From the Wellbeing Team

At Mildura Senior College, wellbeing is central to creating the conditions for students to learn, grow and feel connected. As students move through senior school, they manage a wide range of pressures, including study, friendships, family responsibilities, future pathways, work and assessment. The College continues to strengthen programs that build resilience, organisation, independent learning habits and personal capability.

To make support even easier to access, we are introducing an additional process for students who wish to connect with Wellbeing Services. Students can now complete a Wellbeing Self-Referral form, available through the Compass favourites menu. The form provides a direct pathway to support for a range of concerns, including mental and emotional health, personal and social challenges, health and lifestyle, safety and crisis support, and growth and positive mindset.

Once submitted, the form will be reviewed by the Wellbeing Coordinator within two school days, and students will be contacted using the method they nominate. We encourage all students to reach out whenever they need support. Seeking help is a positive and responsible step, and no student needs to navigate challenges alone.

Families play an important role by creating space for open conversations, helping young people feel comfortable accessing support, and reassuring them that asking for help is safe and encouraged. Friends can also support each other by encouraging someone they are worried about to contact Wellbeing Services.

Support can be accessed through the self-referral form, by emailing 8045-dl-wellbeing@schools.vic.edu.au, calling 03 5021 2911, or speaking with a teacher, Sub School Leader or the Front Office. For immediate support, students and families should contact emergency or crisis services, including Lifeline, Kids Helpline, headspace, Youth Beyond Blue, MBPH Mental Health Service, or call 000 in an emergency.

Study Skills Focus

Creating a Study Schedule

A realistic study schedule helps students balance school, homework, revision, work, sport, and wellbeing. During Pathways sessions, students are encouraged to plan their week in advance and allocate time for each subject.

Use Pomodoro blocks to structure study: 25 minutes of focused work followed by a 5-minute break. This can improve concentration, reduce procrastination, and make tasks feel more manageable.

Effective schedules should:

· Break tasks into smaller sessions

· Prioritise upcoming assessments

· Rotate subjects across the week

· Include breaks, exercise, and sleep

Consistency each week is more effective than occasional long study sessions.

Active Recall vs Passive Revision

Students often default to passive revision such as rereading notes, highlighting, or watching videos. While these can be useful starting points, stronger learning comes from active recall — retrieving information from memory.

Examples include:

· Practice questions

· Flashcards (Leitner System)

· Writing everything remembered about a topic

· Teaching someone else (Feynman Technique)

· Timed practice tasks

Regular self-testing is one of the most effective ways to improve memory and exam readiness.

For more information, refer to the Make It Count Google Slides in the Pathways Google Classroom.

How Parents Can Help

Parents can support students by:

· Asking about their weekly study plan

· Providing a quiet study space

· Encouraging healthy routines and regular breaks

· Praising consistency and effort

· Helping students maintain balance during busy periods

Strong study habits developed now will benefit students well beyond Year 12. Thank you for your continued support of our senior students.

VCE Success Strategies Presentation

On Tuesday 21 April, our Year 12 students attended an engaging presentation, VCE Success Strategies, delivered by Darren Pereira from Success Integrated. The session provided practical advice to help students approach their final year with confidence, purpose, and effective study habits.

A key message of the presentation was the importance of positive self-talk and maintaining a mindset that supports resilience and persistence throughout the year.

Students were encouraged to set goals that are just out of reach, but not out of sight — ambitious targets that inspire effort while remaining achievable. As part of this process, students were challenged to write down the subject scores and ATAR they are aiming for, and to identify an accountability person who can help keep them focused and motivated.

The presentation also explored practical strategies for success, including:

· Effective time management

· Using the Pomodoro Technique to structure study sessions

· Listening to Baroque music to support concentration and recall

· Building routines that promote consistency and progress

The session was a valuable reminder that success in Year 12 is built through mindset, planning, and consistent habits over time.

From the Careers Centre

From The Careers Team

We are dedicated to helping students confidently explore their future pathways. Our careers support program includes one-on-one and small group guidance with our Careers Advisers to help students identify their strengths and explore a wide range of education, training and work options.

