At Holy Spirit Primary School Thornbury East, student wellbeing is at the heart of all that we do. As part of the Victorian Government’s Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative, our school is committed to strengthening the mental health and wellbeing supports available for students, staff and families.
The MHiPS initiative builds the capacity of schools to promote positive mental health, identify students who may require additional support and respond early to wellbeing needs. Through this initiative, our school has a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader who works collaboratively with staff, students, families and external agencies to foster a positive and inclusive school culture.
At Holy Spirit, the MHiPS initiative supports:
- A Whole-School Approach to Wellbeing: Wellbeing is embedded across all aspects of school life, creating safe, inclusive and supportive learning environments for every child.
- Early Identification and Support: Staff work together to recognise and respond to students who may require additional emotional, social or mental health support.
- Student Voice and Connection: Students are encouraged to build positive relationships, develop resilience and feel connected to their learning and community.
- Staff Professional Learning: Teachers and support staff engage in ongoing professional learning to strengthen their understanding of child mental health, wellbeing and trauma-informed practices.
- Partnerships with Families and Services: We work collaboratively with families and, where appropriate, external wellbeing and allied health services to support students holistically.
- Promotion of Positive Mental Health: Classroom programs and wellbeing initiatives support emotional regulation, resilience, social skills and positive coping strategies.
The MHiPS initiative complements our Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) framework and Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), ensuring students receive the right support at the right time so they can flourish both academically and personally.