Engaging Whole School Communities in Regional and Rural Schools: A Preventative Approach to Student Wellbeing
Tracks
MONARCH ROOM - In-Person & Virtual via OnAIR
| Tuesday, March 17, 2026 |
| 1:30 PM - 2:00 PM |
Overview
Janine Harrington & Libby Foster, Centacare SWNSW
Presenter
Miss Libby Foster
School Wellbeing Practitioner
Centacare SWNSW
Engaging Whole School Communities in Regional and Rural Schools: A Preventative Approach to Student Wellbeing
Presentation Overview
Centacare South West NSW delivers the School Wellbeing Program (SWP) across 24 regional and rural primary schools in the Catholic Diocese of Wagga Wagga. The program focuses on embedding mental health promotion into the everyday culture of schools, aiming to create environments where students feel safe, supported, and a strong sense of belonging.
SWP supports students in developing socio-emotional awareness, identifying personal needs, adopting positive coping strategies, and engaging with natural supports within their school and home communities. Central to the program is collaborative engagement with educators, families, and students to tailor support to each school’s unique needs and respond under a shared goal.
In response to the growing demand for counselling intervention for students, Centacare introduced the Engagement Team—a strategic initiative providing whole-school psychoeducation through student, teacher, and parent workshops. The suite of fifty programs focuses on diverse themes promoting skills-building, resilience, and help seeking. The goal of this preventative approach is to build shared knowledge and language so students can engage in positive coping practices, reinforced by their natural supports.
Since its launch 18 months ago, the Engagement Team has reached over 13,000 students, delivering interactive workshops incorporating art, movement, music, storytelling, and discussion. Teacher and parent engagement is reinforced through complementary sessions and practical resources.
Early data indicates a notable decrease in referrals for individual counselling, highlighting the value of preventative, whole school approaches in building mentally healthy learning environments. This is particularly valuable in rural and regional areas where access to mental health services is often limited.
This presentation will share the School Wellbeing Program’s multi-faceted approach to promoting positive mental health within whole school communities. It will highlight key implementation insights and outcomes, with a focus on community engagement in a regional and rural context.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Preventative, Whole-School Approaches Reduce Demand for Individual Intervention. Fostering a shared understanding of mental health across the entire school community can lead to measurable improvements in student wellbeing.
2. Community Collaboration Enhances Impact in Regional and Rural Schools. Building mentally healthy school cultures through community-driven, proactive strategies leads to stronger, more resilient learning environments. Positive relationships are central to long-term engagement.
3. Diverse Delivery Methods Boost Engagement and Learning. Using varied, interactive modalities supports deeper student engagement and retention of mental health concepts. This approach makes wellbeing education more enjoyable and meaningful for students with diverse learning needs.
SWP supports students in developing socio-emotional awareness, identifying personal needs, adopting positive coping strategies, and engaging with natural supports within their school and home communities. Central to the program is collaborative engagement with educators, families, and students to tailor support to each school’s unique needs and respond under a shared goal.
In response to the growing demand for counselling intervention for students, Centacare introduced the Engagement Team—a strategic initiative providing whole-school psychoeducation through student, teacher, and parent workshops. The suite of fifty programs focuses on diverse themes promoting skills-building, resilience, and help seeking. The goal of this preventative approach is to build shared knowledge and language so students can engage in positive coping practices, reinforced by their natural supports.
Since its launch 18 months ago, the Engagement Team has reached over 13,000 students, delivering interactive workshops incorporating art, movement, music, storytelling, and discussion. Teacher and parent engagement is reinforced through complementary sessions and practical resources.
Early data indicates a notable decrease in referrals for individual counselling, highlighting the value of preventative, whole school approaches in building mentally healthy learning environments. This is particularly valuable in rural and regional areas where access to mental health services is often limited.
This presentation will share the School Wellbeing Program’s multi-faceted approach to promoting positive mental health within whole school communities. It will highlight key implementation insights and outcomes, with a focus on community engagement in a regional and rural context.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Preventative, Whole-School Approaches Reduce Demand for Individual Intervention. Fostering a shared understanding of mental health across the entire school community can lead to measurable improvements in student wellbeing.
2. Community Collaboration Enhances Impact in Regional and Rural Schools. Building mentally healthy school cultures through community-driven, proactive strategies leads to stronger, more resilient learning environments. Positive relationships are central to long-term engagement.
3. Diverse Delivery Methods Boost Engagement and Learning. Using varied, interactive modalities supports deeper student engagement and retention of mental health concepts. This approach makes wellbeing education more enjoyable and meaningful for students with diverse learning needs.
Biography
Libby is a School Wellbeing Practitioner who adopts a holistic, systems approach to supporting mental health and wellbeing within school communities. Her work encompasses individual counselling, group interventions, and capacity building of parents and educators to strengthen natural support systems surrounding each student. Libby is dedicated to implementing a whole school wellbeing framework, working collaboratively with school staff to embed sustainable, evidence-informed practices. She also delivers outreach services to rural school communities, ensuring equitable and responsive access to support. Libby’s practice is grounded in a person-centred approach, tailoring interventions to the unique needs of each student, their family, and community.
