Student Wellbeing

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader is a teacher who works across the whole school to strengthen how we support student wellbeing. This role focuses on building staff confidence, creating clear pathways for support, and ensuring students are identified early and connected to the help they need. It is not a counselling role, but supports a proactive, whole-school approach to promoting positive mental health.

This role is part of the Victorian Government’s Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative, which helps schools build a consistent and preventative approach to student wellbeing.

At Oakleigh Primary School, this means supporting teachers with practical strategies, developing clear pathways for additional support, and working with families and external services when needed. This helps ensure classrooms are calm and supportive, students learn to manage their emotions, and those who need extra help are identified early.

School Counsellor

The School Counsellor supports students with their mental health, wellbeing and emotional needs; especially when those “big feelings” start to feel overwhelming.

Support is provided through one-on-one and small group sessions, helping students with things like friendships, school worries, and challenges at home. Counselling offers a safe and supportive space where students can talk, feel understood, and learn strategies they can use in everyday life. Students can be referred through teachers, leadership or families, with parent/carer consent required for ongoing support. Students can also access support if something arises during the school day. Support is tailored to each child, with a strong focus on understanding and respecting each student’s background, experiences and culture.

The School Counsellor works closely with Leadership and our Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader to ensure every student is supported; both through whole-school approaches and more targeted support when needed.