A mental health service to help support our young people in government high schools, will roll out in full this year – delivering on the Malinauskas Labor Government’s election commitment.

Today, the Minister for Education, Training and Skills has released the list of schools which will be allocated a specialist practitioner.

The service, which will be available at up to 65 high schools, area schools and R-12 schools in 2023, will see mental health practitioners based in schools to support young people with mild to moderate and emerging mental health concerns. It followed a trial at nine schools in 2022.

The Malinauskas Labor Government is investing more than $50 million to enable 100 FTE mental health and learning support specialists to provide more support to students. This includes 55 FTE for this new School Mental Health Service.

Eligible high schools in the program were selected based on a range of criteria, including those with the highest levels of social disadvantage.

The service is designed to complement the range of existing mental health and wellbeing services already available in schools, including Student Wellbeing Leaders, Student Support Services and the Social Work Incident Support Service (SWISS).

The school mental health practitioners will provide a brief intervention service and will work with other health providers to refer students who require treatment and support for complex and significant mental health issues.

The Department for Education will now begin recruiting qualified social workers, psychologists and occupational therapists.

Quotes

Attributable to Blair Boyer

This service is a key component of the Labor Malinauskas Government’s commitment to the wellbeing of young people in this state.

Research shows that mental health concerns are most likely to emerge in lower secondary years, so we want to support young people when they are most likely to need it.

This investment in mental health and wellbeing will see a workforce including psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists, speech pathologists and other learning support specialists in place to help young people tackle issues early.

The School Mental Health Service pilot program was a valuable first step with practitioners quickly become valued members of the school community.

The service will work collaboratively with students and families, education staff, other support service providers and external agencies to support young people to improve their psychological health and emotional wellbeing.

Attributed to Principal of Para Hills High School Alina Page

Over the past few years, the increased sense of isolation caused by COVID and the use of social media has required a response that is different and additional to that provided by teachers.

The school had an excellent range of supports already on site, and our experience in the pilot program was that having this proactive and substantial service on site was valuable for the whole school.

Our fantastic practitioner is not only providing support to individuals but working across the school to support children gaining skills that go beyond academic subjects.

Attributable to Schools Mental Health Service Principal Practitioner Lisa Doyle

A key strength of this program will be the delivery of services to young people with mild to moderate mental health difficulties, or those with emerging mental health concerns.

The School Mental Health Service is well positioned to fill a gap in services and importantly allow us to intervene early.

By being placed within a school community we can provide an accessible and responsive service to those students in need.

Attributable to Member for Florey, Michael Brown

These roles are incredibly important to supporting our young people when they need it most, in an environment they feel comfortable in.

We know that by providing this support, in schools like Para Hills High School, there will be better educational outcomes for the students, and the wider school community.

Schools that will receive a mental health practitioner:

Adelaide High School
Aldinga Payinthi College
Australian Science & Mathematics School
Avenues College
Balaklava High School
Berri Regional Secondary College
Bordertown High School
Ceduna Area School
Charles Campbell College
Christies Beach High School
Clare High School
Craigmore High School
Findon High School
Gawler and District College
Golden Grove High School
Grant High School
Hamilton Secondary College
Henley High School
John Pirie Secondary School
Kadina Memorial School
Kapunda High School
Kingston Community School
Le Fevre High School
Loxton High School
Mannum Community College
Mark Oliphant College
Millicent High School
Modbury High School
Moonta Area School
Mount Barker High School
Mount Compass Area School
Mount Gambier High School
Murray Bridge High School
Naracoorte High School
Nuriootpa High School
Ocean View P-12 College
Para Hills High School
Parafield Gardens High School
Paralowie School
Penola High School
Playford International College
Plympton International College
Port Augusta Secondary School
Port Lincoln High School
Renmark High School
Reynella East College
Riverbanks College
Roma Mitchell Secondary College
Roxby Downs Area School
Salisbury East High School
Salisbury High School
Seaford Secondary College
Seaton High School
Seaview High School
Springbank Secondary College
The Heights School
Underdale High School
Valley View Secondary School
Victor Harbor High School
Waikerie High School
Whyalla Secondary College
Willunga High School
Wirreanda Secondary School
Woodville High School
Yankalilla Area School