Concerns raised by Mullumbimby High School’s P&C that a Wellbeing Hub demountable would be removed have been hosed down by the NSW Department of Education.
P&C President, Amy Colli, said in a statement her organisation and parents were absolutely devastated by the removal, which ‘hosts a breakfast club and lunches (for students experiencing food scarcity) and allows Wellbeing staff to run discreet group programs to build resilience, positive body image, social connection, emotional regulation, etc’.
Parents are joining the fight, providing the P&C with personal statements of support, like this one from a parent of a Year 10 child:
‘My daughter has suffered a debilitating eating disorder over the last year, but she has been able to attend school and work through her recovery thanks to the amazing support Mullum High has provided, including in the Wellbeing Hub which I believe she accesses nearly every day. I am horrified to hear the Department is going to take this inclusive and supportive space away.’
Ms Colli explained that, ‘whether they’re seeking timeout from the sensory and social overload of the playground or access to wellbeing-trained staff, psychologists and youth workers, the Hub is at the heart of the school’s Wellbeing support system.
‘Like all those in all flood-impacted areas, Mullumbimby High students are experiencing the full gamut of mental health conditions and related challenges – social anxiety, eating disorders, school refusal – and the Hub serves as a much-loved safe space that many access daily.
‘I have parents who say that without the Wellbeing Hub their children would be walking out the gate and would not be at school at all. Students have told us that one of the best things about Mullum High is this unique space where they can recharge, seek refuge or find support in challenging times, Ms Colli said.
No decision yet
But a NSW Department of Education spokesperson told The Echo, ‘Claims that a decision has been made to remove the demountable Wellbeing Hub at Mullumbimby High School are incorrect’.
‘No decision has been made. The school this week put forward an application, with P&C submissions attached, to extend the use of the demountable for another 12 months. The Department of Education is currently assessing this application with an accommodation review underway.
‘The department will continue to work with the school to ensure that it has the facilities it needs.
‘Demountables were installed at Mullumbimby High School following the 2022 floods to provide temporary accommodation while the permanent schools facilities were repaired and refurbished, work that has since been completed. One of the demountables is currently used as a Wellbeing Hub at the school. The department will regularly undertake demountable accommodation reviews to ensure that schools across the state have the facilities they need, and also that demountables are put to use where they are needed the most’.
Ms Colli said that, ‘If they [Education Department] came to see what is being achieved here in this space, they’d realise that our Wellbeing Hub represents a huge success story and a model that many other schools around the State could benefit from.’
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
