Victorian Schools Mental Health Menu | The Song Room program
Register today
The Song Room's arts and wellbeing program for primary students is available now 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. The Song Room can be found on the menu here.
Fully-funded programs are available to Victorian government schools through the Schools Mental Health Fund. Register with The Song Room and we will step you through the requirements to access a Song Room program.
About the program
The Song Room arts and wellbeing program is a place-based, arts program that teaches social and emotional skills to support student wellbeing, learning and mental health. 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 can include:
- Performing Arts (songwriting, drumming, music, dance, or drama)
- Visual Arts (painting, mural making, sculpture, ceramics, or multimedia)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander histories and cultures.
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 primary schools can apply to self-fund a Song Room program.
Funding is available to Victorian government schools through the Schools Mental Health Fund to purchase items from the Menu.
When does it start?
The Song Room’s arts and wellbeing program is now available. Start planning for 2025.
We work with you to design a program to meet your school needs, ready to commence in term 1, 2025.
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 in 2025 costs $15,755 (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.
