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School Services

Engage 1on1 Psychologists provide professional services within over 40 Primary and Secondary Schools located throughout metropolitan Melbourne, at no cost to school or families, supported through the use of GP Mental Health Care Plans.  School-based psychologists use evidence based ‘cognitive behaviour therapy, and a collaborative and holistic approach with families and well-being coordinators and teachers to support young people to develop ongoing emotional resilience, improve self-confidence and adopt a positive approach to engaging with life.

Children spend significant periods of their days within educational environments. They often rely on the school staff to support, develop and manage their mental health and social needs. Engage 1on1 child psychologists work with school staff to understand the child’s presentation and challenges, in order to adopt practical and educational strategies to support the child’s emotional and social skills development and improve resilience.

As part of our community commitment to better mental health for young people we facilitate the access of services to families during their time of need.  Further to this commitment, our services in schools are bulk billed without charge to the student, their family or the school. Services are discreet, confidential and immediately accessible once a referral from your GP is received.

We facilitate fostering children’s strengths to allow the child to develop and increase their knowledge and skills in the areas of their difficulty through exploration during the counselling process . We work closely with parents, school staff, and other professionals involved in the child’s care to encourage a consistent learning experience. Together we explore triggers and factors that may exacerbate behaviours.

Care plans are tailored to meet your child’s and the family’s needs, and may involve a number of approaches including individual therapy, parenting and/or family support, and school based support. We help your child to feel supported, gain independence and to build resilience.

Improving outcomes for young people

Engage 1 on 1 assists young people in schools to:

  • Become more self-confident and feel more comfortable within their world
  • Shift away from feeling overwhelmed, stressed, or vulnerable
  • Become more personally resourceful and resilient
  • Increase self awareness and promote emotional intelligence
  • Improve social interaction skills and clearer communication
  • Foster rational thinking and develop better coping mechanisms
  • Promote positive attitudes and self-assurance
  • Improve the quality of relationships with friends and family
  • Create a clearer sense of life ambitions and long term goals

Working with the Student Wellbeing Team

Our Psychologists work closely with school wellbeing teams, teachers, parents and GPs using Mental Health Care Plans to:

  • Provide support for Student Wellbeing Coordinators
  • Increase resources to deal with student needs as they arise
  • Add clinical expertise to assist in managing all types of issues
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School Psychology Services

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FAQs

How is the service in Schools free? Are there any hidden costs?

We do not charge a gap for our service in schools, so the entire cost of the session is covered by Medicare once a Mental Health Care plan is in place. The cost for psychological counselling and intervention therapy is fully covered, there are no hidden costs. However, Medicare does not provide rebates for Educational Assessment and Cognitive Assessment tests, such as for intellectual functioning or learning difficulties.

Will the psychologist be qualified/capable of assisting me/my child?

All of our psychologists are registered and fully qualified, with expertise in child and adolescent counselling.

How many sessions will I/my child be entitled to?

A Mental Health Care Plan entitles you to an initial six (6) sessions. A review with your GP is then required after your 6th session. Should you require more sessions your GP can extend your referral. You are entitled to a maximum of 10 Medicare rebateable sessions per calendar year. Any unused sessions from the GP extension beyond 10 sessions can be used at the start of the following calendar year.

As a school/parent, can we chose our psychologist?

In the majority of cases only one psychologist is allocated per school. In some cases where the need is high, we may allocate more than one psychologist to your school.  Our psychologists are trained to provide support for all mental health conditions, and are qualified to support you in whatever way your referral requests. We do, however, welcome feedback should you wish to contact us about our services at any time.

What if the doctor won't give me/my child a Mental Health Care plan?

In some cases, GP’s may not initiate a Mental Health Care Plan for your child. Some GPs have a view that as a society we over diagnose our children. We agree and are very reluctant to place labels on children. However part of what we do is help children who may be at risk of developing anxiety or other conditions before the issue escalates. If you believe your child would benefit from talking with our professional Psychologist, please list your concerns for your doctor illustrating the impact you believe your child’s symptoms are having on their current functioning. Your school Wellbeing Coordinator can assist you with this. You can still see the Psychologist without a GP referred Mental Health Care Plan, but without the referral you would need to pay privately as no Medicare rebate would be available.

How often will I/my child be seen?

This depends on the need of each individual, but most often weekly sessions are available for our clients.

Can I access your services outside of school?

All of our school services are provided on school premises, and cannot be accessed elsewhere. Should you wish to access our services, but feel the school would be an inappropriate venue for your sessions, please feel free to discuss this with us.