School counselling staff are members of the school learning and support team.
A teacher may recommend the service by referring a student to the school’s learning and support team. As a parent or carer, you may refer your child directly to the school counselling service. Students can also self-refer to the service.
The role of the School Counsellor
The role of a school counsellor includes:
- Assessing students’ needs using psychological and educational tests, rating scales and observation, and reporting the results to parents and teachers.
- Counselling students individually and in groups in a range of educational and mental health areas and participating in the work of school student welfare and learning support committees.
- Providing advice to review committees concerning the education of students with special needs.
- Referring students or their families to other appropriate health and/or welfare agencies as required.
- Working with parents focusing on the welfare needs of their children.
- Responding, as part of a team, to calls from schools experiencing major critical incidents.
- Reporting and making recommendations when students have received a long suspension from school.
For more information please visit the following pages from the NSW Department of Education: