Overport Primary School’s whole-school approach to health and wellbeing
Overport Primary School in Frankston uses Healthy Places Healthy Futures to strengthen and unify its approach to student health and wellbeing. The school, with around 700 students, is a longstanding Healthy Places member, with local support from the health promotion team at Bayside Health – Peninsula Care Group.
Healthy Places provided a structured, evidence-based framework to align health and wellbeing priorities across leadership, students and the school community.
Leading the change
Assistant Principal Jill Wathen led the whole-school approach as part of Healthy Places.
“Healthy Places recognises the work we already have in place. It's helped to align our leadership team, our students and our community to make sure we're all on the same page and working towards the same goal, which is to promote health and wellbeing across our school,” said Mrs Wathen.
The approach
The school adopted the Healthy Places Framework to align policies, further integrate wellbeing into school culture and engage staff, students and families.
Kristen Young, Health Promotion Practitioner at Bayside Health – Peninsula Care Group, helped the school adopt Healthy Places.
“I’ve supported Overport Primary School through Healthy Places by building on the great work they were already doing and bringing it together into a cohesive, whole-school approach to health and wellbeing,” Ms Young said.
Key initiatives
1. Whole-school policy alignment
Overport reviewed and strengthened key policies relating to:
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Physical activity
- Food and nutrition, and oral health
“Over the years, we’ve updated several policies under Healthy Places to strengthen our practices and embedded a consistent approach to student health and wellbeing across our school,” Mrs Wathen said.
2. Student Health Ambassador Program
Overport's Student Health Ambassador Program has empowered students; they contributed ideas and led initiatives.
Year 6 student Vivienne said: “I wanted to become a Student Health Ambassador to help change the school and make it a place where kids can be themselves.”
A standout initiative was their Friendship Factory, a lunchtime program with games and shared activities that’s welcoming to students of all year levels.
Ms Young said: “The Friendship Factory supports inclusion of all age groups, creating connections and feelings of belonging.”
Student Health Ambassador Anna said: “It helps kids make new friendships and everyone feels included.”
3. Wellbeing events and activities
Student leaders also organised and supported a range of other initiatives, including GEM Days (Gratitude, Empathy, Mindfulness) featuring inclusive activities, fundraising events such as PJ Day, a colour run and regular meetings to gather student feedback and ideas.
The process
As part of Healthy Places, Bayside Health – Peninsula Care Group provides targeted support, including ongoing consultation with school leadership; guidance on planning and implementation; practical advice to embed the Healthy Places Framework into everyday practices; and a focus on integrating existing progress.
“My role is not to create extra work, but to help keep health and wellbeing at the centre of everything the school does,” Ms Young said.
Outcomes
Healthy Places has strengthened and unified progress through a clear, structured approach to health and wellbeing.
Reflecting on the Student Health Ambassador program, Year 6 student Ellen said: “It’s been really important because we’re changing the school for the better for the next students here.”
Mrs Wathen said: “As part of Healthy Places, we’ve made meaningful changes across our school – from strengthening key policies, to empowering students to lead real change. What’s made the biggest difference is having the clear Healthy Places Framework that brings our leadership team, students and community together, so we take a consistent, whole-school approach to health and wellbeing.”