We offer personalised career planning conversations to support the student’s career development, subject selection, post-school pathways, and informed decision making. Students will also have access to practical support such as résumé writing, interview skills practice, work experience opportunities and industry insights.
Useful careers resources will be provided to students (and parents where relevant) at the times they are most helpful. 

Industry Engagement

Industry Engagement is off to a busy start for our students in Term 1 with close to 50 industry visits and incursions. Students have been able to explore careers in Medicine, Community Services, Transport and Logistics, as well as visit wineries and water treatment plants just to name a few opportunities. Looking ahead at Term 2 it is already looking action packed with some exciting industry visits booked right from the first day of term. Thank you to all our industry partners for hosting our students and opening up your local businesses to inspire the next generation and share your industry experiences. 

 

Structured Workplace Learning

Year 11 VM Work Related Skills students will be participating in Structured Workplace Learning during Week 6, Term 2 (Monday 25th – Friday 29th May). This is a valuable opportunity for students to gain real-world experience, build confidence, and develop important employability skills in a workplace setting.

We encourage families to begin conversations with their student about possible placement opportunities.
Speaking with friends, family, and local businesses can be a great way to help secure a suitable placement aligned with your student’s interests and career goals. Further information and required paperwork will be shared closer to the date.

If you have any questions, please contact Cara Bradshaw or your students WR Teacher.

Students Seeking Non-Tertiary Options

For all Employment, Apprenticeships, Traineeships, Cadetships, SWL or Work opportunities, come in and see Cara Bradshaw (Workplace Transition Coordinator) in the Careers Centre for assistance with resumes, applications for employment (including Apprenticeships and Traineeships) or Course information for TAFE and other training programs.

Please keep an eye out on Compass and MSC Facebook & Instagram pages for work and apprenticeship opportunities.

 

Principals Address Term 2 2026

Term 2 has begun with a strong sense of purpose and pride across our school community. It has been wonderful to see students engaging so positively in both their learning and co-curricular opportunities, and I thank families for their continued support.

Our performing arts program is gearing up for an exciting production of Footloose. I strongly encourage families to purchase tickets and support our talented students who have been working tirelessly behind the scenes and on stage. It promises to be a fantastic showcase of creativity, collaboration, and student talent.

In sport, we extend our congratulations to the students who recently represented the college in AFL against St Joseph’s College. While competition is always important, what stood out most was the outstanding sportsmanship demonstrated by our students. We are incredibly proud of the respect, teamwork, and integrity they displayed throughout the match—these qualities truly reflect the values of our school.

We are also pleased to share that our facilities have been upgraded under the COLA project. These improvements have enhanced our learning environment, and we warmly invite families to come and see them for themselves. You can visit us at our Open Night on Wednesday 17 June from 4:00pm – 7:00pm, or during Parent Student Teacher Conferences on Tuesday 19 May.

As we move through the term, our Year 11 students will be preparing for their upcoming exams. Parent Student Teacher Conferences provide an excellent opportunity to discuss how your young person is progressing and to explore ways you can support them during this important time.

Academically, our VCE Success Skills sessions have been a highlight, supporting students to visualise and plan for their future goals. This is further complemented by participation in the Regional Pathways Program with La Trobe University, which students attend onsite fortnightly. It has been encouraging to see students also taking advantage of Homework Club and Wednesday morning study sessions to strengthen their learning habits.

As always, student wellbeing remains a priority. If students have any concerns about their programs or wellbeing, I encourage them and their families to reach out to a trusted staff member – whether that be a classroom teacher, Sub School Leader, or a member of our Wellbeing Team. At Mildura Senior College, we are here to support every student.

I would also like to acknowledge the leadership and community spirit shown by our Captains Team – Brooklyn, Nevaeh, and Olivia – who attended ANZAC Day ceremonies, representing the college with respect and pride. Additionally, Leanne continued her commitment to the RSL on ANZAC Day, again demonstrating the strong connection between our school and the wider community.

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in supporting our students. I look forward to seeing many of you at upcoming events throughout the term.

Lewis Gunn

Acting Principal