Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS)

The Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS) initiative provides funding to schools to employ a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL). MHWLs lead a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing at their school.

The Victorian Department of Education partnered with the Murdoch Children's Research Institute (MCRI) and the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Education to pilot MHiPS in Victorian schools from 2020 to 2022. In 2022, 100 schools participated in the pilot (90 government and 10 Catholic).

Based on the success of the pilot, the Victorian Government is investing $200 million over 4 years and $93.7 million ongoing to expand MHiPS statewide. By 2026, every eligible government and low-fee non-government primary school across Victoria will be funded to deliver MHiPS.

For more information about MHiPS, watch this short video:

A whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing

Through MHiPS, participating schools receive funding to employ an MHWL, a Victorian Institute of Teaching registered teacher. MHWLs work across the school to lead a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing for students, staff and families based on the needs of the school community. MHWLs lead a whole-school approach to mental health and wellbeing in different ways.

• They build the capacity of school staff, in particular classroom teachers, to identify and support students with mental health concerns in the classroom.
• They support the school to create clear referral pathways internally (within school) and externally (to community services) for students identified as requiring further mental health assessment and support.
• They coordinate targeted mental health support for students by working with regional staff, school wellbeing and leadership teams, teachers, parents/carers and external organisations.
• They advocate for student voice and agency in their wellbeing and mental health needs.

MHWLs receive evidence-based training and ongoing professional development through Learning Communities. The training program is developed and facilitated by the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Education.

To learn more about the benefits of a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing, watch this short video:

Supporting children's mental health

The Department of Education recognises that good mental health in children is necessary to their development, and that schools are ideal places for promoting mental health, identifying early signs of mental health concerns, and supporting referrals where necessary.

The Royal Commission into Victoria's Mental Health System (the Royal Commission) highlighted that primary schools, in particular, provide opportunities to identify children with mental health and wellbeing challenges, who can then be referred to treatment, care and support.

Through MHiPS, the Victorian Government is investing in the long-term mental health and wellbeing of today’s students and tomorrow’s leaders.

Evidence-based approach

The MHiPS model been developed in partnership between MCRI, the University of Melbourne’s Faculty of Education and the Victorian Department of Education. The model was informed by strong consultation in 331 schools across metropolitan, rural and regional Victoria and more than 1,000 teacher surveys. A key strength of the model’s design is that it builds on existing school mental health and wellbeing structures, while helping the education and health sectors to work together.

See MHiPS in action

The Department of Education has developed a series of short case study videos showcasing successful implementation of MHiPS and the MHWL role in different school settings at different stages of implementation. These provide good practice examples for other Victorian schools.

Lucas Primary School in Ballarat joined the MHiPS pilot in 2022. Principal David Young and MHWL Cassandra Jackson-Lee talk about how they have embedded MHiPS and the MHWL role into their whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. They also cover the long-term benefits of MHiPS for the school community, including students, teachers and staff and parents/carers:

Sunbury and Macedon Ranges Specialist School in Sunbury has implemented MHiPS effectively in a specialist school setting since 2022. Principal Joanne Nolan and MHWL Melissa Stivala explain how they have used the initiative to support their students’ individual needs, and work alongside existing mental health and wellbeing approaches in the school, including Respectful Relationships:

The Basin Primary School is in its first year of implementing MHiPS. Principal David Orlandi and MHWL Colin Hartley share their experiences and insights about early implementation and their plans for the future of MHiPS and the MHWL role:

St Mary’s School is a small rural Catholic primary school in Donald in its second year of implementation. Principal Melissa Drum and MHWL Liz McIntyre discuss how MHiPS works in their small school setting and how student voice is highly valued by the school community:

Mental Health in Primary Schools pilot evaluation

To ensure initiatives meet the needs of students, school staff, parents, carers and the wider community, evaluations are completed to understand what’s working and where further work or investment is needed.

The Victorian Department of Education engaged MCRI to undertake an evaluation of the MHiPS pilot to evaluate:

• how well the model works
• how accepted the model is by the school community
• the impact of the MHWL model.

Through the pilot evaluation, it was found MHiPS resulted in students showing increased:

• help seeking behaviours
• ability to implement coping strategies
• willingness to discuss mental health and wellbeing.

Additionally, MHiPS generated an increase in teacher confidence to support student mental health and wellbeing.

The evaluation findings from the MHiPS pilot informed the statewide expansion of MHiPS.

• Mental Health in Primary Schools Pilot: 2022 Final Evaluation Report (DOCX, 4.05MB)
• Mental Health in Primary Schools Pilot: 2022 Summary Evaluation Report (DOCX, 501KB)

Mental Health in Primary Schools statewide expansion evaluation

The state-wide expansion of MHiPS is being evaluated for the Department of Education by MCRI. The evaluation focuses on the effectiveness and impact of MHiPS for student mental health and wellbeing as it expands statewide.

Interim evaluation findings show that over time, MHiPS implementation is linked to:

• positive student mental health and wellbeing outcomes
• reduced stigma about mental health in school staff and families
• better relationships and connections between schools, families and mental health service providers.

The 2025 MHiPS evaluation summary (PDF, 280KB) has been developed by the department with MCRI and the University of Melbourne. The summary identifies factors that help MHiPS to be successfully implemented in schools. They include:

• implementation support for MHWLs from school leadership teams
• protecting time for MHWLs to perform their role
• MHWL participation in MHiPS training and professional learning
• MHWLs sharing ideas with each other.

Mental Health support during school holidays

Mental health support, resources and advice are available for students and families to access over the school holidays. Two fact sheets for students and families:

• support positive mental health and wellbeing of students
• identify signs students may need mental health support
• access available support.

These fact sheets are also available in 19 different languages.

To access the factsheets, visit: mental health supports for students over school holidays.

Further information

For more information refer to the Mental Health in Schools page in the department's Policy and Advisory Library.

For further enquires, contact the department's Student Mental Health Branch by email: mentalhealth@education.vic.gov.au