Teachers and school staff in Northcote will benefit from targeted preventive programs designed to safeguard their mental health and wellbeing, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Kat Theophanous, Member for Northcote, today announced that Northcote High School is among 17 schools across Victoria that will share in $700,000 as part of the Safe and Well Initiative.

Northcote High School are using their grant to provide Mental Health Literacy Training to improve the mental health, safety and wellbeing of their staff.

The Safe and Well Initiative is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of school staff across the state. The wellbeing of school staff is central to creating a positive school culture for teaching and learning. Schools thrive when principals, teachers and education support staff thrive.

This is part of the Labor Government’s $51 million investment over four years to deliver a range of reforms that support staff safety, employee wellbeing and reforms to health and safety.

The Safe and Well in Education Strategy 2019-2024 puts the health, safety and wellbeing of all school employees first and recognises that mental health is just as important as physical health.

A key priority in the strategy is to improve mental health and wellbeing which is being achieved by providing improving mental health supports for school staff.

The Andrews Labor Government established a Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and its final report will be tabled in the Victorian Parliament in early March 2021. The Labor Government has committed to implementing every single recommendation so we can rebuild the mental health system that Victorians deserve.

Quotes attributable to Kat Theophanous

“This investment is about ensuring that Northcote High School staff have preventive mental health programs to help them achieve their very best at work and in life.”

“We’re committed to ensuring our school staff are happy and healthy, so they can focus on giving students the best opportunity to succeed in education and in life.”