By Brendan Rees
Every student in government secondary schools across Casey will soon have access to a mental health professional under a $51.2 million Labor state election promise.
Minister for Early Childhood Education Jenny Mikakos visited Cranbourne East Secondary College on Wednesday 31 October which is set to benefit from a new Mental Health in Schools program, which will ensure students are receiving quality mental health care when they need it most.
One in seven Victorians aged between four and 17 are estimated to have a mental health issue, with prevalence higher in secondary school, Labor argues.
This $51.2 million program will allow schools across the state to employ over 190 qualified mental health professionals such as counsellors, youth workers or psychologists.
The Labor Government will also partner with the Orygen National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health to promote student wellbeing within secondary schools.
Principal of Cranbourne East Secondary College Mandee Strickland said the school was excited by the announcement which would enable all schools the potential to build on their well-being programs “through a two tier approach, involving proactive intervention measures and additional support for students with severe needs.”
Student Services Leader Debbie Edwards said “The growth area of the south-east needed more support. It is difficult for our students to access support services around the area and to bring services within the gates is a great outcome.”
Schools will have access to expert advice online through a central web portal, which will support school-based health and wellbeing teams to deliver mental health plans and support to students and receive advice on how schools should interact with allied community and health services.
Every government secondary school will receive between one and five days a week of support from a mental health professional, depending on their enrolment numbers.
It means every government secondary school student will be able to access mental health support at school, with the program to provide at least 385,000 hours of additional mental health support in schools over four years.
Ms Mikakos said the mental health professionals will provide direct counselling support and other early intervention services for students that need it, as well as coordinating support for students with severe needs.
“The best learning happens when kids are happy and healthy – that’s when they’ll get the best opportunities to succeed in life,” she said.
They will also lead prevention activities by giving school staff the skills they need to manage student mental health and help embed mental health promotion and prevention programs and strategies in schools.
This announcement builds on the Labor Government’s $65.5 million investment in student health and wellbeing initiatives in all schools. This includes the Victorian Anti-Bullying and Mental Health Initiative, targeted mental health programs delivered by headspace and the School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support program, as well as increased investment in allied health and nursing services.
