Healthy School News

Vape Prevention Project

Some of our Year 11 & 12 students have been working in collaboration with Geelong Youth as part of the Vape Prevention Project. Through this partnership, NGSC students co-designed several educational resources to help raise awareness about the harms of vaping.

They developed:

• Vape Prevention Animation - Vape Ingredients
• Vape Prevention Animation - Vape Harms
• Be Smokefree – an interview with a Barwon Health Be Smokefree clinician

It has been amazing watching their ideas come to life and make a real impact in our community.

To explore all the resources available through the City of Greater Geelong, visit Youth Vape Prevention Project - City of Greater Geelong.

Social Media Age Restrictions presentations for students:

During Term 4, all year 7 & 8 students will be attending a presentation regarding the social media age restrictions being implemented by the government.

Social media age restrictions webinars for parents and carers

From 10 December 2025, certain social media platforms won’t be allowed to let Australian children under 16 create or keep an account.

You can join an information session for parents and carers to understand the changes, their purpose and implications.

The 30-minute webinar will help parents and carers understand the upcoming changes to social media access for children under 16.

Join the e-safety information session to:

• understand the purpose of the new age restrictions and how they aim to protect young Australians
• understand which platforms will require users to be 16+ and what platforms they can still access
• get tips and resources to support your child’s online safety and wellbeing through the transition.

 Parents and carers will gain:

• a clear understanding of the new rules and their implications
• confidence in guiding their child through these changes
• access to trusted resources to support safe and positive online engagement.

Dates of the information sessions:

• Friday 14 November, 1:00pm (AEDT)
• Wednesday 19 November 7:00pm (AEDT)
• Tuesday 2 December, 7:00pm (AEDT)
• Monday 8 December, 3:30pm (AEDT)
• Monday 15 December, 1:00pm(AEDT)
• Thursday 20 November, 12:30pm (AEDT)

You can register via the Registration link.

For more information visit Social media age restrictions and your family| eSafety Commissioner

Exam Stress and Teenagers

Exam stress, results and the uncertainty of what comes next can feel overwhelming for both parents and teenagers. It helps to build skills for managing exam expectations and handling academic pressure. Check out the resources below for practical tips and stories about how other parents and carers support their teenagers through exam anxiety and stress.

• Understanding exam stress in teenagers | Exam stress
• Practical strategies for managing exam stress | Exams & teens
• How to make a study schedule with your teenager | Exam stress
• Surviving Year 12: A parent’s guide to self-care
• How to help your teen avoid distractions during studies & exams
• Ask an expert: Exam stress, neurodiversity and teens
• How to help young mob manage study stress | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families
• How to manage teenagers' expectations after exams
• What to do if your teen is stressed about the future
• A parent's guide to life skills for teens | Work & finances

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program is now open!

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program is now open! Get in quick as applications

will close 13 November or earlier if the budget allocation is fully exhausted.

If your family or child has a Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, you may be eligible for up to $200 to put towards the cost of your child’s participation in sport and active recreation activities.

Important Dates:

Round 9 open to apply for a voucher or reimbursement: 10:00 am Wednesday, 15 October 2025 and will close 13 November or earlier if the budget allocation is fully exhausted.

Reimbursement expenditure dates: from 1 July 2025 to submission of application​

Vouchers expiry date: Wednesday, 31 December 2025.

The Get Active Kids Voucher Program helps eligible families get their kids involved in organised sport and active recreation activities by providing financial support for the cost of membership and registration fees. Eligible children may be able to receive up to $200 each.

Special consideration also applies for children residing in care services, as well as temporary or provisional visa holders, undocumented migrants, or international students.

To find out if you are eligible, how to apply, what costs are covered and more, visit www.getactive.vic.gov.au/vouchers

Dental Health Services Information

We want all students to get the most out of school. Tooth decay can get in the way of learning. It can be painful and affect sleep and concentration. It is important to help children and young adults keep their mouth healthy and decay-free. Regular dental checks help spot and treat any problems early.

At Barwon Health all children aged zero to 18 years are eligible for FREE dental care!

You can contact any of the following services to make an appointment:

• Barwon Health North Phone: 03 4215 7240
• Belmont Community Health Centre Phone: 03 4215 6972
• Newcomb Community Health Centre Phone: 03 4215 7620
• Wathaurong Aboriginal Cooperative Phone: 5277 2038 (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders only)

Helping students feel more confident and supported online

The Department of Education have partnered with Orygen, to develop ScrollSafe. ScrollSafe for Parents and Carers offers simple ways to start meaningful conversations, build trust, and create a shared sense of what healthy social media use looks like — together. The ScrollSafe for Parents video provides a snapshot straight from the mouths of young people, based on feedback from teens, parents and experts.

For more information follow this link PARENTS AND CARERS - Orygen, Revolution in Mind

Thunderstorm asthma – be prepared this pollen season

Grass pollen season, which typically runs from October to December each year in Victoria, brings an increase in asthma and hay fever symptoms. It also increases the risk of Thunderstorm asthma | Better Health Channel. For people with asthma or hay fever, especially those who experience wheezing or coughing with their hay fever, thunderstorm asthma can be sudden, serious and even life threatening.

North Geelong Secondary College will implement a range of measures to keep our school community safe as the risk of thunderstorm asthma increases.

Many of our staff are trained in asthma first aid. We will monitor the VicEmergency app to receive thunderstorm warnings and, where appropriate, keep students indoors when weather forecasts identify greater risk.

