Wellbeing

At our school, student wellbeing and learning go hand in hand. We want every student to feel safe, included and ready to learn. Whether your child needs help with their mental, emotional, social or physical wellbeing, we are here to help them thrive at school and in daily life.

MEET THE WARRAWONG HS WELLBEING TEAM!

At Warrawong High School, our Wellbeing Team is made up of:

• Head Teacher of Wellbeing who supports and leads the team, whilst overseeing and assisting the wellbeing needs of all students.

  • Megan Murdzevski
  • Nisrine Hijazi

• Year Advisors who follow their year group throughout their schooling to ensure students feel safe, supported and connected.

  • Nicholas Zappia (Year 7)
  • Michael Harwood (Year 8)
  • Reagan Leet (Year 9)
  • Nicholas Stanojovic (Year 10)
  • Erin Harman (Year 11)
  • Samantha Bell (Year 12)
  • Troy Fleming (Special Education Year Advisor)

• School Psychologists who provide private counselling sessions for students with specific needs.

  • Melanie Madson
  • Madolyn Humphries

• Student Support Officer who provides mentoring sessions, mediations, links to the community and runs small group wellbeing programs.

  • Elly Mrad

• Chaplain who runs small group wellbeing programs but is also available for one-on-one mentoring and family support

  • Rebecca Muscat

• WHIN nurse who can connect families with external agency and allied health supports

  • Erin Smolders

The whole team ensures necessary student concerns are communicated across the whole school so classroom teachers can make specific adjustments to their teaching to ensure the individual’s wellbeing needs are met. Because at Warrawong High School, student wellbeing is everybody’s business.

Why we value wellbeing at WHS:

Addressing wellbeing in schools has proven to:

• Improve academic excellence and learning outcomes.
• Enable students to connect to their learning through meaningful experiences whilst promoting a sense of belonging.
• Build positive and respectful relationships between peers, teachers and the community.
• Make students more aware of their emotions and how to regulate their behaviour.

Wellbeing Programs:

Teacher Led:

The Resilience Project—fortnightly timetabled GEM (focusing on Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness) lessons​

• Rock & Water—using martial arts to cope with emotions​
• Wellio—provides a library of wellbeing lessons to be used by Year Advisors in Stage 5
• Student Leadership opportunities – SRC & Peer Support. Peer Support Australia provides us with resources to train our school leaders

Chaplain-Led:

• Shine—confidence and self-esteem​
• Ophelia Project—managing emotions for girls
• Breath—dealing with conflict respectfully ​
• Calm—anxiety​
• Seasons for Growth—Loss and Grief

SSO-Led:

• Seasons for Growth—Loss and Grief
• Love Bites—respectful relationships
• Peaceful Kids—anxiety

External Agency Programs:

• Young Women’s Forum (Port Kembla Youth Project)—work with Year 10 girls to improve confidence, self-esteem and sense of belonging
• Warrawong Residents Youth Forum (Warrawong Residents Forum)—work with various students on community projects
• NRL Dragons Best You Can Be—provides wellbeing magazine and fun, engaging physical activity sessions
• Elephant Ed—workshops focusing on belonging, resilience and respectful relationships
• Top Blokes—mentoring for boys led by role models covering topics such as mental health, anger management, risk taking, peer pressure and resilience
• Batyr—mental health workshops that empower students through story telling
• The Butterfly Effect—equips girls with skills to connect socially and emotionally, fostering self-confidence
• Life Choices—workshops on road safety and risk taking
• Mobile Eye Clinic—offering free eye check ups
• Mobile Dental Clinic—offering free dental check ups

Wellbeing Supports:

Ask Izzy is a mobile website that connects people who are in crisis with the services they need right now and nearby.

Kids Helpline answers your questions about counselling, how it all works and what you can chat about – as well as give you useful self-help info and other support options.

Lifeline is a national charity providing all Australians with 24 hour crisis support and suicide prevention services.

13 YARN is an Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islanders crisis support line. Available 24/7. No shame, no judgement, safe place to yarn.

Headspace if you need information or someone to talk to – they'll connect you with expert support for your mental health and wellbeing.

ReachOut is one of the leading online mental health services in Australia supporting young people, their parents and carers, and schools, during tough times.

Beyond Blue is here to help – whether you're seeking mental health info or free, qualified support via chat or phone. Find a life beyond the blues today.

Bullying Supports:

Bullying No Way!Supporting Australian school communities with evidence-informed resources and activities for a proactive approach to bullying prevention and education.

Department of Education Anti- Bullying page. Information and supports for parents/carers and students.

ESafety Commissionercan help Australians experiencing online bullying or abuse to take action or make a complaint. Discover how they can help you stay safe online.

Links to Scholarships:

• Friends With Dignity | Friends with Dignity - Little Friends Scholarship
• Youth Development Scholarships | NSW Government

We would also like to put information about our wellbeing policy (see attached WHS Wellbeing Procedures). Only pages 3, 4, 5, 6, 9, 10 to be included on the school website. Please note that some of the headings of those flow charts are on the previous page.

Underneath the part about Positive Incidents, could we please add the following:

Opportunities for excursions and camps:

• Year 7 and 8 will be offered a joint camp biannually
• Year 9 and above will be offered the opportunity to attend our annual ski trip
• Incentive reward excursions are offered at the end of each term to students who meet the requirements of exemplary behaviour, attendance and uniform and who meet the number of positive incidents. These are often subsidised by the school
• Faculties may also offer their own excursions throughout the year, related to curriculum content

All excursion invites are based on certain behavioural expectations.

Need support for your child's wellbeing?

Get in touch to talk about the right support for your child.

Contact us