Wellbeing

Yarrawonga College P-12 has made a significant investment in wellbeing supports for our students for the coming years.

We have a range of mental health support as well as physical health support options.

Our Doctors in Secondary Schools program currently runs weekly on Thursdays between 9:30am-2:30pm. These appointments are bulk billed for students in Years 7-12 and can be booked through the school.

Our Community Workshop program also continues to run, enabling students to have a creative outlet for engagement within school working with mentors from our community. Michelle Klowss facilitates this program as well as engaging in a number of other community supports for our families.

Our School Counsellor, Jessica Mathieson, offering 1:1 support for students, education around mental health for our community, as well as running small group interventions.

Our Social Worker, Kate Hubbard, offering a case management approach to connect our students and families with services within our community, as well as offering small group interventions.

Our Student Welfare Coordinator offers 1:1 support and case management for students, coordinates of the wellbeing team and supports across the school, as well as running small group interventions.

We continue to run our Big Breakfast Program on the senior campus, enabling students to not only get a great breakfast, but an opportunity to connect with staff and their peers.

Primary Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

Yarrawonga College P-12 has a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, (MHWL) working across the Primary years of the College.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders are qualified teachers registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching, who work across the school to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing for students, staff, and families based on a broad knowledge of the needs of the school community. This includes:

• building the capacity of school staff, in particular classroom teachers, to identify and support students with mental health concerns in the classroom
• supporting the school to create clear referral pathways internally (within school) and externally (to community services) for students identified as requiring further assessment and intervention
• coordinating targeted mental health support for students by working with regional staff, school wellbeing and leadership teams, teachers, parents/carers, and external agencies.

The MHWL role focuses on mental health and wellbeing promotion, prevention and early intervention, rather than the implementation of clinical or allied health approaches.

MHWLs receive training from the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne, and professional development through continued learning communities.

School leaders are supported to implement MHiPS by dedicated regional mental health branches.

Restorative Practice at Yarrawonga College P–12

At Yarrawonga College P–12, we are committed to building a safe, respectful and inclusive learning environment through the use of Restorative Practice. Restorative Practice is an evidence-based approach that focuses on strengthening relationships, repairing harm, and supporting positive behaviour. Research shows that schools using restorative approaches experience improved student wellbeing, stronger connections between students and teachers, and reduced incidents of repeated conflict.

Instead of focusing solely on punishment, Restorative Practice encourages students to take responsibility for their actions, understand the impact on others, and actively contribute to finding solutions. This approach aligns with our College values of respect, responsibility, honesty, cooperation and integrity and supports our vision of empowering learners, making connections, and achieving success.

By embedding Restorative Practice across all stages of learning, Yarrawonga College P–12 fosters a culture where students feel heard, valued, and supported to grow both academically and socially.

Proactive Programs at YCP-12

At Yarrawonga College P–12, we recognise that student wellbeing is the foundation for engagement, learning, and success. Our approach is grounded in Restorative Practice, an evidence-based framework shown to improve relationships, reduce conflict, and foster responsibility by focusing on repairing harm and strengthening connections.

To build a culture of respect and inclusion, the College implements the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) curriculum across all year levels. Research demonstrates that explicit teaching of respectful relationships and social–emotional skills leads to greater resilience, empathy, and positive behaviour outcomes for students.

We also prioritise Wellbeing and Emotional Literacy in every classroom, ensuring students develop the skills to understand and manage their emotions, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Alongside our universal programs, we offer a range of proactive and targeted supports such as Chill Skills, Lego Therapy, Seasons for Growth, Social Stencil, and tailored Social and Life Skills groups alongside zones of regulation in the early years. These programs are designed to give students practical strategies to regulate emotions, navigate challenges, and thrive both at school and in the wider community.

Through this integrated, whole-school approach, Yarrawonga College P–12 is committed to creating a safe, supportive, and empowering environment where every student can learn and succeed.