top of page
1649126577honour_ave_crop.jpg

  Wellbeing  

At Mount Macedon Primary School, we are dedicated to fostering a learning environment where every child thrives academically, socially, and emotionally. We understand that wellbeing and learning are deeply interconnected and strive to nurture both through a whole-school approach.

​

Aligned with the Department of Education’s Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO 2.0), we emphasise excellence in teaching, engagement, and wellbeing. By integrating evidence-based practices, we aim to equip students with the skills, resilience, and confidence needed to excel in their educational journey and beyond.

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

 

Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) at Mount Macedon Primary School

​

We are excited to be joining the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) program, in 2025, a key initiative supported by the Victorian Department of Education in partnership with the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and the University of Melbourne.

The program supports a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing, with the appointment of a dedicated Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader, (Brooke McInnes). This role is distinct from allied health wellbeing roles as it is not designed to provide one-to-one counselling but instead aims to:

  • Promote a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing for students, staff, and families, ensuring that mental health is prioritised and embedded in daily school life.

  • Increase knowledge and reduce stigma around mental health, empowering the entire school community to talk openly and seek support when needed.

  • Support staff in embedding evidence-based mental health strategies, programs, and interventions and enhancing mental health literacy to identify and assist students effectively.

  • Understand and apply the mental health continuum, recognising how children may present socially, behaviourally, and academically across its different stages.

  • Assist staff in identifying students with mental health and wellbeing concerns, facilitating discussions with families and connecting them to the appropriate support services.

  • Build strong referral pathways to both internal and external services, ensuring students with mental health needs receive timely and effective assistance.

  • Advocate for student voice and agency, empowering students to actively participate in decisions about their wellbeing and mental health needs.

  • Provide tailored support for students, recognising their unique circumstances, strengths, and challenges.

  • Recognise risk and protective factors, focusing on strategies to reduce vulnerabilities and enhance resilience.

This proactive and collaborative approach ensures our students are equipped with the skills and support they need to thrive both academically and personally. Learn more about the program at the MHiPS website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

​

​

Picture1.jpg
Picture2.png

​

​

​

​

​​

In 2022 we became a 'Be You' school, to establish a whole learning community approach to mental health and wellbeing.  We also introduced Skodel - wellbeing check in tool.  Find more information here 

​​

Be You is the national mental health in education initiative delivered by Beyond Blue, in collaboration with Early Childhood Australia and headspace.

Be You supports educators from early learning services and schools to develop a positive, inclusive and resilient learning community where every child, young person, educator and family can achieve their best possible mental health. 

 

 

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

At Mount Macedon Primary school, we embed The Kimochis® Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Program school-wide. The Kimochis program helps our community build a strong, positive, communicative school culture and climate.

 

 

 

​

​

​​

​

​

 

​

 

The Kimochis® aims to give children the knowledge, skills, and attitudes they need to recognise and manage their emotions, demonstrate care and concern for others, establish positive relationships, make responsible decisions, and handle challenging situations constructively. 

 

                         

 

The Kimochis® consists of three components:

  1. The Kimochis® characters: teach children how we are like each other, different to each other, and provides them with opportunities to practice tools that help to identify how to play and work with others, and with those who we find challenging to be around.

  2. The Kimochis® Feelings: help to expand children’s daily operational vocabulary and understanding of a range of positive and negative feelings, and practise using tools to make these feelings bigger and smaller.

  3. The Kimochis® Keys to Communication: help children explicitly practice good communication to facilitate conversations about big feelings.

To find out more about the inspiration behind the Kimochis Program, and additional resources available to parents, visit the Kimochis website here.

 

In 2016, Respectful Relationships education became a core component of the Victorian Curriculum from Foundation to Year 12 and is being taught in all Government and Catholic schools and many independent schools. A core element of this initiative is the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) curriculum. 

 

The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships learning materials have been designed for teachers in primary and secondary schools to develop students’ social, emotional and positive relationship skills.

 

The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) learning materials cover eight topics of Social and Emotional Learning across all levels of primary and secondary education: Emotional Literacy; Personal Strengths; Positive Coping; Problem Solving; Stress Management; Help Seeking; Gender and Identity; and Positive Gender Relationships.

 

Wellbeing Hub

Students, teachers and families, all have access to our Wellbeing Hub. This space has been designed to be a calming, safe place where people can connect and be supported. Our Wellbeing and Inclusion co-ordinator runs small Kimochis group sessions here and with the support of our Wellbeing leader, keeps the space well stocked with resources to help our students find calmness and connection. 

​

​

Growth Mindset

Mount Macedon Primary School follow the 'Growth Mindset' research by psychologist, Carol Dweck. The Stanford University professor’s pioneering research, as well as her 2006 book, Mindset:The New Psychology of Success, popularised the concept of fixed and growth mindsets. 

 

American University (2022) explore how a fixed and growth mindsets profoundly affect the way that individuals respond to failure. People with a fixed mindset view failure as a result of their lack of ability, while people with a growth mindset see the opportunity to expand their abilities and to work harder and smarter.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​​

​​

​

​

​

​

​​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mindfulness 

Thoughout the school week, Mount Macedon Primary School students will engage in a variety of forms of mindfulness. We used Smiling Mind across all year levels, as well as engaging in meditation and yoga which promote mindfulness. 

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

be_you.png
Kimochis+101.jpg
Social Emotional Learning Mindset Infographic.png
the-growth-mindset-i-can-get-smarter-large.jpg
bottom of page