The wellbeing and care of our students underpins every aspect
of life at Bairnsdale Secondary College
The College has a caring and supportive environment for its students, fostering the development of resilience, self-confidence, respect and perseverance through our College values and all interactions between staff and students.
The three Hubs; Wargommerin, Wurrin and Malgobila each has a core team of coordinators and educational support staff who oversee the daily needs of the students; monitoring student academic and social development and liaising with families.
The Hubs may refer a student to one of our following wellbeing programs operating within the school; Wellbeing and chaplaincy, GEM Program, Doctors in Secondary Schools, Clontarf and Girls at the Centre.
Gippsland Engaged Mentoring (GEM) program
The Wellbeing team manage referrals to the GEM program. Young people who may be ‘at risk’ of disengagement with school or community are connected with adult mentors who provide friendship, support, and conversation for 1 hour a week. The aims of the program are to; increase self-esteem and confidence, improve relationships with peers and family, reduce feelings of isolation and support a sense of belonging, promote connectedness within local communities, improve school retention and attendance.
Doctors in Secondary Schools Program
Bairnsdale Secondary College is a partner in the Doctors in Secondary Schools Program (DISS).
All students enrolled at the College are able to access a qualified doctor and nurse available in a dedicated clinic on the school grounds. The doctor and practice nurse operate from Gippsland Lakes Complete Health and are available one day a week.
The main objectives of the Doctors in Secondary Schools program are to:
- make primary health care more accessible to students
- provide assistance to young people to identify and address any health problems early
- reduce the pressure on working parents / carers and community-based GPs.
The program is guided by equity of access and cultural safety for all students in our College community.
To access this service please contact the relevant Hub where an appointment can be arranged.
Parents/carers are able to attend.
School Nurse
The College nurse, Sophie Brown, along with school dog 'Charlie', promotes student health and wellbeing within the College. The nurse organises small group programs at recess and lunchtime for students across all year levels. The nurse also engages hub staff and health and pastoral coordinators to facilitate health- related programs within the College. The College Nurse is available to help any student who may require support or assistance in regard to their physical, personal or social development issues that may be affecting their education.
Breakfast & Lunch Programs
With food generously donated from Food Bank, Wellbeing serve breakfast and lunch daily to all students.
Breakfast - 8.00am to 8.30am
Lunch - 1.06pm to 1.30pm
Clontarf
The College works in partnership with The Clontarf Foundation to run support programs for male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The Clontarf Foundation has worked with the College Community since 2010 to develop increased levels of school engagement amongst male Indigenous students and their families.
Students in the program are supported by agency staff that are based at the College.
The program is part of a strategy that is focused on increased and sustained attendance for our Indigenous student cohort.
The College also places emphasis on building positive respectful relationships between staff, students and carers.
The College works in partnership with The Clontarf Foundation to run support programs for male Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
The Clontarf Foundation has worked with the College Community since 2010 to develop increased levels of school engagement amongst male Indigenous students and their families.
Students in the program are supported by agency staff that are based at the College.
The program is part of a strategy that is focused on increased and sustained attendance for our Indigenous student cohort.
The College also places emphasis on building positive respectful relationships between staff, students and carers.
Girls at The Centre
In 2016, the Smith Family, partnered with the College to create a program that was titled “Girls at the Centre”. The programs participants are drawn from all year levels and have a ratio of 70% Indigenous and 30% non- Indigenous students. Its purpose is to support the girls and their families in a variety of contexts related to education.
Students in the ‘Girls at the Centre’ program are supported by agency staff that are based at the College.
The College continues to work with agency staff to strengthen the program.
The program is part of a strategy that is focused on increased and sustained attendance for our Indigenous student cohort.
The College also places emphasis on building positive respectful relationships between staff, students and carers.
In 2016, the Smith Family, partnered with the College to create a program that was titled “Girls at the Centre”. The programs participants are drawn from all year levels and have a ratio of 70% Indigenous and 30% non- Indigenous students. Its purpose is to support the girls and their families in a variety of contexts related to education.
Students in the ‘Girls at the Centre’ program are supported by agency staff that are based at the College.
The College continues to work with agency staff to strengthen the program.
The program is part of a strategy that is focused on increased and sustained attendance for our Indigenous student cohort.
The College also places emphasis on building positive respectful relationships between staff, students and carers.
