Wellbeing Philosophy

The Wellbeing Team at Lalor Secondary College recognises the contribution happiness and wellbeing plays in achieving key learning outcomes and sustained academic success for students.

The Wellbeing Team is committed to providing a physically and emotionally safe and supportive environment for students, their families and staff who make up the Lalor Secondary College community. We believe the emotional and physical wellbeing of our students is pivotal to their success at school and in their future lives.

Physically and emotionally healthy students are happy, able to deal positively with life’s challenges, experience a sense of connectedness with the school, engage productively in learning, and are well placed to develop into well-balanced and successful young adults.

It is well documented, if you can get the balance right between academic, social, emotional and spiritual – focusing on the whole child, you increase the probability of achieving improved outcomes for children in an educational setting.

Wellbeing Team

The Wellbeing Team consists of a Student Wellbeing Leader, School Counsellor, and Careers and Pathways Advisor. The Wellbeing Team liaises with Departmental representatives including Wellbeing and Engagement Officers, Psychologist, Speech Pathologist, and Koori Education Support staff; and the Programs Leader (& Program for Students with Disabilities – PSD) at the College.

The Wellbeing Team has a wealth of knowledge and experience working with young people. We are continually collaborating with staff and external support services, and committed to achieving positive outcomes for students and families.

The Wellbeing Team provides individual counselling and case management support to students for matters such mental health, grief and loss, bullying, learning difficulties, workload and stress management, friendship problems, and general welfare support is available.

The Wellbeing Team is available for consultation and can assist with mediating conflict between students. Referrals to external support agencies and services are made where appropriate.

The Wellbeing Team helps inform school policies and also play a pivotal role facilitating and delivering school based [wellbeing focused] programs and initiatives.

Student Wellbeing Referrals

Students and family members are welcome to contact the Wellbeing Team to discuss specific needs or concerns and complete a referral. To schedule an appointment, please call the school on 9436 7300 and ask to speak to a member of the Wellbeing Team. Students can self-refer by going to the Wellbeing office and communicate their issues or concerns to a member of the Wellbeing Team and by completing a Student Self-Referral Form.

Wellbeing Team Location

The Wellbeing Team are located in the 300’s building. Students are encouraged to visit the wellbeing and careers space and familiarise themselves with the area and peruse the various youth friendly resources available to students.

WELLBEING TEAM (Key Contacts)

Daily Pastoral concerns, Student Health & Wellbeing Support
Wellbeing Team Leader – Laz Zaekis

laz.zaekis@education.vic.gov.au
pH: 9463 7300

Daily Pastoral concerns, Student Health & Wellbeing Support
School Counsellor – Amanda Dipasquantonio

amanda.dipasquantonio@education.vic.gov.au
pH: 9463 7300

Daily Pastoral concerns, Student Health & Wellbeing Support
School Psychologist – Anushka Phal

anushka.phal@education.vic.gov.au
pH: 9463 7300

Careers, Transition & Pathway Information & Support
Careers Guidance Counsellor – Krystal Bussell

krystal.bussell@education.vic.gov.au
pH: 9463 7300

Student Health, Wellbeing enquiries & support &
Student Leadership Assistant Principal  – Tim Cottrell

timothy.Cottrell@education.vic.gov.au
pH: 9463 7300

Links to Useful Sites

Wellbeing Focused Programs & Initiatives

The Wellbeing Team collaborates with the Student Programs Leader to ensure the delivery of contemporary and relevant youth based programs at the college. Various wellbeing focused programs and initiatives are implemented at a whole school level, a particular year level, for small groups or targeted programs are developed to address identified issues or group concerns. This preventative approach promotes harm reduction and minimisation, whilst fostering connectedness and positive outcomes for students at Lalor Secondary College.

The Wellbeing Team plays an integral role facilitating and delivering wellbeing focused programs throughout the course of the year.

Students, families and staff can contact a member of the Wellbeing Team for a detailed outline of wellbeing programs available, as the implementation and delivery of programs vary each year.

After School Homework Program (ASH)

Lalor Secondary College in collaboration with ‘The Smith Family’ and ‘Whittlesea Community Connections’ deliver a weekly after school homework program in the College Library Resource Centre.

