Overseas Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy

1 PURPOSE

To facilitate and promote positive Mental Health and Wellbeing of Students by providing a Safe, Healthy and Supportive Environment for all staff and all overseas students to achieve successful completion of their education and training. Lifetime International Training College (LITC) will promote positive mental health and respond to the needs of students and staff who are experiencing mental health difficulties by:

          • Promoting and supporting understanding and recognition of the signs and symptoms of mental health issues through Student Learning and wellbeing Framework – which includes psychological, physical, social, emotional, cultural, organisational and professional health and wellbeing;
          • Encouraging staff and students with mental health difficulties to seek assistance;
          • Providing guidance and training to staff and students on responding appropriately to those experiencing mental health difficulties;
          • Providing a range of proactive programs and services for staff and students;
          • Ensuring that the source of support and advice are clearly communicated to staff and students;
          • Providing accessible information in relevant Policy documents and websites regarding access to internal and external support, activities, and programs:
          • Providing regular statistical reports on staff and students health and wellbeing and brief the Chief Executive Officer and the Management on issues arising from the reports.

2 SCOPE

All students who study at Lifetime International Training College will be provided the appropriate support from Staff and Management in relation to mental health and wellbeing issues. The College will support mental health and wellbeing programs through the following three strategies:

          i) Promotion and Awareness
          ii) Early Response and
          iii) Monitoring and Prevention

3 POLICY STATEMENT

3.1 MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Mental health is a state of wellbeing in which an individual realises their own abilities, can cope with normal stresses of life, can work productively and is able to make a contribution to their community (World Health Organization, 2014). Lifetime International Training College (LITC) will promote positive mental health and respond to the needs of students and staff who are experiencing mental health difficulties by:

3.2 SAFETY AND PERSONAL SECURITY
Lifetime International Training College is committed to taking all reasonable steps to ensure a safe, secure and beneficial environment is maintained for overseas students, both on campus and at practical or industry work placements.

3.2.1       Advice on possible actions taken to enhance safety and personal security is given at orientation and in the student and staff handbooks. Sufficient information is given to students who may have detected early identifications or experience physical safety and mental health challenges.
3.2.2       Personal security and safety information is provided and readily available at any time to both students and staff. Provide support services (short term support and referral pathways) to international students experiencing physical safety challenges. (6.9.1)
3.2.3       Detailed information will be provided to all overseas students about how to seek assistance for and report any incidents which may significantly impact upon their wellbeing, (including critical incidents). (6.9.2)
3.2.4       Lifetime International Training College will provide overseas students with general information on safety and awareness relevant to life in Australia, or refer them to such information as appropriate (including electronically). (6.9.3)
3.2.5       For specific information on student support for students under the age of 18 years – please refer to Younger Overseas Student Policy.

4 RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1 STAFF RESPONSIBILITIES

4.1.1       It is the responsibility of Student Support Officer to respond to student enquiries and the Student Contact Officer to be a first contact for students. Where student enquiries or needs are beyond the scope of training, knowledge or experience of the Student Support Officer they must seek advice from their manager or any senior staff.
4.1.2       LITC requires all staff to complete awareness training of internal processes for supporting mental health of physical safety issues of internal students. To maintain clear communication and record-keeping processes to maintain the records for mental health, wellbeing and personal safety issues developed by international students.
4.1.3       Student Support Officers shall be responsible for initiating the mental health and wellbeing procedures if they have deemed it an Incident.
4.1.4       Student Support Officers shall maintain a written record of any mental health and wellbeing issues and any remedial action taken by LITC for at least two years after the overseas student ceases to be an accepted student. (6.8)
4.1.5       Student Support Officer must update student management system for each enquiry and all documentation is to be filed in the students file.
4.1.6       Student Support Officer must ensure that any written response to a student enquiry is generated from the Student Management System so it has a contact log and a copy of the information sent. No verbal outcomes are to be acceptable practice by Lifetime International Training College staff.
4.1.7       Responsibility for briefing all staff and students of obligations under the ESOS Framework and National Code Standards and the implications of these for students lie with senior staff.
4.1.8       Day to day responsibility for the oversight and management of student welfare support services lies with Student Support Officer and the relevant staff. Organising activities to target towards international students to facilitate social engagement and promote a healthy lifestyles for all.
4.1.9       The Director/CEO will have overall responsibility for this policy and the ensuing procedures.
4.1.10       The day to day management of implementing the policy is the responsibility of the Training Manager, to whom the Student Support staff report.
4.1.11       It is the responsibility of the Director/CEO to ensure that all staff members who interact directly with overseas students are aware of the ESOS framework, in particular the providers’ obligations under the ESOS framework.

