Student wellbeing is at the heart of all that we do at Koonung Secondary College. Student services at our College works towards meeting and achieving the wellbeing needs of our students. “In the educational context, wellbeing has been identified as both an outcome, and a process which facilitates children’s progression towards learning and developmental outcomes.” (Mashford-Scott, Church & Taylor, 2012). Wellbeing is inextricably linked to learning; academically, socially and emotionally.

At Koonung Secondary College, we recognise that students learn best when they feel happy, engaged, connected, healthy and safe. We promote the development of each student by placing emphasis on personal development, self-esteem, respectful relationships and social responsibility. Our students are able to flourish in an environment where they feel valued, supported and have access to professional and confidential support when they need it.

Student Services Core Team at Koonung Secondary College

Student Services is responsible for developing and driving the implementation of a whole school approach to the promotion of health and well-being. The core team is also a supportive environment for the members own well-being. It provides a confidential environment to case-manage or plan interventions for students who may require further assistance, guidance and support.

The Student services team consists of:                                                     

• Overseeing Assistant Principal                                                     
• Leading Teacher- Director of Learning: Wellbeing
• Mental Health Practitioner
• School nurse
• School counsellors
• Middle and Senior School Sub-school leaders and staff
• Careers and Transitions Coordinator
• International Office
• Student Integration Team
• DET SSSO Officer

Three Operational areas of Student Services

Organisation, Ethos and Environment

• Student Services is responsible along with school leadership and governance, for developing appropriate policies, strategic plans, values, and organisational structures that support the promotion of well-being.
• Building and maintaining a safe school community – critical incident and emergency management, safety and action plans, wellbeing alerts, IEPs, cyber safety, positive behaviours, non-punitive bullying interventions. Ensuring all staff understand the legal implications and importance of respecting confidentiality, privacy, duty of care and mandatory reporting.
• Supporting implementation of national or state initiatives linked to wellbeing. Eg - Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships, Cybersafety, Inclusive Education, School Wide Positive Behaviour Support, Sunsmart, Asthma, Anaphylaxis Management, Diabetes/Epilepsy education, First Aid qualifications (including physical and mental health first aid).

Teaching and Learning

• Responsible for liaising with staff professional lerning leader to ensure staff professional learning of social and emotional competencies to inform school teaching pedagogy and learning strategies.
• Seeking, promoting and improving access to student and staff wellbeing resources.
• Enabling student voice, leadership and participation in conjunction with Student Leadership and Community Leader.
• Positive Classrooms program.

Partnerships with Parents and Community

• Promoting the development of parents/carers as partners in wellbeing in the school – listening to student/staff requests for assistance, providing support for student modifications or accommodations, seeking help with referrals, providing community supports, liaising with/and or involving education sector Student Services staff.
• Developing and strengthening relevant partnerships with community facilities and agencies to promote health and well-being (eg - Respectful Relationships cluster of schools, Headspace and Whitehorse City Council Youth Services).
• Ongoing partnership with Healing Minds Positive Psychology.

Useful links:

Headspace: https://headspace.org.au/

Kids Help Line: https://kidshelpline.com.au/

eSafety: https://esafety.gov.au/

Kids Matter: https://beyou.edu.au/