Guidance officers
The department's focus on creating opportunities for every learner to be successful is supported through the provision of a comprehensive guidance and counselling service provided directly to students and their families in all primary, secondary and special schools and other departmental facilities across the state by
guidance officers.
Chaplains and student welfare workers
Chaplaincy/student welfare services are optional and provide students and staff with social, emotional and spiritual support, provide an additional adult role model in the school and enhance engagement with the broader community including parents.
The
Chaplaincy and student welfare services policy statement and supporting documents provide assistance for schools implementing a chaplaincy/student welfare service (paid or voluntary).
Community education counsellors
Counsellors work closely with guidance officers and their local communities, and provide a significant service to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. More than 100 community education counsellors are located generally in schools with significant numbers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, as well as in clusters of schools throughout the state.
District community education counsellors advocate on behalf of students where a community education counsellor is not available. Parents can
contact the school or local district office for further information.
School based police officers
As part of the Queensland Police Service’s
School Based Policing Program, School Based Police Officers (SBPOs) work in selected secondary schools across the state to form partnerships with the school community. SBPOs identify and develop appropriate community safety and crime prevention strategies that address local issues and help ensure Queensland school communities are safe and secure.
School-based youth health nurses
The Department of Health funds the School Based Youth Health Nurse program, which operates in state secondary schools across Queensland, including Schools of Distance Education. The program, which focuses on whole of school preventative health and health promotion, is coordinated locally through the
Hospital and Health Services.
State schools registered nurses
The Department of Education provides a
nursing service to state schools to support reasonable adjustments for students with specific health needs to attend and safely participate in all aspects of schooling. Nursing services may include support with risk assessment, development of individual (daily routine) and/or emergency school health plans, provision of training in managing student health needs and performing health procedures, supervision and ongoing support (including refresher training) as required.
Youth support coordinators
As part of the
Youth Support Coordinator Initiative, Youth Support Coordinators (YSCs) work in selected secondary schools across the state to provide advice and support to students who are disengaged or at risk of disengaging from education. In their role, YSCs:
- provide individual support, case management and group programs for students to maximise their engagement with education and training
- refer students in need of additional support to relevant school and regional staff or to external support services.