Guidance officer
The role of the Guidance Officer in Education Queensland Primary Schools
Guidance officers are specialist teachers who deliver a broad range of services to school community members. They contribute to the development of a comprehensive student support and wellbeing program that is responsive to the needs of the school community.
Guidance officers may work directly with students in addition to working with a student's teachers, school support personnel, family, other specialists or external support providers.
Support offered by guidance officers includes providing advice and counselling on educational, behavioural, vocational, personal, social, family, and mental health and wellbeing issues.
Psychoeducational assessments and career development also form an important part of the work guidance officers undertake to enhance positive educational outcomes and career pathways for all students.
Guidance officers require a diverse range of skills and knowledge and an ability to form strong and productive relationships with key stakeholders in order to develop and implement plans and programs that are responsive to the needs of students.
How can I access the school Guidance Officer and what is their role at Caningeraba State School?
The Guidance Officer caseload is largely managed through the schools' Student Support Committee. This ensures that the children with the highest needs receive priority and, for this reason, referrals from parents and teachers are taken through that committee. Generally, if you have concerns regarding your child's progress, talk first with their teacher. Together you will be able to identify whether your concerns are academic/learning, developmental, behavioural, and/or social/ emotional.
For concerns that are mainly to do with home, there are a number of support agencies and contacts in the local area, including your family doctor, the Queensland Health Department and community centres. The school Guidance Officer can help you identify and access the most appropriate agency.
For concerns that are impacting on your child at school, your teacher will refer them to the Student Support Committee. At this meeting it will be determined which school staff member would be best suited to helping you and your child. That person may be one of the following; the Chaplain, the Gifted Education Coordinator, the Head of Inclusion, the school based psychologist, an Associate Principal or the Guidance Officer.
Contact between the Guidance Officer and your child, apart from an initial "getting to know you" session, will only occur with your written/verbal permission.
Soraya Moon
Guidance Officer - Monday to Friday