Grand Avenue State School has 2 Guidance Officers. The general Guidance Officer, Ashleigh Granzin, is onsite everyday, our school has also been assigned a Student Wellbeing Guidance Officer, Sabrina Blaas, who attends on Monday and Wednesday.
What does a Guidance Officer do?
Guidance Officers have a broad range of tasks that they do within schools such as:
- Provide confidential advice, support and guidance to students, staff and parents / caregivers.
- Assist with linking students and families in with external support agencies / providers.
- Supporting the mental health and wellbeing of students and staff.
- Working with teachers and school-based support staff to promote activities and key messages around significant initiatives eg. Mental Health Week, RU OK day, National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence, Child Protection Week.
- Working directly with students in addition to their teachers, school support personnel, family, other specialists or external support providers.
- Working with school staff and teams to develop and implement processes and plans to support students.
- Offering support through providing advice and counselling on educational, behavioural, vocational, personal, social, family, mental health and wellbeing issues.
- Completing assessments to assist in providing more information about a students' learning strengths and difficulties which can then be used to inform the teaching and learning needs of the student. These assessments also assist in the identification and diagnoses of some disabilities.
- Providing leadership, support and case management in responding to some of the most complex and challenging of circumstances including student protection matters, Education Support Plans for children in care, critical incidents, mental health issues, and suicide prevention and postvention support.
- Being a voice for students and advocating for their needs.
Referrals and Bookings
A referral is required for a student to see the Guidance Officer. Students may be referred to the Guidance Officer by their Deputy Principal or Principal. This will often be after a concern is raised to them by a teacher or parent.
For all children, signed consent must be given for the Guidance Officer to engage in any work directly or indirectly with a student. The Guidance Officer will communicate with parents / caregivers to complete the consent form.
Useful phone numbers and links for Parents and Students
Kids Helpline (24hrs): 1800 551 800 https://kidshelpline.com.au/
Lifeline (24hrs): 13 11 14 https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Headspace (9am – 1 am 7 days per week) https://headspace.org.au/eheadspace/
Parentline (8am-10pm): 1300 30 1300 https://parentline.com.au/
Bullying No Way www.bullyingnoway.gov.au