At Coburg High School, we recognise the vital role emotional well-being plays in student success. That’s why we’re excited to introduce our dedicated Wellbeing Team!
Meet our team:
Sasha Martin, Wellbeing Team Leader and Social Worker: Sasha brings extensive experience working with young people in the healthcare system. She’s passionate about youth mental health and offers her expertise and guidance to the team around complex mental health presentations. Sasha offers highly effective therapeutic interventions and strategies to empower students connection to school, themselves and their community.
Nait Casamento, Wellbeing Officer: Nait is passionate about the connection between physical and mental health. With experience supporting students with high needs in the education system, he plays a key role in identifying the school’s wellbeing requirements and implementing programs that address and support the school community. He also provides responsive individual support on a needs basis.
Shanti Petronzio, Mental Health Practitioner: New to the team, Shanti brings her expertise as a social worker from the Royal Children’s Hospital. She offers individual counselling, helping students navigate emotional challenges, with a focus on addressing the mental health needs of students, with a strong sense of commitment and empathy for young people.
Matthew Li, Health Promotion Nurse: Matthew has experience in both hospital and justice settings, Matthew focuses on educating students about physical health and well-being. He promotes healthy lifestyle choices and holistic well-being.
Belle Dolin, Youth Worker: Belle focuses on re-engaging students facing barriers to participation and attendance at Coburg High. Her experience working with school refusal, CALD communities, and neurodiverse students allows her to connect with students on their individual terms and provide support at school and via outreach.
We offer comprehensive services:
- Individual counselling
- Supporting young people navigate their mental health in any capacity
- Workshops and group programs on stress management, resilience, friendships, and gender identity (and more)
- Psycho-social education
- Collaboration with student support leaders for a holistic approach to providing student support and empowering young people to receive an education and be at school
- Referrals to external specialist services
Wellbeing support is available: Before and after school, During recess and lunch for walk-in sessions and self-referrals. Students can also be linked in via a referral from teachers, the student support team, or upon family/student request.
Should you need anymore information, please do not hesitate to email Sasha Martin (Team Leader): sasha.martin@coburg.vic.edu.au
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Additional Learning Needs
Coburg High School has access to a range of staff and programs designed to assist students who have additional learning needs. These include Integration Aides for students who are eligible for and receive PSDMS (Program for Students with Disabilities Management System) funding and educational psychologists.
Attendance
Students are expected to be at school and it is not acceptable to miss school. When absent from school, students miss the opportunity to contribute, to increase knowledge, skills and understanding.
Parents and guardians are expected to record reasons for their child’s absence on Compass and can keep up to date with their child’s attendance patterns through the Compass portal.
Lateness
If late to school, students must check in at reception, using their Student ID at the Compass kiosk.
Anaphylaxis
Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction and anyone who has an anaphylactic reaction will require urgent medical attention. Different people have different triggers. For some it is specific food, for others it is something in the environment. We have students at Coburg High School who are anaphylactic and staff are regularly trained in anaphylactic practices and Level 2 First Aid.
Parents/Guardians of children who have allergies or are anaphylactic must provide the school with the relevant action plan that. Action plans need to be reviewed by a doctor annually, with a copy given to Reception with an up to date and labeled epipen and any other medication as appropriate to the students.
Asthma
Asthma is another serious medical condition that may require urgent medical attention. It is a government requirement that every student diagnosed with asthma (no matter the severity) must have an up to date Asthma Action Plan. The plan must outline the student’s known triggers and the emergency procedures to be taken in the event of an asthma flare-up or attack.
The Asthma Action Plan for Victorian Schools should be completed/reviewed annually for each student with asthma. This plan needs to be completed and signed by a doctor.
It is also recommended that a spacer and Ventolin is brought to be kept in the First Aid room and/or in the student’s bag.
Illness Procedures
Students who are feeling unwell at school may come to First Aid and report to the School Medical Officer. The School Medical Officer will then make contact with the family if necessary to make further arrangements. Students are not to contact parents via their mobile phones if they need to be collected from school due to an illness.
Absences need to be recorded on Compass by parents/guardians and on return to school, medical certificates should be brought to Reception.
Students Requiring Medications
All medication, prescription and non prescription, are to be administered by school personnel following the processes and protocols set out in the Medication Management Procedures of the school. Medication will only be administered with explicit written consent from a parent/guardian or approved person, or in the case of an emergency, with permission of a medical practitioner.
When administering prescription medication the written dosage advice must be on the original medication bottle or container, such as that on the pharmacists label, noting the name of the student, dosage, and time to be administered.