Three Ararat primary schools have become part of a pilot program to help children with emerging mental health issues.
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Ararat, Ararat North and Ararat West Primary School are among 26 Victorian schools to join the program, which is now into its second year.
Ararat West assistant principal Josh McDougall is one of the mental health and wellbeing coordinators for the program.
Mr McDougall said it was crucial for school staff to be well-equipped to deal with children's mental health needs.
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"As a teacher, it's something you're dealing with all the time," he said.
"A lot of support for children's mental health and wellbeing comes from their school community, so families are very reliant on the support they get from schools."
As a mental health and wellbeing coordinator, Mr McDougall is working with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute and local experts to develop his skills and understanding of children's mental health. He will then share his learning with his fellow staff and enable the school to implement different policies and processes.
"The first half of the year is more about developing our understanding, and the second half will be more based around implementing the program in our schools," he said.
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Mr McDougall said Ararat West is also working with nearby schools and the broader community to ensure its students are well-supported.
"We have a strong community of practice that involves other schools in our area where we can work together to develop the program for our schools," he said.
"It's an opportunity to look at strategies to support families and the school community in identifying kids with mental health or wellbeing concerns and finding what stakeholders are out there that we can use to support our families.
"There's also a huge stigma with mental health and wellbeing, so we're trying to make sure that our families, our teachers, and our students are understanding and supportive of mental health and wellbeing."
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Murdoch Children's Research Institute group leader of policy and equity Frank Oberklaid said the program aims to create pathways that ensure students get support as soon as possible.
"The coordinators act as a point of reference within schools for teachers to refer kids to," he said.
"Teachers are ideally placed to observe emerging mental health issues and refer kids and families to the mental health and wellbeing coordinator, who then acts as a liaison between schools, families and health services."
"Feedback from the principals in our first wave of 10 schools has been overwhelmingly positive, and we have seen improved care pathways for kids who may otherwise have slipped through the cracks."
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