Teachers and school staff in Werribee will benefit from targeted preventive programs designed to safeguard their mental health and wellbeing, thanks to the Andrews Labor Government.

Member for Werribee Tim Pallas today announced that Manor Lakes P-12 College is among 17 schools across Victoria that will share in $700,000 as part of the Safe and Well Initiative.

Manor Lakes P-12 College will spend their grant money on the implementation of a tailored program to provide educative workshops covering growth, team building and stress management to improve the mental health, safety and wellbeing of their staff.

The Safe and Well Initiative is the latest in a series of initiatives designed to safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of school staff across the state. The wellbeing of school staff is central to creating a positive school culture for teaching and learning. Schools thrive when principals, teachers and education support staff thrive.

This is part of the Labor Government’s $51 million investment over four years to deliver a range of reforms that support staff safety, employee wellbeing and reforms to health and safety.

The Safe and Well in Education Strategy 2019-2024 puts the health, safety and wellbeing of all school employees first and recognises that mental health is just as important as physical health.

A key priority in the strategy is to improve mental health and wellbeing which is being achieved by providing improving mental health supports for school staff.

The Andrews Labor Government established a Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System and its final report will be tabled in the Victorian Parliament in early March 2021. The Labor Government has committed to implementing every single recommendation so we can rebuild the mental health system that Victorians deserve.

Quotes attributable to Member for Werribee Tim Pallas

“This investment is about ensuring that Werribee school staff have preventive mental health programs to help them achieve their very best at work and in life.”

“We’re committed to ensuring our school staff are happy and healthy, so they can focus on giving students the best opportunity to succeed in education and in life.”