Guidance and Counselling Service

All students in ACT Government schools have access to a school counsellor. School counsellors aim to assist students with educational, social, emotional or behavioural needs, either individually or in groups and can work collaboratively with families, school communities and external agencies. School counsellors are required to be registered or be eligible for registration with the ACT Psychology Board, and have completed teaching qualifications.

School counsellors may assist students through:

• Psycho educational assessment and recommendations for support;
• Counselling (individual and group);
• Referrals to and liaison with community agencies and other professionals;
• In-servicing and consulting with school staff;
• Parent liaison;
• Parent education and discussion groups;
• Curriculum development;
• Mediation and negotiation; and
• Confidential discussions.

School counsellors can be contacted directly through ACT Government schools. The assistant manager and senior counsellors can be contacted through Student Support Services.

Phone: (02) 6205 6925

Fax: (02) 6205 7623

Pastoral Care Coordinators

All ACT Government high schools have a pastoral care coordinator who coordinates school student welfare and pastoral care programs; and works with the Youth Support Worker. Individual schools should be contacted in regard to how these positions are being rolled out.

Youth Education Support (YES)

Aims to re-engage young people in education and support their participation in school and community life. Works with young people, aged 11 – 15 years, their families and other agencies to support skills building and a return to education. Participation is voluntary. Referrals required.

Phone:        (02) 6205 6075 (Northside)

                    (02) 6205 6074 (Southside)

Web: www.det.act.gov.au

Youth Support Workers in Schools

Youth Support Workers in Schools represent a contact person that is accessible to young people, youth and community services during school hours.

Youth Support Workers in Schools can be excellent gateways into schools, facilitating partnerships with youth and community services and greatly enhancing the access of young people to a range of resources available to them. Increasingly, schools are not being seen as merely sites for education, but as venues that facilitate the health and wellbeing of young people.

All Youth Support Workers in Schools provide information, referrals and personal support.  Some youth support workers can provide drop in space, emergency relief, peer education, advocacy, personal and crisis support, outreach to youth services, groups and recreational activities.

To contact a Youth Support Worker directly, contact the individual school and ask for the Youth Support Worker. For more information about the program, contact the Youth Support Workers in Schools Coordinator.
Phone: (02) 6205 8347

Disability, Housing and Community Services, ACT Government

Schools as Communities Program

A voluntary program that aims to improve social and educational outcomes for young people by creating working relationships between families, communities and schools. There are currently seven Community Outreach Workers based in eight primary schools and two high schools (Kaleen and Calwell) across Canberra. 

The program conducts community development initiatives and provides family support including crisis intervention, mediation, advocacy, referral, transportation to community services for appointments and provide individual support.

Students and families are referred to the program by teachers, counsellors, community organisations or through self-referral.  Students and parents can arrange to see a worker by dropping in at the school, phoning for an appointment or requesting a home visit.

Phone: (02) 6205 5681 (Schools as Communities Team Leader)

Web: www.dhcs.act.gov.au/ocyfs/services/schools_as_communities

Youth Connection

Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services

A short to medium term non-crisis outreach service that aim to support young people aged 12 – 16 experiencing problematic attendance.

Phone: (02) 6207 4528

Web: www.dhcs.act.gov.au/ocyfs/services/young_people#YConnection

Department of Education, Science and Training, Australian Government

National Chaplaincy Programme

The chaplain’s role is to increase the provision of pastoral care for students, supporting their wellbeing, and their ability to deal with personal issues. The program aims to assist schools and their communities to support the spiritual wellbeing of their students.

Each school and its community will decide on the religious affiliation of the school chaplain and the nature of services provided.  However, students are not obliged to participate, and parents and students are to be informed about the availability and the voluntary nature of chaplaincy services.

Thirty-three Government and Non-Government schools in the ACT are now providing chaplaincy services through the program. Chaplains can be contacted through individual schools. The website contains details of these schools and more information about the program.

Web: http://www.deewr.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx

Government High Schools

ACT Government Colleges (Year 11 – 12)

The following services also provide relevant programs:

• Access 10 Program (Alternative Education)
• Bungee (Mental Health)
• CCCares (Alternative Education)
• Children and Young People Focus Worker – DVCS (Youth Support)
• Children and Young People’s Workers – CRCC (Youth Support)
• CYCLOPS (Young Carers)
• Galilee Education Service (Alternative Education)
• Learning For Life Program (Youth Support)
• LYNX (Youth Support)
• Menslink (Youth Support)
• Messengers Program (Art and Recreation)
• Mental Illness Education ACT (Mental Health)
• Multicultural Youth Services (Multicultural)
• Northside Community Services (Youth Support)
• Northside High School Student Support Centre (Alternative Education)
• Open Family Australia (Youth Support)
• PASS Homework Program (Multicultural)