The Mental Health Reforms came from recommendations from the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System (tabled in parliament In 2021).

MHiPS is the third Initiative of the Mental Health Reforms in School to be rolled out:

1- Mental Health Practitioners (MHP)

2- Schools Mental Health Fund

3- Mental Health In Primary Schools (MHiPS)

What is MHiPS and its Role?

Participating schools receive funding to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader to implement a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader Is a qualified teacher who will use their knowledge of the in-classroom experience of teachers to complement the school’s existing wellbeing team.

The role includes:

  • building staff capacity through development and delivery of professional learning and support

  • planning & Implementing a whole school approach

  • supporting the creation of clear care pathways

  • supporting teachers to implement strategies & wellbeing supports

  • embedding mental health literacy across the school

The role is not:

  • a clinical or allied health role

  • It does not focus on staff wellbeing supports

  • MHWLs are not involved in mental health assessments of students.


Wellbeing Action Team

The WellBeing Action Team (WBAT) meets once a fortnight to discuss wellbeing programs, processes and concerns. Each member of the WBAT has a number of case managment cases (see details below) as well as constantly reviewing our whole school approach to wellbeing and mental health. Each term we hope to have a WBAT meeting that includes students & parent/carers.


Case Management Approach

The case management approach ensures that students who are in need of extra wellbeing support have a dedicated staff member to connect with.

The role of the support person is to:

  • Connect with the student on a daily basis & check In with them using the mental health continuum (below)

  • Provide a “go-to” person in time of need to lend a shoulder and an ear.

  • Keep detailed records & organise safety plan referrals etc.


Current Support Process

ROYAL FAR WEST
(RFW) provide our primary students with access to speech, OT and psych services via telehealth. This is complemented by 2 outreach visits a year. Students get access to these services through a referral proceess.

Referal Process
Students can be referred to the WBAT via a referral process. A referral can be submitted by a student, parent/carer, staff member or a person that works with a student outside of school (coach, scouts etc)

Tiered Approach

Our framework is based on the tiered approach to wellbeing:

  • tier 1- everyone (85%)
  • tier 2- targeted groups (15%)
  • tier 3- individual support (5%)