Disability and mental health
Mental Health Practitioners (MHPs) offer various support options for the mental health and wellbeing of students with disability. The following supports are available to MHPs to support them with this work.
Regional Mental Health Engagement Coordinators
Regional Mental Health Engagement Coordinators (MHECs) give expert advice on the intersection of disability and mental health. They help to build skills for providing effective support to students with disability.
MHPs can access a MHP Inclusive Resources SharePoint run by the MHECs. This site has resources that focus on the intersectionality of mental health and disability.
To get support from a MHEC, contact the school’s regional mental health branch:
- North-Eastern Victoria Region: nevr.mental.health@education.vic.gov.au
- North-Western Victoria Region: nwvr.mental.health@education.vic.gov.au
- South-Eastern Victoria Region: sevr.mental.health@education.vic.gov.au
- South-Western Victoria Region: swvr.mental.health@education.vic.gov.au
Mental Health Practitioners and Disability Inclusion
MHPs can play a range of roles for Disability Inclusion, including:
- individualised support: providing supporting information as a ‘specialist’ for students they directly support. For example, by noting the advice, or support provided in intervention records, or by attending Student Support Group (SSG) meetings
- informing or supporting school-wide supports: supporting schools to develop and embed whole of school approaches
- capacity and capability uplift: delivering professional learning on mental health and wellbeing issues based on the school’s need.
MHPs must not lead the development or coordination of Disability Inclusion Profiles. Where appropriate, they can contribute or participate in the process.
MHPs must only provide supporting information for student Disability Inclusion Profiles when they have done one of the following:
- provided or are providing direct one-to-one support to a student
- consulted with the school or family on a specific issue
- provided targeted intervention at the Tier 2 level.
For more information, go to: Disability Inclusion: increased support for students with disabilities(opens in a new window)
Inclusive Classrooms
Inclusive Classrooms provides many high quality courses. They offer blended and fully online options. These include 'Supporting Students with ADHD Traits' and 'Supporting Students with Autism'.
Courses are made for Department of Education school staff. This includes teachers, education support staff, and school leaders. The goal is to help them improve their skills in inclusive practice.
MHPs can register for courses, and all course participation is fully funded.
For more information, go to: Inclusive Classrooms professional learning program(opens in a new window).
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