Article:

The MindMatters Resource

As you will be aware a new kit “MindMatters—A Mental Health Promotion Resource For Secondary Schools” has been produced as a Commonwealth initiative to promote a whole school approach to mental health and suicide prevention. MindMatters aims to enhance the development of school environments where young people feel safe, valued, engaged and purposeful.

A copy of this kit is available free to all Secondary schools across Australia from the Curriculum Corporation ph: 92079600. A professional development program has also been developed and training is currently being provided free across Australia. In Victoria MindMatters professional development training has been offered at a regional level.

To further assist schools in the implementation and developmenrt of the MindMatters materials. the Victorian State Based Officer for MindMatters, Jacqueline Van Velsen has established regional MindMatters cross sectorial working groups with membership from the education and health sectors. It will be a priority of MindMatters to support this ownership of implementation at the local level during 2002. All Mental Health Promotion Officers attached to CAMHS are key contacts in each region for these working groups. In some of the larger country regions 2 groups have been established. For contacts in your region contact the Vic State Based Officer, Jacqueline VanVelsen, Ph: 9207 9685 or one of the Mental Health Promotion Officers or simply check the MindMatters Website. The MindMatters website has lists of all regional MindMatters Working Group members and their contact details. The website has also a schedule of all MindMatters training being offered in 2002.

The Mindmatters website is www.curriculum.edu.au/mindmatters

Another priority in 2002 is the training of MindMatters Support Trainers in each region, through the Key Messages Training. These trainers will be able to provide further ongoing training to their local schools in response to the needs arising.

MindMatters has been embraced as an exciting and valuable program by schools and community agencies across Victoria in 2001, linking strongly to the Victorian Student Support Services Framework and Health Promoting Schools Framework. Fifteen 2 day sessions and six 1 day sessions have been run in 2001 involving over 1100 participants from 364 schools and 100 community agencies. The involvement of the 3 school sectors together with key community agencies has not only enriched the training through sharing of experience and knowledge but has created many links and partnerships. All 9 regions across Victoria have had at least 2 Mindmatters PD training sessions. Some have had 3 and also had Key Messages Training and Implementation Briefing Sessions. The demand for further training is still high and further sessions are occuring in 2002.