The Victorian government has invested $217.8 million over four years to support student mental health and wellbeing, including $200 million over four years and $87 million ongoing to create a Schools Mental Health Fund (the Fund). Underpinning the Fund is the evidence-based Menu (the Menu).
The Menu provides schools with opportunities to purchase evidence-based programs and initiatives across the three tiers of intervention.
To help you navigate your way around the Fund and Menu the Department has shared the following resources:
Information about the Fund and Menu can be found on the DET website, available publicly. Filters on this page can be used to help you find specific information easier.
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/school/teachers/health/mentalhealth/mental-health-menu/Pages/Menu.aspx
Detailed information about the policy requirements for schools on the Policy and Advisory Library (PAL), which is internal use for people with an education email address. This is where principals will find all the information they need about the funding and resources regarding the Fund and Menu.
https://www2.education.vic.gov.au/pal/mental-health-fund-menu/policy
This brochure contains information on the Fund and Menu and how the rollout will proceed.
https://www.education.vic.gov.au/PAL/schools-mental-health-fund-and-menu-factsheet.pdf
The Planning Tool is a useful tool for school leadership teams to consider student needs. It takes schools through the FISO improvement cycle steps to look at their data, consider any gaps and plan ahead with the Menu to what will be most helpful for students in terms of their wellbeing and mental health needs. This is available through the PAL Resources tab and is only available to those with an education email address.
https://edugate.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edrms/website/PAL/school-mental-health-planning-tool.pdf
The Skills Checklist is a useful tool that allows schools to see the policy requirements of schools in terms of the mental health professionals they can employ with the use of this fund and the minimum qualifications of those professions. This is available through the PAL Resources tab and is only available to those with an education email address.
https://edugate.eduweb.vic.gov.au/edrms/website/PAL/school-mental-health-skills-checklist.pdf
If you need further support or guidance please contact mentalhealth@education.vic.gov.au. They can assist with answering broader questions about Mental Health in Primary Schools or direct you to a suitable department to answer your questions.
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