New videos highlight impact of MHiPS

06/02/2026

A new series of case study videos celebrating the positive impact of the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative and the Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL) role in Victorian primary schools has been released by the Victorian Government.

The video series showcases how MHiPS is being successfully implemented across a diverse range of school settings, at different stages of the implementation journey.  

At Lucas Primary School in Ballarat, a 2022 pilot school, Principal David Young and MHWL Cassandra Jackson Lee reflect on how MHiPS has helped enable and embed a whole-school focus on mental health and wellbeing, supporting students, staff and families over the longer term.

‘It's part of the fabric of just what we do, so people wouldn't know Lucas Primary School really without it, and MHiPS isn't done in isolation to anything else I do.’ – Cassandra, MHWL at Lucas Primary School 

The series also highlights implementation in a specialist setting at Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School. Principal Joanne Nolan and MHWL Melissa Stivala describe how MHiPS supports students’ individual needs and complements mental health and wellbeing curriculum such as Respectful Relationships.

Two schools share perspectives from earlier stages of implementation. The Basin Primary School, now in its first year of MHiPS, offers insights into early learning, implementation priorities and future plans from Principal David Orlandi and MHWL Colin Hartley.

‘Take the time to really know the community that you're working in, and if you've been in the school for a really long time, use that time to evaluate, use that time to reflect on what already exists and really come at it with a clear approach.’ – Colin, MHWL at The Basin Primary School

Meanwhile, St Mary’s School in Donald, a small rural Catholic school in its second year, illustrates how the initiative works in a small school context. Principal Melissa Drum and MHWL Liz McIntyre emphasise the value placed on student voice.
 
 

Together, the videos provide practical, real world examples of best practice and demonstrate the flexibility of the MHiPS model across school types and communities.

We encourage you to share these videos with your networks! 

For further information about the MHiPS initiative, please contact Dr Simone Darling.