Mrs Janine Harrington
School Wellbeing Program Manager
Centacare SWNSW
Engaging Whole School Communities in Regional and Rural Schools: A Preventative Approach to Student Wellbeing
Presentation Overview
Centacare South West NSW delivers the School Wellbeing Program (SWP) across 24 regional and rural primary schools in the Catholic Diocese of Wagga Wagga. The program focuses on embedding mental health promotion into the everyday culture of schools, aiming to create environments where students feel safe, supported, and a strong sense of belonging.
SWP supports students in developing socio-emotional awareness, identifying personal needs, adopting positive coping strategies, and engaging with natural supports within their school and home communities. Central to the program is collaborative engagement with educators, families, and students to tailor support to each school’s unique needs and respond under a shared goal.
In response to the growing demand for counselling intervention for students, Centacare introduced the Engagement Team—a strategic initiative providing whole-school psychoeducation through student, teacher, and parent workshops. The suite of fifty programs focuses on diverse themes promoting skills-building, resilience, and help seeking. The goal of this preventative approach is to build shared knowledge and language so students can engage in positive coping practices, reinforced by their natural supports.
Since its launch 18 months ago, the Engagement Team has reached over 13,000 students, delivering interactive workshops incorporating art, movement, music, storytelling, and discussion. Teacher and parent engagement is reinforced through complementary sessions and practical resources.
Early data indicates a notable decrease in referrals for individual counselling, highlighting the value of preventative, whole school approaches in building mentally healthy learning environments. This is particularly valuable in rural and regional areas where access to mental health services is often limited.
This presentation will share the School Wellbeing Program’s multi-faceted approach to promoting positive mental health within whole school communities. It will highlight key implementation insights and outcomes, with a focus on community engagement in a regional and rural context.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Preventative, Whole-School Approaches Reduce Demand for Individual Intervention. Fostering a shared understanding of mental health across the entire school community can lead to measurable improvements in student wellbeing.
2. Community Collaboration Enhances Impact in Regional and Rural Schools. Building mentally healthy school cultures through community-driven, proactive strategies leads to stronger, more resilient learning environments. Positive relationships are central to long-term engagement.
3. Diverse Delivery Methods Boost Engagement and Learning. Using varied, interactive modalities supports deeper student engagement and retention of mental health concepts. This approach makes wellbeing education more enjoyable and meaningful for students with diverse learning needs.
SWP supports students in developing socio-emotional awareness, identifying personal needs, adopting positive coping strategies, and engaging with natural supports within their school and home communities. Central to the program is collaborative engagement with educators, families, and students to tailor support to each school’s unique needs and respond under a shared goal.
In response to the growing demand for counselling intervention for students, Centacare introduced the Engagement Team—a strategic initiative providing whole-school psychoeducation through student, teacher, and parent workshops. The suite of fifty programs focuses on diverse themes promoting skills-building, resilience, and help seeking. The goal of this preventative approach is to build shared knowledge and language so students can engage in positive coping practices, reinforced by their natural supports.
Since its launch 18 months ago, the Engagement Team has reached over 13,000 students, delivering interactive workshops incorporating art, movement, music, storytelling, and discussion. Teacher and parent engagement is reinforced through complementary sessions and practical resources.
Early data indicates a notable decrease in referrals for individual counselling, highlighting the value of preventative, whole school approaches in building mentally healthy learning environments. This is particularly valuable in rural and regional areas where access to mental health services is often limited.
This presentation will share the School Wellbeing Program’s multi-faceted approach to promoting positive mental health within whole school communities. It will highlight key implementation insights and outcomes, with a focus on community engagement in a regional and rural context.
Three Key Learnings:
1. Preventative, Whole-School Approaches Reduce Demand for Individual Intervention. Fostering a shared understanding of mental health across the entire school community can lead to measurable improvements in student wellbeing.
2. Community Collaboration Enhances Impact in Regional and Rural Schools. Building mentally healthy school cultures through community-driven, proactive strategies leads to stronger, more resilient learning environments. Positive relationships are central to long-term engagement.
3. Diverse Delivery Methods Boost Engagement and Learning. Using varied, interactive modalities supports deeper student engagement and retention of mental health concepts. This approach makes wellbeing education more enjoyable and meaningful for students with diverse learning needs.
Biography
Janine is the Practice Manager – Schools and Community Wellbeing at Centacare South West NSW. With a background in early childhood education and a Postgraduate Degree in Psychology, she has worked in the School Wellbeing Program for six years. Janine has built strong relationships with 24 Catholic primary schools in the Diocese of Wagga Wagga. Her focus is on promoting mentally healthy learning environments through collaboration and capacity building. She believes that “our interactions with children are at the core of everything important for them, across all developmental domains,” a belief that continues to guide her work in school settings.