During the season, there are some things you can do to prepare and protect yourself and your family:

• If your child has ever had asthma, talk to your doctor about what you can do to help protect them from the risk of thunderstorm asthma this pollen season, including updating your asthma action plan. Taking an asthma preventer properly and regularly is key to preventing asthma, including thunderstorm asthma.
• If your child has hay fever, see your pharmacist or doctor for a hay fever treatment plan and check if you should have an asthma reliever puffer. These are available from a pharmacy without a prescription.
• If your child has hay fever and experiences wheezing and coughing, it is important to make sure they don’t also have asthma. Speak to your doctor about an asthma action plan.
• Where possible, avoid being outside during thunderstorms from October to December, especially during the wind gusts that come before the storm. Go inside and close your doors and windows. If you have your air conditioning on, turn it to ‘recirculate’.

Protect yourself this pollen season – managing asthma and allergies matters.

Find out more - For more information, speak to your doctor. You can also refer to the Thunderstorm asthma | Better Health Channel website.

Protecting against mosquito-borne diseases

Warm and wet weather can result in greater numbers of mosquitoes and an increased risk of illness from mosquito bites. While the overall risk is currently low, some mosquitoes may be carrying diseases that make people sick.

The best protection against mosquito-borne illness is to avoid mosquito bites.

Families can protect against mosquito bites by:

• covering up as much as possible with long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing
• applying insect repellent that contains picaridin or DEET on exposed skin when outdoors
• limiting outdoor activity if lots of mosquitoes are active
• clean up and remove containers and items around the home that may hold water where mosquitoes may breed.

Families with any health concerns should see their doctor or phone NURSE-ON-CALL: 1300 606 024 (available 24 hours).

Free Japanese encephalitis vaccines

Japanese encephalitis virus is spread to humans through bites from infected mosquitoes and can cause a rare but potentially serious infection of the brain.

A free vaccine is available to some individuals to protect Victorians at higher risk of the virus.

For more information, including vaccine eligibility, refer to the Department of Health’s Japanese encephalitis webpage.

Find out more

For more information on protecting against mosquito-borne diseases, families can refer to the following Better Health Channel pages:

• Mosquitoes can carry diseases

• Protect yourself from mosquito-borne disease, including a handy checklist to help reduce mosquito breeding sites at home and resources translated into other languages.

• Japanese encephalitis virus

SunSmart

Term 4 is in full swing and summer holidays are now just around the corner.

It’s also that time of year when UV levels reach 3 or above every day, making sun protection a must. Please encourage your teenagers to wear a hat, apply SPF 50 or 50+ sunscreen, and seek shade during lunch breaks and time outdoors.

For more information refer to Be a SunSmart family - SunSmart

Free Beyond Boxing Sessions Across Geelong – Term 4

Geelong Boxing Club is continuing to deliver free boxing and wellbeing sessions across Geelong as a preferred supplier to the City of Greater Geelong.

These programs help young people (aged 12+) build confidence, resilience, and emotional regulation skills in a safe, inclusive, and structured environment, all while connecting with positive mentors and local peers.

📍 The fOrT Youth Centre – Corner of St Georges & Melbourne Road, Norlane
📍 The Nest Youth Hub – 17 Gheringhap Street, Geelong
📍 Armstrong Creek East Community Hub – 46 Central Boulevard, Armstrong Creek

Sessions run weekly for nine weeks this term and are free to attend, but registration and consent forms are required.

For more information or to register, contact:
📞 (03) 5272 5272
📧 youthadmin@geelongcity.vic.gov.au
💬 Or send a message via Geelong Youth on Facebook or Instagram.

SKAART Community Festival at the fOrT

Mark your calendars! The SKAART Community Festival is almost here!

📅 Saturday 29th November

⏰ 11am-2pm

📍 The fOrT Youth Centre, corner of St Georges and Melbourne Road, Corio, 3214

💲 FREE! Everything including food and rides are FREE

Local Support Services:

Be Smokefree (and Vapefree) Clinics at Barwon Health

The Be Smokefree/Vapefree Clinics at Barwon Health provide individual support over a number of weeks.

This approach can be very helpful because:

• It helps you to understand why you smoke/vape and why you want to quit
• It helps you to develop strategies for quitting or cutting back
• It provides you with regular support to manage through the quitting process
• It provides non-judgmental encouragement to achieve the goals you set for yourself.

Our staff will also liaise with your general practitioner and other health professionals to make sure we consider your overall physical and mental health concerns.

Give us a call or download the self-referral form in the service brochure.

Information for young people UNCLOUD

When is this service available?

The BRaSH clinics run at University Hospital Geelong on Tuesday afternoons, and at Barwon Health North on Thursday afternoons.

Wathaurong offer a wide range of Aboriginal health services specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Their dedicated team including culturally sensitive health professionals, provides consultations, testing, and medical procedures, along with essential social and emotional well being support. Their approach ensures that every service respects and aligns with cultural needs and values. All health appointments at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative are bulk billed. They can also assist with transport to get to and from your appointments. For all your health needs, call them to make an appointment on 5277 0044.

2025 Term 4 Regional Parenting Calendar.docx

Where You Can Eat Doc July-Dec 2025 Brochure.pdf

Reproductive and Sexual Health (BRaSH) Clinic

When is this service available?

The BRaSH clinics run at University Hospital Geelong on Tuesday afternoons, and at Barwon Health North on Thursday afternoons.

Wathaurong offer a wide range of Aboriginal health services specifically for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Their dedicated team including culturally sensitive health professionals, provides consultations, testing, and medical procedures, along with essential social and emotional well being support. Their approach ensures that every service respects and aligns with cultural needs and values. All health appointments at Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative are bulk billed. They can also assist with transport to get to and from your appointments. For all your health needs, call them to make an appointment on 5277 0044.

2025 Term 4 Regional Parenting Calendar.docx

Where You Can Eat Doc July-Dec 2025 Brochure.pdf

City of Greater Geelong Term 4 Youth Programs