Wellbeing & Allied Health Team

The teenage years represent a transition from childhood to adulthood. With this transition, come many changes – changes to bodies, emotions, behaviours and attitudes. Staff at Craigieburn Secondary College understand these changes and can provide information and support. Friendships developed during secondary school can provide peer support and help children develop social skills and self-esteem.

Making new friends and feeling comfortable are especially important when children start secondary school. It is important to remember, however, that your child’s friendships may change as they develop a sense of themselves and make sense of the world around them. A child’s relationship with their parents/carers and family may similarly change. Students adapt to adolescent life in different ways. If you feel that your child is having difficulties, it is important to discuss your concerns and ask for help if needed.

Parents/carers have an important role in supporting their children’s progress at school. It is also important to know that there are staff with specific roles to support student wellbeing and student learning available in schools.

The Allied Health Team at Craigieburn Secondary College is comprised of a:

  • Wellbeing Leader
  • English as an Additional Language (EAL) & Community Engagement Leader
  • Allied Health Coordinator
  • Individual Learning Needs Coordinator
  • Speech Pathologist
  • Social Worker
  • School Nurse and GP attending the Doctors in Schools Program
  • School Chaplain
  • School Counsellors
  • Mental Health Practitioner
  • Youth Workers

The Allied Health team is responsible for promoting mental health and wellbeing in school. Research indicates that more than half of all mental health disorders can emerge during young adolescent years and three quarters by 25 years old.

The Allied Health team help our students flourish during their educational journey, build resilience against challenging times, develop protective ways and strategies to cope, such as skills and confidence to seek help rather than manage issues alone. Whole school programs are organised to embed a safe and inclusive learning culture and environment, which include social and emotional skills programs; offering early intervention and support for those with additional needs, involve students and families in their wellbeing and mental health decision making.

Resilience to cope and thrive in adverse, challenging and during impactful and traumatic events are supported by the college multi-disciplinary teams by providing positive social connections, safe environments, life skills and problem solving skills, safety plans, and above all a sense of agency or responsibility so that our students, families and community build a capacity to promote and protect their mental health.

Teaching staff deliver a wellbeing and social emotional learning focused curriculum through our Personal Learning, Health and Physical Education subjects.

At Craigieburn Secondary College we practice the State Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) framework, a multi-tiered approached for primary prevention; targeted support and specialised systems for students with intensive needs. Strategies aim to improve social, emotional, behaviour and academic outcomes, and our experienced sub-school teams handle issues such as truancy, school refusal, bullying, family conflict, self-esteem, anger management, study skills, stress management, social skills, time management and exam preparation, mediation of student disputes using conflict resolution models and assisting students with financial difficulties.

The Allied Health team work with the Junior, Middle and Senior Sub schools, Learning Partners, Principal Class, teachers, other wellbeing professionals and agencies to address student needs.

In addition to these services, the Allied Health Team and Sub Schools organise and deliver health education activities throughout the College.  Members of the Allied Health Team are involved in:

  • individual and group counselling of students
  • the provision of consultancy advice on effective behaviour management programs
  • student voice and agency
  • liaison with other government or non-governmental welfare agencies or medical specialists.

Craigieburn Secondary College also has access to the services of Northern Metropolitan psychologists, speech pathologists, social workers, visiting teachers and other related professionals. They work directly with the Allied Health Team, students and families to better understand speech and language, social and emotional issues which might be affecting the student’s ability to learn. They also work with teachers and our school to support students with additional needs.

The State school relief program is available to support students and families at Craigieburn Secondary College. Changes to State School Relief from the 27th of November 2023.  In the past we have provided students with a voucher that could be redeemed at PSW. However, over time the gap between the cost of the item and the amount of vouchers has grown wider. So, to ensure support goes further for families, very important changes are being made. On Monday 27th November 2023 we will launch a new and improved voucher.  Each voucher will have a value of $85. There will now be a limit of 1 voucher per application every 6 months. A maximum of 2 vouchers per student/per calendar year, these vouchers will be valid for 3 months from the date of issue. Vouchers can be used to purchase items at PSW.  For state school relief support please contact our Community Liaison Officer on 9308 1144.