While you are away from your home country it is still important to look after your health and wellbeing. This includes physical health, mental health and personal hygiene.
Physical Health
For all students at the School, physical health, sports and activity is an important part of the School’s curriculum and co-curricular programmes. Making good choices of food to fuel your body is also something you should think about, and this forms part of the School’s pastoral and academic curriculum.
Toorak and Bostock House campuses incorporate physical education and activity into the everyday curriculum, and offer after school activities for students in various sports.
For Corio campus students, involvement in co-curricular sports is a requirement, with training and matches occurring across the week and over the weekend. Sports offered include swimming, rowing, badminton, sailing, cross country, netball, football, rugby, soccer, hockey, athletics and equestrian.
For Timbertop students, running, hiking and camping are a key component of your Timbertop experience.
If you feel unwell or get sick
If you feel unwell or sick while at School, you should let a trusted adult know.
At Timbertop and Corio Campuses, the School has a dedicated health centre, operated by registered nurses and with appointments available with external general practitioners and physiotherapists for Students. When booking an appointment you are able to request a preferred gender of your doctor. If you need it, it may also be possible to find an external doctor who speaks your native language.
You are encouraged to have a chaperone for any medical appointment – this may be a health centre staff member or a friend.
At Bostock House and Toorak campuses, the School has a registered nurse, who is available to provide first aid at the relevant campuses during School hours.
If you need different or more specialised care, this can be arranged with an external organisation. If you need to spend some time away from campus to rest and recover, the School will contact your parents or your homestay provider for you, so they can collect you.
If you are unwell while away from School (for example visiting a friend or with your homestay provider) you should let your host know so they can assist you or contact the School to seek assistance on your behalf.
Mental Health and Wellbeing
Living away from close family and friends, adapting to a new culture and keeping up with your studies can be very stressful. Some things which may assist you when you may be feeling upset, stressed, homesick or anxious are as follows:
- Telling a trusted adult;
- Making a call home to family or friends;
- Ensuring you get a good night’s sleep, drink plenty of water and eat nutritious food which fuels your body;
- Ensure you have regular study breaks, particularly when preparing for exams;
- Spend time doing things that make you happy, like hanging out with friends, going to the movies or getting involved in your school’s extra-curricular activities;
- Try meditation.
Getting help if you have mental health concerns
If you do have any mental health concerns it is important to have a chat with someone that you trust. The School has psychologists and counsellors who are available in its health centres as required.
You may contact the health centre yourself to request an appointment, or your Heads of House, Heads of School or any other person may make contact on your behalf.
Below are some additional external mental health services and support you can access at any time:
