Wellbeing
Like all NSW public schools we provide safe learning and teaching environments to encourage our students as they connect, thrive and succeed.
The Department of Education is committed to creating quality learning opportunities for children and young people. These opportunities support wellbeing through positive and respectful relationships and foster a sense of belonging to the school, community and beyond.
The Wellbeing Framework for Schools helps schools support the cognitive, physical, social, emotional and spiritual development of students allowing them to connect, succeed and thrive throughout their education.
Our Wellbeing Program varies from year to year and is responsive to the needs of our current student co-hort. Our Wellbeing Team is led by our Assistant Principal (Wellbeing) and includes our School Principal, School Psychologist, Student Support Officer and our Neurodiversity Education Officer. The team meets weekly to discuss student progress and we liaise closely with external agencies such as Headspace, Streetwork and CYMHS as well as working closely with individual student allied health professionals. Whilst we have our Wellbeing Team, it is a fundamental principle of The Beach School that each staff member has a responsibility for each student's wellbeing.
Our wellbeing initiatives are designed to address the unique needs of our students, focusing on resilience, emotional regulation, respectful relationships and a sense of community. Programs may include activities promoting mindfulness, social skills and physical health as well as access to resources for mental health and academic support. We also engage with external groups who visit the school including GPs in Schools, the Butterfly Foundation and Ask for Health.
By fostering a supportive environment we empower every student to reach their full potential and contribute positively to their school and community. A significant benefit of our small student numbers is that we can really focus on each student's mental health and wellbeing.
The School Psychologist
Our School Psychologist visits the school four days per fortnight. In addition to providing personal counselling sessions for the students, the School Psychologist liaises with students’ allied health providers such as CYMHS and students’ private psychologists, psychiatrists and paediatricians. Our School Psychologist operates within the limits of professional confidentiality but also adopts a team approach when working with students and their families. The School Psychologist also liaises with the student's home school and is involved with safety planning and creating referrals to external agencies and supports as required.
Student Support Officer
Our Student Support Officer (SSO) is deeply immersed within our school community to enhance student wellbeing and learning outcomes in partnership with the wellbeing team and the school counselling service. The SSO provides individual and targeted wellbeing support implementing school wellbeing initiatives and programs. The SSO has a pivotal role in working collaboratively with external agencies and creating referral pathways for students and families to child and family support agencies. Our SSO has a rich interest in art and craft and uses her skills in this area to further enhance student wellbeing.
Neurodivergent Education Officer
The role of the Neurodiversity Education Officer (NEO) is unique to The Beach School and commenced in 2025 as response to the increasing number of neurodivergent students enrolled. The NEO works closely with all students with a particular focus on our neurodivergent students as she works to enhance their learning, social and wellbeing capacities. The NEO works with staff providing lesson and curriculum guidance whilst also supporting student learning. The NEO also works closely with parents and carers and is a valuable link to allied health and external agencies.
Useful Contacts for students, parents & carers
The following agencies may be of use for our students, parents and carers. Additional agencies and supports are also available.
(30%) Free or low cost counselling
(20%)
P: 9976 1486
The Northern Beaches Youth & Family Counselling Service (often linked with KYDS or local health services) offers free, professional, and confidential support for young people (around 10-21) and their families on the Northern Beaches facing issues like mental health struggles, family conflict, substance use, school/work problems, and identity challenges, providing individual/family sessions, group programs, and connecting them to broader community help, focusing on early intervention and building resilience.
P: 9949 5522
Lifeline is Australia's leading crisis support and suicide prevention charity, offering 24/7 confidential help for anyone in emotional distress or suicidal crisis via phone (13 11 14), online chat, or text, providing non-judgmental listening, support to explore options, and connecting people with further help to prevent suicide and improve mental well-being. They offer support for individuals, families, and communities, focusing on mental health, domestic violence prevention, and equipping people to cope with life's toughest moments.
P: 9937 6500
Headspace is Australia's national youth mental health foundation providing free, confidential support for 12-25 year olds on mental health, physical/sexual health, alcohol/drug issues, and work/study, through local centers, online/phone services, and school programs, acting as a 'one-stop-shop' for early intervention to help young people manage tough times. They offer GPs, psychologists, counselors, and vocational support, all in a youth-friendly, non-judgmental way, aiming to build resilience and get young people back on track.
(30%) Family Counselling & Support
(20%)
(50%)
The Benevolent Society is Australia's first charity, supporting families, older Australians, and people with disabilities to live their best lives through aged care, early childhood support, disability services (NDIS), youth mental health, foster care, and family support. They offer practical help like in-home care, transport, therapeutic services, and family preservation programs, working with government funding and donations.
P: 8043 2600
The CatholicCare Northern Beaches Family Centre offers holistic support for individuals and families facing challenges like relationship breakdowns, financial stress, domestic violence, and parenting issues, providing counseling, parenting education, mediation, emergency relief (food, bills), and support for youth, disability, and mental health, aiming to build stronger, more resilient families through personalised, confidential care.
