Mental Health and Wellbeing @ St Gabriel’s in 2025 

We readily hear and see confronting statistics in the media, alerting us to the shocking rates of poor mental health in Australia. Unfortunately, what is even more disturbing is that such high rates of poor mental health are being experienced by our young people.  In 2021, the findings from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System, passed on 65 recommendations, all of which the Victorian Government accepted.  Fortunately, some of these recommendations have seen an increase in priority and  funding attributed to promoting positive mental health and wellbeing in our educational institutions. Further information on the RCMHSV can be found on the following link. https://www.vgso.vic.gov.au/historic-moment-victorian-government-releases-final-report-royal-commission-victorias-mental-health

This year, St Gabriel’s has received support to implement a new role within the school; A Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader. This MHWL position was created as part of the Mental Health in Primary Schools program (MHiPS). This initiative was created and continues to be implemented and monitored by The University of Melbourne and The Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

The MHWL role at St Gabriel’s involves:

1. Working with classroom teachers, middle leaders, Assistant Principal and the Principal to advocate for and promote a whole school approach to Positive Mental Health and wellbeing,
2. Researching and investigating scientific, evidence based mental health and wellbeing programs and positive psychology frameworks that can be explicitly taught to students and further embedded into the academic curriculum,
3. Liaising with families in need to help establish clear external care pathways and working collaboratively with other community agencies to improve outcomes for students,
4. Building staff capacity and staff wellbeing

While this role is not intended to function like a school counsellor or psychologist, parents are welcome to talk with their student’s classroom teacher to look at a referral pathway if they are concerned about their students state of wellbeing.

Because we know student academic outcomes are improved when they are functioning well and feeling good, and we know that when we feel good and function well, we experience more success, accomplishment and academic growth, we know that our parents and stakeholders will support this new initiative at St Gabriel’s. I’d like to take this opportunity to encourage you to participate in any future surveys and questionnaires that will circulate, allowing you a voice and avenue to communicate your wellbeing experiences at the school. Your perspectives are valued and will help inform future planning in the wellbeing space at St Gabriel’s.

When schools and families are working collaboratively together, our students feel safe and supported to navigate the world around them, so stay tuned to the newsletter for helpful, informative articles and resources, along with practical strategies to help improve the mental health and wellbeing of everyone in our St Gabriel’s community. 

I look forward to continuing to work with and build on the many wonderful wellbeing initiatives at our school.

Ms. Leanne Greer

MHWL- St Gabriel’s Traralgon