Victorian Education Minister Ben Carroll announced on Wednesday, February 4 that schools in areas most impacted by the recent bushfires would share in $2 million of additional funding.
Mr Carroll said the funding was to address the immediate mental health and wellbeing needs of students.
“We want our students and staff across the state to know we are behind them every step of the way, and help restore a sense of safety and calm to our school communities,” he said.
The funding will be delivered as a top-up to impacted public schools’ existing Schools Mental Health Fund, enabling them to purchase additional evidence-based mental health and wellbeing support.
“We know the significant damage these fires can bring to our students’ emotional wellbeing, and we are putting every effort in place to mitigate the trauma and disruption they have caused,” Mr Carroll said.
Schools were identified based on direct bushfire impacts to facilities and communities, including where students and staff had experienced loss of property or disruption.
This will provide impacted public schools with access to increased recovery and wellbeing support, focusing on trauma-informed support as well as disaster, grief and loss programs.
This boost supports the government’s Recovery and Resilience Model for schools, an evidence-based framework that includes the core features of routine and safety, health and wellbeing, belonging and connectedness.
New uniforms, books and other educational items can also be replaced through State Schools’ Relief and schools can also apply for additional support through the School Breakfast Club Program.
Among the eligible schools are Katamatite Primary School with $30,404 of funding, Cobram and District Specialist School with $37,500, Cobram Primary School with $75,000 and Cobram Secondary College with $75,000.
For the full list of schools identified to receive this funding visit: vic.gov.au/mental-health-and-wellbeing-support-bushfire-affected-schools.
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