From Monday 24 April - Friday 5 May we celebrated Guidance Officer Week.

Guidance Officers play a vital role in our Wellbeing Team and offer counselling and guidance on academic, career, personal and wellbeing matters.  Guidance Officer Week raises awareness of the Guidance Officer role.

About Guidance Officers

Guidance officers 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 issue.

Guidance officers are required to be registered teachers in addition to having either a Master of Guidance and Counselling or a 4-year degree in psychology. The role of a guidance officer is rich and diverse. These You Tube videos External link highlight the rewarding work that can be undertaken in the role.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6-6joqkaR0&list=PLgjv5epyrnQBzApfRrAFaAtlLGU6LFYA3&index=2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vTm89Djft4U&list=PLgjv5epyrnQBzApfRrAFaAtlLGU6LFYA3&index=5

Janet Ingram

Guidance Officer - Years 10, 11, 12

studentservices@ripleyvalleyssc.eq.edu.au 

Area of Control

"Feeling upset about something outside of your control is like sitting on a rocking chair.... It gives you something to do, but it doesn't get you anywhere"

During conversations with our young people who are experiencing stress, it is sometimes useful to bring into focus our 'area of control'. Prompting questions may include things like:

- What can you control in this situation?

- What can't you control in this situation?

- How can you make the situation better by focusing on what is inside your area of control?

- What things should we try not to fixate on because they are outside your area of control?

Teaching our young people that sometimes we need to let things go and focus on what we can actually do to help ourselves is a big part of becoming emotionally intelligent. 

Next time your young person is facing a challenge, try bringing some focus back to their area of control and help them brainstorm an action plan they can control. 

Emily Leschke

Guidance Officer - Years 7, 8, 9