4.2 STUDENT RESPONSIBILITIES
Students shall be made aware of the following responsibilities at orientation and in their student handbook:

          • Overseas students on a student visa have responsibilities to satisfy their visa conditions
          • Overseas students must advise the RTO of any changes in their Australian and/or country of origin addresses and phone numbers within 7 days
          • Visa and health insurance renewal is the compulsory responsibility of the student. All overseas students must ensure that they maintain a valid visa and any health insurance (OHSC) as a condition of their visa

5 DEFINITIONS

Case Management	Case management is a collaborative planning process that is essential to the delivery of quality support to students with mental health difficulties.
Student Support Officer	The National Code 2007 Standard 6.5 requires the provider to have a designated member of staff to be the official point of contact for students. You must list a designated member of staff – or members of staff – to be the official point of contact for students (6.5). The ESOS Act and the National Code and RTO legislative guidelines provide for student support services, guidance and counselling. LITC Support Officer will help students in need to access drug and alcohol counselling or mental and wellbeing practitioners to keep them on track and safe through their training in our College.
Mental Health Services (Headspace Centres)will assist LITC in the delivery of support to students	Headspace Centre are located in our area e.g Woolloongabba, Brisbane. See the Headspace.org.au LITC will work in conjunction with these Centre at all time when required
Case Manager	The case manager, who is an appropriately qualified member of staff nominated by the CEO, will ensure students with complex social and emotional issues or mental health difficulties can continue to access curriculum activities, achieve learning outcomes and participate in College life. The case manager will coordinate the implementation of actions to support students, including facilitating access to internal and external support services. In some cases the case manager and nominated officer may be the same member of staff.
Clinical Care Provider	A clinical care provider may be (but is not limited to): a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker, general practitioner, case manager from a public mental health service, mental health professional registered under the Medicare Access Scheme, nurse working in general practice and psychiatry, or an allied health professional (working in a division of general practice, Queensland Health or an Aboriginal community controlled health services). For the purposes of this procedure, a clinical care provider may also be an external support agency.
Complex Case Management	The LITC Complex case management process outlines the actions to be taken by staff to assist students with complex and significant support needs.
Confidentiality	Communication with staff, parents/cares, clinical care providers or external agencies must comply with confidentiality requirements in relation to the sharing of students’ personal information. Section 426 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Old) outlines the requirements in relation to the recording, use and disclosure of personal information about past, present and prospective College students.
Delegate	An appropriately qualified individual of the department.
Educational Adjustments	Educational adjustments are modifications made to curriculum activities, attendance and participation requirements to allow students to achieve optimum educational outcomes and ensure students with mental health difficulties have equal access to participation in education. Educational adjustments for students with mental health difficulties are documented in the Personalised learning plan in the Student plan.
Mental Health	Refer to information available on the Mental Health resource hub on Understanding mental health and Fact sheet – Mental health.
Mental Health Difficulties	Students with mental health difficulties, including diagnosed mental illness, generally demonstrate behavioural and/or emotional responses of a frequency, duration and intensity that us different from appropriate age. Cultural or ethnic norms and which adversely affect the student’s educational performance and participation in College life. Students generally present with behavioural and/or emotional responses that are: • More than a temporary, expected response to stressful events in the environment; • Frequent or severe enough to impact on the classroom learning environment or the student’s personal or social adjustment; and • Consistently exhibited and unresponsive to support provided through regular classroom strategies or educational interventions alone.
Nominated Officer	A nominated officer is a member of staff, such as Student Support Officer, a senior staff deputy CEO, who is nominated by the Chief Executive Officer to be the contact person in the College for staff to discuss concerns about a student’s mental health and wellbeing. The officer will also oversee the day-to-day responses to students’ non-complex mental health issues. The nominated officer should available on a daily basis throughout the week.
Personal information	Section 426(4) of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (Old) defines personal information. In the context of students’ confidentiality requirements, as information or opinion, whether true or not, about an individual whose identity is apparent, or can reasonably be ascertained, from the information or opinion. Students’ personal information may be included in written records, photographs, images or information that is not in writing but which is in the possession or control of department.
Personalised Learning Plan/Intervention Plan	The personalised learning plan, in the Student plan , captures information about the student’s personalised learning needs, including key characteristics, impacts and adjustments, strategies and skill development. Further information can be found on the Learning Place (DoE employees only).
Regional Mental Health Coaches	Regional Mental Health Coaches (RMHCs) coordinate the development of local communication networks that support the dissemination of relevant materials and resources and the provision of professional development for teachers, school leaders, guidance officers and other staff. RMHCs can be a resource for staff seeking guidance on mental health support services available for students.
Mental Health Training for Staff	LITC will commit to providing opportunities for mental health and wellbeing training as part of its professional development program for all staff.
Student Plan	The Student plan documents the College’s actions and strategies to support a students in need. Depending on the student’s individual needs and the plan’s intent, a student plan may include the following: Personalised learning plan, Individual curriculum plan, Health management plan; and/or Support provisions.

6 RELATED LEGISLATION AND REGULATIONS

          • Education Services for Overseas Students (ESOS) Act 2000
         • The National Code of Practice for Registration Authorities and Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018, known as ‘the National Code 2018’ Standard 6
          • Standards for Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) 2015– 1, 4, 5
          • Domestic and Family Violence protection Act 2012
          • Mental Health Act 2016
          • Workplace Gender Equality Act 2012

7 RELATED POLICIES, PROCEDURES AND DOCUMENTS

          • Younger Overseas Student Policy
          • Complaints & Appeals Policy
          • Complaints & Appeals Procedure
          • Critical Incident Policy
          • Critical Incident Procedure
          • Critical Incident Form
          • Overseas Student Orientation Policy
          • Overseas Student Orientation Checklist
          • RTO Policies and Procedures
          • Cricos Policies and Procedures
          • Headspace Centres

COVID-19 Student Support

Overseas Student Mental Health and Wellbeing Policy