P: 1300 006 480
The Benevolent Society's Family Connect and Support (FCS) is a free NSW government service that helps families facing challenges like parenting stress, financial hardship, mental health issues, or family breakdown by connecting them to local support services, preventing problems from escalating, and building on family strengths through early intervention and personalised support plans. They act as a single point of contact, so families don't have to repeat their stories, linking them to housing, health, budgeting help, or domestic violence support for up to 16 weeks.
P: 9971 4499
Women & Children First (W&CF) is a Sydney-based charity supporting women, children, and families escaping domestic/family violence and homelessness by providing crisis refuges, transitional housing, case management, counseling, parenting programs, and prevention education, aiming for safety, stability, and thriving through holistic, child-focused support on the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore.
(30%) Mental Health
(20%)
Brookvale Child & Youth Mental Health Service CYMHS
P: 9388 5150
The Brookvale Child and Youth Mental Health Service (CYMHS) provides specialist, family-focused mental health assessment and treatment for infants, children, and young people (up to 18/still at school) in the Northern Beaches with moderate to severe mental health issues, offering support for anxiety, depression, trauma, eating disorders, and more, using multidisciplinary teams and evidence-based therapies to help them cope with life, school, and family challenges. They work with families and carers, offering individual, family, and group therapy, and connect with other services like headspace and the Youth Response Team for crisis support.
P: 9937 6500
Headspace is Australia's national youth mental health foundation providing free, confidential support for 12-25 year olds on mental health, physical/sexual health, alcohol/drug issues, and work/study, through local centers, online/phone services, and school programs, acting as a 'one-stop-shop' for early intervention to help young people manage tough times. They offer GPs, psychologists, counselors, and vocational support, all in a youth-friendly, non-judgmental way, aiming to build resilience and get young people back on track.
PACER Team – Police, Ambulance & Clinical Early Response
Referrals via Mental Health Hotline: 1800 629 354 or to speak to someone, call Dee Why Police Station Phone: 9971 3399
Hours: 13:30 – 21:00 7 days
The PACER Team (Police, Ambulance & Clinical Early Response) is a collaborative, multi-agency unit that pairs a police officer, paramedic, and mental health clinician to respond to mental health crises in the community, providing on-scene assessments, crisis intervention, and connecting individuals to appropriate care, aiming for safer, less restrictive interventions and reducing unnecessary hospital visits.
MOWANA suicide support
P: 0478 007 722 (Only available Friday and Saturdays 5-9pm)
Friday & Saturday 17:00 – 21:00 The Mind Café, Shop 3, 1346 Pittwater Road, Narrabeen
MoWaNa Safe Space is a community-led, non-clinical drop-in support service in the Northern Beaches area of New South Wales, Australia. It is intended for individuals experiencing emotional or suicidal distress.
P: 9388 5044
16:00 – 20:00, 7 days per week
Safe Haven Brookvale is a free, after-hours, peer-led mental health service for young people (12-18) in suicidal crisis or distress, offering a calm, non-clinical "drop-in" alternative to hospital Emergency Departments where they can talk with trained staff (peers & clinicians), access quiet spaces, create safety plans, and connect with other supports, all without appointments or referrals.
(30%) Drugs and Alcohol Support
(20%)
P: 9977 0711
The Sydney Drug & Education Counselling Service (SDECC) is a non-profit organisation offering free, specialised counselling for young people (12-25) and their families in Sydney's North Shore/Northern Beaches, focusing on alcohol, other drugs, and mental health issues, providing confidential, trauma-informed support in person and online to help youth manage challenges and reduce stigma.
(60%) Bulk billed GP services for 12 – 25 year olds
(40%)
P: 9937 6500
(30%) Additional agencies and supports
(20%)
P: 1300 1300 52
Free, confidential telephone counselling and support service for parents and carers of children aged 0-18, offering professional help for everything including child behaviour to teen mental health, family stress, and connecting you with local services. Phone only.
Free support for parents & carers of young people (12-25) experiencing mental health challenges. headspace also provides tips, tools and support for parents of teenagers & young people. Phone and online support.
P: 1800 011 511
NSW Health's 24/7 statewide phone service which links people with NSW Health mental health services. Phone only. Not a crisis line.
P: 1300 659 467
24/7 telephone counselling support to people at risk of suicide, concerned about someone at risk, bereaved by suicide and people experiencing emotional or mental health issues. Phone & online webchat.
Provides free and confidential mental health support for anyone in Australia. Support can be accessed via face-to-face spaces, the national phone service, or the website. Not a crisis line.
P: 1800 011 511
Free, government-funded health service providing 24/7 access to trusted health information and advice with registered nurses offering triage, guiding you to the right care (self-care, pharmacy, GP, urgent care, or emergency), and connecting you to virtual GPs. Phone & online support.
Australian Government online help and resources for parents, carers and children. Website only.
P: 1800 737 732
24/7 National domestic, family and sexual violence counselling, information and support service. Phone, text, online & video.
P: 1300 78 99 78
Free telephone and online counselling service offering support for Australian men. Phone, online chat & video counselling.
P: 13 92 76
Free, 24/7 confidential crisis support and mental health help specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Phone only.
Supports single men, single women, and families who are at imminent risk of, or experiencing, homelessness. Phone, in-person and email. Brookvale.