800 367 968
Relationships Australia	Relationship support for individuals and families to achieve respect	1300 364 277
Salvation Army	Support including crisis, material aid, information and referral	9794 9533
SMRC – Southern Migrant & Refugee Centre	Provides essential services to refugees and migrants	9767 1900
South East Community Links	Practical support services to manage difficulties and build skills	9791 8344
Springvale Monash Legal Service	Free and confidential legal services across the south-east	9545 7400
Uniting (ChildFIRST)	Support services and programs for all marginalised populations	9704 8377
WAYSS	Housing support and crisis accommodation	9703 0044
Windermere	Family support: counselling, housing, parenting programs	1300 946 337

Youth Resources & Supports

The following resources have been compiled by the Wellbeing Team, in order to provide additional support to the adolescents in our college community:

Family Resources & Supports

The following resources have been compiled by the Wellbeing Team, in order to provide support to parents/carers and families:

Anglicare – ParentZone
Better Health Network
Child Mind Institute – Family Resource Centre
Department of Education:
- Looking After Your Child’s Wellbeing
- SAFEMinds Resources
Emerging Minds:
- Child 360
- Podcasts for Parents
Head to Health
MindSpot – Online Mental Health Tools
My Time
ReachOut.com – Parents
Raising Children Network
Services Australia
This Way Up – Improve Your Wellbeing
This Way Up – Multilingual Resources

Child Safety

The College takes seriously its commitment to child safety; for further information, see the Child Safety Policy and Code of Conduct on this website.

HPSC is an eSmart School

eSmart, an initiative of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, helps schools maintain a supported and connected community to reduce online and offline bullying, and increase wellbeing.

For more information, click here.