Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative

Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader role

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL) role is designed to promote positive mental health for students by implementing mental health and wellbeing supports, promoting a whole-school approach and building staff capacity (Tier 1 and 2 supports). It is not a clinical role and is not designed to provide one to one counselling to primary school students or clinical and therapeutic (Tier 3) targeted support. The MHWL is not required to have allied health or similar qualifications.

Using their knowledge of the in-classroom experiences of teachers, MHWLs:

• complement the school’s existing wellbeing team
• work with classroom teachers to:
  • develop, implement and evaluate processes, curriculum content and teaching practices relating to student mental health and wellbeing
  • create safe, welcoming and inclusive classrooms and develop students’ social and emotional skills
  • develop curriculum content on social and emotional learning
  • embed mental health and wellbeing teaching practices within their teaching pedagogy.

These skills support students to develop a positive attitude about themselves and school, and increase their academic engagement.

MHWL responsibilities

While each MHWL’s specific role will differ based on school needs and context, all MHWLs will:

• promote a whole-school approach to student mental health and wellbeing, including in school planning and strategic processes and through a shared language around mental health and wellbeing
• build staff capacity to support student mental health through embedding and evaluating evidence-based mental health strategies, interventions and programs, to increase staff mental health literacy so they can identify and support primary school students with mental health concerns
• identify and implement evidence-based approaches aligned to student needs including social and emotional learning in the curriculum, and whole-school approaches to health, wellbeing, teaching and learning initiatives
• collaborate with school leaders, staff and families to embed whole school approaches to mental health and wellbeing
• strengthen linkages between the school and other support services to coordinate targeted mental health support for primary school students
• create and monitor clear care pathways internally (within school) and externally (to community services) for students identified as requiring further assessment and intervention
• advocate for student voice when planning whole-school approaches, to improve student outcomes and support student safety and wellbeing
• participate in MHiPS training, including core training modules and learning communities throughout the year.