We released a new Schools Mental Health Fund and evidence-based Menu that will support schools to deliver programs, staff and other support to meet the mental health and wellbeing needs of students.
This new initiative is in response to Recommendation 17 of the landmark Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System (education login required) and comes in National Mental Health Month.
About the Schools Mental Health Menu and Fund
The Schools Mental Health Menu is a publicly available resource and has been developed in close collaboration with the Schools Mental Health Reform Reference Group, which includes teachers and mental health experts.
Schools can select evidence-based programs and initiatives from the online Menu across the three tiers of intervention. This includes:
- early intervention and therapeutic model items, including training for teachers in trauma-informed practice and therapy dogs
- positive mental health promotion items, such as Positive Education
- more targeted and individualised support for students who need it.
To support schools to purchase items from the Menu, schools will receive funding from the newly established Schools Mental Health Fund.
The Fund will be rolled out to all Victorian government rural and regional schools from Term 3, 2022, and all Victorian government metropolitan schools by 2024.
Schools Mental Health Menu in the classroom
The Menu will particularly help teachers to better understand where and how to focus their efforts in promoting mental health and wellbeing into their school culture, planning and delivery across teaching and learning, and to make referrals to treatment, care and support services where required.
Mental Health in Primary Schools Pilot
To increase support in primary schools, a further 74 schools across the state will join the Mental Health in Primary Schools Pilot in 2022, bringing the total number of schools in the pilot to 100.
A partnership with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, the Mental Health in Primary Schools Pilot gives participating primary schools funding for a Mental Health and Wellbeing Coordinator to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Student and staff mental health support and resources
Refer to guidance for support with resources and actions to undertake with students returning from school holidays and to onsite learning.
You can also access guidance to support the mental health and wellbeing of students through the Guide to Student Mental Health and Wellbeing resources and Mental Health Toolkit.
Additional mental health and wellbeing support (education login required) is also available, including assistance through health and safety representatives (education login required) and the Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
To book a confidential counselling session with the EAP, call 1300 361 008 or use the live chat function on the Lifeworks Australia website.
Find out more
For more information, including guidance and planning tools, refer to the Schools Mental Health Fund and Menu page in the department's Policy and Advisory Library.
For further enquires, contact the Mental Health Reform Division by email: mentalhealth@education.vic.gov.au
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