What we have to say
Increasing resilience through student welfare systems
A semirural secondary school has many approaches to improving safety and interpersonal relationships. The members of the student services team talk about their roles.
The Student Services Team is made up of the school guidance officer, chaplain, school-based health nurse, a youth counsellor, a youth support coordinator, an Indigenous community education counsellor, the behaviour support teacher, and officers from Lifeline, a homeless youth program and a youth crime prevention program.
Fran (youth support coordinator): I visit the school on a regular basis to work with young people at risk of homelessness and/or leaving school early. I work with young people at school on a one-to-one basis. The program allows for group work, and contribution to the school's Life Skills program. Such group work has included young women's groups and groups for young people living independently. I provide emergency counselling services when the need arises.
Kass (Reconnect officer): I coordinate a community-based program, working with young people who are at risk of becoming homeless. I also work with their families and will visit the school on request, if a young person is in need of support. Reconnect also runs programs such as the Brother Sister program that aims at improving siblings' relationships. The youth coordinator and I aim to prevent homelessness and to support those young people who have already left to maintain contacts with home, school and their communities.
Gayle (principal): These partnership staff support and empower young people to make informed decisions about their futures. They assist our students to build positive relationships. We have found that students who are aware of their rights and responsibilities, within the school and in the wider community, are better able to benefit from and contribute positively to these environments.
Ewan (youth counsellor): I visit the school each week to work with young people suffering from addictions, recovering from traumatic situations such as family split up, divorce, death of a loved one and so on. I help with the school's Life Skills program and provide an alternative activity to sport on Wednesday afternoons. We have run young women's, young men's, and young Christians' groups in this timeslot. I also provide emergency counselling when required.
Jeremy (chaplain): I am at school three days per
week, supported partially by the Parents and Citizens Association and through
my own fundraising. I provide emergency and grief counselling to students,
parents and teachers. I run young Christians' groups during recesses. I go
with students to sport and do much of my informal counselling on the sport
field. I try to model healthy behaviour and positive relationship building
at all times. I help with the school's Life Skills program and coordinate
the religious education program.
Schools in Action:
Alliances to increase student resilience and safety
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