The After School Homework Program runs weekly over the course of the year between 3pm and 4pm. Students are not compelled to attend each week, have the option of leaving early and are not required to stay the length of the program.

Teachers and trained volunteer tutors attend each session to assist students with work. Students are encouraged to bring their digital devices (for educational purposes). Students also have access to computers, internet, and library resources; whilst staff from the Wellbeing Team facilitate and provide supervision.

The After School Homework Program is open to students in all year levels (7 to 12); however parent/guardian/carer consent is required for students who want to attend the program. Forms are available and can be obtained from the General Office or via the Wellbeing Team.

YOGA Thursdays

Yoga is becoming increasingly popular in our communities, not only for health and fitness, but for sound mind and sense of confidence and wellbeing. The wellness initiative specifically designed for Lalor Secondary College is open to all students (Year 7 to 12) and staff at the College.

The program aims to teach yoga to individuals and allow for growth and connecting people holistically; with a commitment to self-development, health and wellbeing.  Topics covered include: Knowing Your Body; Be Productive; Be Calm; Be Healthy & Set Goals; Be Aware of your Body; Have Perspective; Deepen your Understanding; and Use Yoga in your Everyday Life.

YOGA Thursdays is delivered by a fully qualified Yoga Instructor in the College Drama Centre. YOGA Thursdays is FREE (No payment required), equipment is provided and refreshments are also made available at the conclusion of each session.

Raise Foundation – In School Mentoring Opportunity (Ismo)

The Wellbeing Team in partnership with the Raise Foundation deliver the ‘In School Mentoring Opportunity’ (Ismo) Program at Lalor Secondary College.

Raise Foundation is a registered Australian charity which improves the lives of young people in our community by providing school and community based mentoring programs and personal development workshops.

The Ismo programs focus’ on helping young people make informed choices, improve their relationships, advance their wellbeing and coping strategies, increase their self-confidence, identify and achieve their goals, and engage in further education and employment.

Students are invited to attend the Ismo program by staff who feel the student might benefit from having a neutral positive role model in their lives, and the students choose whether they would like to be involved.

Mindfulness Workshops

The Wellbeing Team provides students across all year levels an opportunity to attend mindfulness workshops throughout the course of the year.

The workshops encourage students to reflect on their daily challenges and the various competing demands confronted in adolescence.

The Program aims to assist students by running workshops with a focus on mindfulness and meditation. Some of the themes covered include: Positive Thinking; Nutrition; Sleep; Organisation; Encouraging Healthy & Active Lifestyles; Art Therapy; Connecting with People and Meditation.

Year 7 Pre-Orientation Support Program

The Wellbeing Team alongside the Year 7 Team and Programs & PSD Leader coordinate a Pre-Orientation Support Program which aims to assist a selected group of prospective Year 7 students with their transition into secondary school.

With the help of trained and skilled Lalor Secondary College student mentors, Grade 6 students learn what it’s like to be a secondary student for a day, get to familiarise themselves with the school grounds, school diaries and combination locks.

The day also provides prospective students an opportunity to begin developing friendships with peers and meet some of their teachers and integration aides.

Stress Management Workshops

Stress management workshops are [primarily] delivered to senior students at Year 12 Study Conference. The workshops encourage students to reflect on their daily challenges and the various competing demands confronted in adolescence and VCE.

The workshop aims to assist students in developing a greater awareness of stress, causes, symptoms, and how to reduce stress by practicing mindfulness and relation techniques.

Some of the themes covered in the workshop include: Connecting with People; Nutrition; Encouraging Healthy & Active Lifestyles, Sleep; and Positive Thinking.

The workshop outlines the various supports services available to students at the college and the community.

Welfare Assistance

Lalor Secondary College acknowledges that a large portion of our families experience financial adversity on occasion. Therefore, at any given time over the course of the year, the Wellbeing Team may provide students and/or families experiencing financial hardship assistance in the following ways: State School Relief (SSR), scholarships; uniform assistance, text books (if available), food hampers and advocacy.

Please feel free to contact the Wellbeing Team if you or your child have any wellbeing or careers related queries or concerns.