Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative

Policy

This policy provides guidance on how schools plan for and implement the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative to support student mental health and wellbeing.

Summary

• The MHiPS initiative aims to build the capability of the whole school to improve student mental health and wellbeing outcomes.
• Under MHiPS, every eligible government and low-fee non-government primary school receives funding to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL) and must employ an MHWL with this funding.
• MHWLs are qualified teachers registered with the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT), who work across the school to implement a whole-school approach to student mental health and wellbeing.
• Once recruited, schools are required to register their MHWL for training with the University of Melbourne.

Details

The statewide Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative provides eligible government and low-fee non-government primary schools with funding to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL).

The MHWL is a Victorian Institute of Teaching registered teacher, who works across the school to lead a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing for students. They do this by:

• building the capacity of school staff, in particular classroom teachers, to identify and support students with mental health concerns in the classroom
• supporting the school to create clear referral pathways internally (within school) and externally (to community services) for students identified as requiring further mental health assessment and support
• coordinating targeted mental health support for students by working with regional staff, school wellbeing and leadership teams, teachers, parents/carers and external organisations
• advocating for student voice and agency in their wellbeing and mental health needs.

The MHWL role focuses on mental health and wellbeing promotion, prevention and early intervention, rather than the implementation of clinical or allied health approaches.

MHWLs participate in a comprehensive training program developed and facilitated by the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. Continued professional development is provided through MHiPS Learning Communities.

Further information regarding the MHWL role and training program can be found on the Guidance tab.

MHiPS funding

Each government school campus’ allocation varies between 0.5 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) to 1.0 FTE, based on primary enrolments:

• 1 to 299 enrolments – 0.5 FTE
• 300 to 599 enrolments – 0.6 FTE
• 600 to 749 enrolments – 0.7 FTE
• 750 to 849 enrolments – 0.8 FTE
• 850 to 949 enrolments – 0.9 FTE
• 950+ enrolments – 1.0 FTE.

All schools should recruit 1 MHWL per school campus, however, may consider recruiting 2 MHWLs if a job-share arrangement is needed. Schools may recruit more than 2 MHWLs by exception and after consultation with key regional and central department staff. Refer to: Regional mental health branch support.

Schools with multiple campuses receive funding per campus, based on primary enrolments. These schools may choose to combine the FTE of multiple campuses and employ an MHWL to work across the campuses or employ MHWLs at each of their funded campuses.

Schools receive annual funding based on the Classroom Teacher Range 2 salary mid-point. This allocation does not determine an individual’s actual salary.

Funding is provided under ‘Targeted Initiatives’ in the Student Resource Package (SRP) (Reference 130). The specific funding allocation schools receive each year may change based on the enrolment-based calculation at each SRP cycle (Indicative, Confirmed and Revised).

Schools that are in deficit are still required to implement MHiPS as it is a ‘Targeted Initiative’ with a specific funding allocation in the SRP.

Government schools are required to acquit MHWL salary expenditure via eduPay. Further information regarding schools funding allocations and acquittal of the MWHL salary is provided on the Guidance tab.

As of 2026, the Primary Welfare Officer (PWO) initiative has transitioned to the MHiPS initiative. Schools that formerly received PWO funding now receive MHiPS funding.

Eligible low fee non-government schools receive funding equivalent of 0.4 FTE Classroom Teacher Range 2 salary mid-point to employ a MHWL. Participating non-government schools are provided with separate guidance by their respective governing or representative body on how to acquit their MHiPS funding from the department. Non-government school eligibility is assessed periodically.

Related policies

• Behaviour – Students
• Child and Family Violence Information Sharing Schemes
• Child Safe Standards
• Disability Inclusion Funding and Support
• Disability Inclusion Profile
• Framework for Improving Student Outcomes (FISO 2.0)
• Health, Wellbeing and Inclusion Workforces
• Interpreting and Translation Services
• Mature Minors and Decision Making
• Mental Health Fund and Menu
• Mental Health in Schools
• Mental Health Practitioners initiative
• Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability
• Privacy and Information Sharing
• Protecting Children – Reporting and Other Legal Obligations
• Records Management – School Records
• Self-Harm and Attempted Suicide Response
• Student Engagement
• Student Resource Package – Targeted Initiatives
• Student Support Services
• Suicide Response (Postvention)
• Victorian School Nursing Program

Contact

There are multiple contacts for this topic. Refer to: Regional mental health branch support.