Victorian Schools Mental Health Menu | The Song Room program
Register today
The Song Room's arts and wellbeing program for primary students is now available on the Victorian Schools Mental Health Menu.
The Victorian Government Schools Mental Health Menu is a list of endorsed, evidence-based programs that can support schools to improve the mental health and wellbeing of their students.
To assist schools to purchase items off the Menu, government schools will receive funding from the newly established Schools Mental Health Fund.
About the program
The Song Room arts and wellbeing program uses arts learning to teach social and emotional skills to support student wellbeing and learning. The program takes place in schools over 10 weekly sessions which are led by qualified arts learning experts, including teachers and arts, music, and play therapists. The sessions utilise a trauma-informed and strengths-based approach.
Artform focus areas include:
- Performing Arts (song writing, drumming, music, dance, drama)
- Visual Arts (painting, mural making, sculpture, ceramics, multimedia)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Arts and Culture
Programs are tailored for the needs of schools and will be designed and timetabled collaboratively.
Schools can request:
- Individual sessions for at-risk students
- Small group sessions for at-risk students
- Whole class sessions
- Community Arts Projects involving students and community members
- In person and/or online delivery options
The program also supports diverse and vulnerable students using creative and customised activities. Schools who have completed the program become part of a national community and continue to receive professional learning and resources.
The Song Room delivers high-quality, evidence-based music and arts programs across Australia. We have over twenty years’ experience working in partnership with schools to deliver multi-artform arts learning programs that impact both student and teacher outcomes.
Find out more about The Song Room
Why should my school sign up?
This program is for your school if you would like to:
- Increase students’ self-awareness, self-management, responsible decision making, social awareness, and relationship skills
- Increase feelings of school pride and belonging
- Increase confidence and motivation as learners
- Develop students’ creative and expressive capacities
- Improve knowledge and skills in the arts aligned to the Victorian Curriculum
“(The Song Room) program has been absolutely brilliant! It has provided an opportunity for ALL students at our school to develop confidence and have success.” Principal, Victoria
Who can apply?
All Victorian schools can start planning for 2023 by using the Menu right now to source high-quality, evidence-based programs.
Funding is available to eligible Victorian government schools through the Schools Mental Health Fund to purchase items from the Menu. The funding is being rolled out based on schools’ location between now and 2024, with rural and regional schools prioritised.
Rural and regional schools have already received funding from the Schools Mental Health Fund and should register now to get a Song Room program in their school.
Funding for Metro schools will roll out from Term 1, 2023.
The Metro roll our scheme is:
- Term 1, 2023: Brimbank, Melton, North Eastern Melbourne, Outer Eastern Melbourne, Southern Melbourne
- Term 1, 2024: Bayside Peninsula, Hume Moreland, Inner Eastern Melbourne, Western Melbourne.
Schools may choose to self-fund a Song Room program to commence in Term 1, 2023.
When does it start?
The Song Room’s arts and wellbeing program will commence from Term 1, 2023.
Rural and regional Victorian schools have already received government funding. Register your interest today.
Metro schools can start planning their Song Room programs now. Funding from the Schools Mental Health Fund will roll out to Metro schools in selected locations from Term 1, 2023. Funding will be open to all schools from Term 1 , 2024. Register now so we can help you plan for 2023.
How do I get The Song Room at my school?
It’s easy!
- Register your interest with The Song Room.
- We will contact you to talk through your school’s needs
- The Song Room will provide you with a quote
- Upon acceptance of the quote the school will provide The Song Room with a purchase order
- We will then work with your school to plan and schedule the start date.
What does it cost?
The full Song Room program costs $13,612 (inc. GST).
The program includes:
- a full program management team
- one day of planning and induction with the school
- one day of CRT cover planning and induction
- 10 full-day sessions across a semester
- a community engagement project
- access to ARTS:LIVE and materials
- program administration and overheads.
Travel costs may be extra.
Talk to us about the options available for your school.
Register today or contact us on mentalhealth@songroom.org.au or (03) 9521 3990
What else do we need to consider?
Program adaptability:
One day for project planning and consultation with the school is included within the program budget. This enables the program to be tailored to the specific needs of the school. The Song Room has previously been adapted for children from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, remote and regional communities, experiencing trauma and neglect, autism, and other learning and behavioural challenges.
Staffing:
Backfilling is not required for participating staff.
Training requirements:
The Song Room encourages the use of existing school equipment where available and appropriate. Schools will be provided with all music and art-making resources, and access to ongoing digital resources. This includes an annual subscription to The Song Room’s digital resource, ARTS:LIVE, lesson plans, videos, and activities.
Factors to consider:
There is no minimum number of participants required.
Australian context:
This program has been developed and applied in Australia.
