More secondary school students are to have access to additional school-based mental health support earlier than expected as the roll-out of a mental health practitioners’ initiative is brought forward.
Announced by the Minister for Education, James Merlino the support was brought forward in recognition of the increased mental health challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and was now due to be completed by the end of next year.
“The $51.2 million initiative, which began in July last year, provides funding to schools to recruit a mental health practitioner,” Mr Merlino said.
“It will see qualified mental health professionals in every Government secondary school campus across the State, including psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists and mental health nurses,” he said.
“Mental health practitioners offer counselling and early intervention services, and coordinate support for students with complex needs, linking them with broader allied and community health services.”
Mr Merlino said Government secondary schools would receive between one and five days a week of support from a mental health practitioner, depending on the schools size and requirements.
He said schools in Outer Eastern Melbourne would begin to receive support under the Initiative in Term One of next year; Ovens Murray, Term Two; Mallee, Term Two; Inner Gippsland, Term Three; Inner Eastern Melbourne, Term Three; Goulburn, Term Four; Wimmera South West, Term Four; and Brimbank Melton, Term Four.
He said all Victorian Government school students, whether they were learning remotely or attending school on-site, had been able to access mental health and wellbeing support during the pandemic.
