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Mill Park Secondary College, Mill Park
In-School Initiatives. Case management plans
One structure that the school has developed to manage the behavioural issues of students who are seriously at risk is the case management plan. The House Leader coordinates the case management plan which is outlined at a weekly meeting attended by the four House Leaders, two Subgroup Leaders, one each for Years 7/8 and 9/10, the Deputy Principal, the Youth Worker and Health Worker. The House Leader will often work in collaboration with the class teacher.
The main documentation used in the process is a case management sheet which the house leader completes prior to the meeting. It includes the following questions: What is the issue? Is it curriculum or timetable? Is other support required? Has the student been referred to other staff such as the youth worker? Should the student change classes? Should the student be offered an alternative program? The issues are analysed and outcomes for the student in the classroom and the yard are discussed, as well as the option for other referrals. The house leader liaises with the home-room teacher. The report goes to the home-room teacher and the student signs a contract. The student and parents are involved in the initial contract and parents are invited to be part of the review meetings between the student and staff.
The approach taken by the school to behaviour management requires teachers to document concerns about student behaviour via what is known as the 'green sheet' and if there are serious matters, the house leader notes the information which has, in some situation, contributed to the details of a case management plan in the future. The documentation is also an important resource when meetings are held with students and /or parents to discuss student behaviour.
The case management plan process has worked well in the school, particularly when students, who have been the subject of plans, have moved from the junior to the senior school. The additional structured support has helped students to begin Year 11 in a positive context. The school sees the case management plan as an example of an early intervention strategy that can support the identification of problems and difficulties before they escalate for both students and teachers.
MindMatters Plus GP
Implementing the MindMatters Plus GP initiative was a challenge for the school but the learnings and the partnership that the school has been able to create from this initiative has been very positive for the school. The school has developed a partnership with three GP's and has a good working relationships with Northern Division of General Practice, which they didn't even know existed and that's been a very positive thing for the school. In conjunction with the Northern Division of General Practice the school has developed some great pamphlets with students that cover issues such as making appointments with GP's, what to expect from your GP and how to get a Medicare number.
Media and MM Plus
Mill Park Secondary has a very vibrant and productive media unit at the school. It has utilised and engaged the media department and its students to promote wellbeing messages in the school, which has been recognised by the community.
The school has created posters promoting wellbeing messages for MindMatters and The Centre for Adolescent Health has commissioned the school to create mental health posters and some of the students have created new Lifeline posters. Artwork and posters that the students have created is on show around the community.
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