School Counsellors
Our school counsellors have special training in psychology and counselling to help students and their families in a variety of ways including:
- Counselling students
- Assessing students’ learning and behaviour
- Assisting schools to identify and address disabilities that affect students’ learning
- Liaising with other agencies concerned with the well-being of students
- Assisting parents or carers to make informed decisions about their child’s education
School counsellors are members of schools’ welfare and learning and support teams.
Reasons for seeing our counsellor may include worrying about school work, conflict with friends, being in trouble at school or just feeling “down”.
School counselling is a confidential service. Students may seek self-referral to the school counsellor at any time by presenting to the school counsellor office, or by asking for a referral by their teacher or Year Advisor.
Art Therapy
At St Johns Park High School, student wellbeing services are supported by two onsite qualified art therapists. A student may be nominated to participate in art therapy or may self-refer and participation may involve individual or group sessions. Art therapy uses the creative process of art making to improve and enhance the physical, mental and emotional well-being of students. It offers students the opportunity to express and explore feelings, thoughts and concerns that are sometimes too difficult to put into words in a safe, creative and supportive space. Through these sessions, students are able to process and problem solve issues and concerns that may be hindering engagement, learning and development.
Occupational Therapy
St Johns Park High School employs occupational therapists to assist students through various, targeted interventions focusing on fine motor and gross motor skills, visual processing, sensory processing, executive functioning skills and social skills. Our occupational therapists may work one on one with students and develop a program tailored to meet their individual needs, a group of students or support teachers in a variety of classrooms.
Speech Pathology
St Johns Park High School employs speech language pathologists to maximise students’ access, participation
and achievement of competencies in literacy, numeracy and key learning areas. Speech language therapy services support students’ educational outcomes by focusing on the essential foundation areas of language, speech, voice, fluency and oro-motor functioning, where these impact on learning. Speech pathologists also assist students with their social and emotional learning and help students to learn to use language with different people and in different situations.
