Wellbeing

Wellbeing is embedded in how we deliver education, how we support families, and how we work alongside young people as they move through different stages of their schooling.

We are deeply committed to prioritising wellbeing as an integral part of the school experience and believe it is foundational to how we learn, connect and grow together. 

Our whole-school approach to physical and mental health creates the conditions for wellbeing to develop over time, across classrooms, relationships and daily experiences. Through shared language, intentional practices and consistent support, students are encouraged to understand themselves, care for others and navigate challenges with confidence.

Our commitment to a whole school approach to wellbeing is embedded in every layer of school life. Through the dedicated work of our Pastoral Team and mentor program, our regular eiPulse check ins and Wellbeing Weeks, comprehensive staff training in Youth Mental Health First Aid, and informative Parent Seminars, we actively foster a culture where wellbeing is prioritised, supported, and strengthened across our entire school community.

Relationships first

At the centre of our wellbeing approach is the value we place on relationships. Acceptance, celebration as well as acceptance and connection give young people the courage to be themselves, to take risks, and to move through uncertainty knowing they are supported. At Preshil, wellbeing grows through belonging, through being known, listened to and respected.

A Dedicated Wellbeing Space

Our dedicated wellbeing space serves as a calm and supportive hub within the school day. It serves as a place where students can pause, reset, and seek guidance when they need it most. For those who require time to reset before returning to class, the space provides a safe, welcoming and easily accessible environment to do so.

Beyond individual support, the space also fosters peer connection and informal check-ins with our wellbeing team. These regular touchpoints allow students to access personalised support in ways that feel comfortable, timely and responsive to their needs as they move through different stages of their schooling.

Students who prefer a more private approach can connect directly with our Head of Wellbeing, Youth Worker or School Counsellor via eiPulse or email. Longer term support is available through self-referral or in collaboration with our School Counsellor, ensuring continuity of care where required.

Wherever possible, wellbeing support is delivered in partnership with students and families. At times, confidential support may be appropriate to ensure young people feel safe to speak openly. All decisions regarding confidentiality are carefully considered on a case by case basis, with the student’s safety and wellbeing always our highest priority.

Wellbeing Weeks

Our Wellbeing Weeks, held throughout the year for each cohort (Years 7–8 and Years 9–10), reflect our commitment to providing developmentally appropriate, stage-specific support. During these dedicated weeks, a range of external organisations partner with us to deliver tailored workshops and presentations that respond to the social, emotional and physical needs of students at each age and phase of schooling. Term 1 includes targeted cohort incursions delivered by respected organisations such as The Man Cave, Tomorrow Woman, Consent Labs, Toolbox Education, Enlighten Education, The CyberSafety Project, Evolve Education, This Is Your Body, Teen Mental Health First Aid, SECASA and headspace Malvern.

For senior students, our Head of Wellbeing facilitates Study Without Stress for Years 10–12, an evidence based program designed by Macquarie University which equips students with practical strategies for organisation and time management, overcoming procrastination, managing exam stress and anxiety, and navigating the emotional complexity that can accompany decisions about future pathways. Alongside this, senior students receive foundational wellbeing support in areas closely connected to their goals and independence -  including nutrition, sleep, and other life skills that underpin sustained academic and personal success.

Preshil Wellbeing Committee

Student voice plays a vital role in shaping a mentally healthy school community. At Preshil, wellbeing is understood not only as responsive, but also as proactive care and shared responsibility. The Preshil Wellbeing Committee provides students in Years 7-12 with meaningful opportunities to design and lead health-promotion initiatives that strengthen wellbeing across the school. This involves planning and implementation of key awareness days such as IDAHOBIT Day, Wear it Purple, R U OK? Day and International Women’s Day. Through their work, committee members help raise awareness, encourage help-seeking behaviours, and create inclusive experiences that support the broader community.

Reflecting the diversity of the student body, the committee is formed through a recruitment process that values commitment, empathy and perspective. Student representatives contribute to regular meetings, gather feedback from their year levels, and lead initiatives, events and awareness days with the guidance of the wellbeing team. Students interested in joining the Preshil Wellbeing Committee are encouraged to connect with the wellbeing team to learn more about this leadership opportunity.

Our Partnership with Families

Preshil also partners with respected voices in youth mental health and parenting, including Dr Justin Coulson and Karen Young. Throughout the year, these contributors, alongside our Head of Wellbeing, present seminars and lead conversations addressing contemporary topics relevant to families and young people, helping to strengthen the shared approach between school and home in supporting student wellbeing.