Guidance Officers
Our Guidance Officers at Mackay North are Leanne Jarvis (Years 7,9 & 11) and Sharon Martin (Years 8,10 & 12).
Support from our Guidance Officers includes providing advice and counselling on educational, behavioural, vocational, personal, social, family, mental health, and wellbeing issues. Career development also forms an important part of the work Guidance Officers undertake to enhance positive educational outcomes and career pathways for all students. This may include involvement in the process of Senior Education and Training (SET) planning, QTAC applications, career development and future pathway options counselling.
Our Guidance Officers also provide leadership and specialised support in response to student protection issues; critical incidents, psychoeducational assessments, suicide prevention and postvention support, the transition of students into alternative education programs, and student reintegration back into mainstream schooling.
Guidance Officers also balance the ethical issues of privacy and confidentiality for each student and maintain a comprehensive and professional record keeping system that complies with policy and legal requirements of parental and legal access to official records.
Our Guidance Officers lead our Student Support Services (SSS) Team, implementing plans and programs that are responsive to the needs of your child. Our SSS Team are all trained facilitators and proudly deliver SSS support programs such as: RAGE – Renavigating Anger and Guilty Emotions; Feeling Fantastic – strategies for anxiety and depression; Drumbeat – for the rhythm of life and relationships; Bella Girl – for empowering young women; Strength - for empowering young men; Managing the Bull – for finding inner strength to deal with bullying; Seasons for Growth – for students managing grief and loss. Strong Mindera and Meekana and Deadly Choices for building cultural strength and resilience for First Nations students.
Contact:
Leanne Jarvis - Years 7, 9 & 11
Phone: (07) 49631666 or email: ljarv13@eq.edu.au
Sharon Martin - Years 8, 10 & 12
Phone: (07) 49631666 or via email: smart292@eq.edu.au
School Social Worker
Our school's Social Worker is able to provide individual and group- based support to students with mild to moderate mental health concerns; thereby intervening early and alleviating some of the challenges experienced when supporting students in the classroom. The school Social Worker focus is on improving student wellbeing by taking a holistic whole student-centred approach. The role includes:
- Individual counselling.
- Advocacy and support to students and their families
- Referral to external support services for students and their families as needed.
- Liaison with other stakeholders involved with the student.
- Student Support Services Group Program Delivery
- Mental Health Promotion
- Psychoeducation to students, parents and staff
- Consultancy and Professional Development to staff.
Katie Marlborough is available Monday to Friday and can be contacted on (07) 4963 1738 or via email on kmarl0@eq.edu.au
Community Education Counsellors
Mackay North’s Community Education Counsellor (CEC) is dedicated to providing support and educational counselling to our indigenous students and their families. Our CEC plays an important role in managing students' attendance and encouraging social and academic participation. Our CEC also coordinates student wellbeing programs, links students with work experience opportunities and fosters connections with the greater community.
Tara Raikaki is available Monday to Friday and can be contacted on (07) 4963 1603 or email
traik3@eq.edu.au
Chaplain
Our School Chaplain participates in the everyday life of school and provides support and pastoral care to students and the school community. Our Chaplain cares for children struggling with a wide range of issues, including family problems, friendship issues, peer pressure, low self-esteem, bullying, stress and anxiety. They also attend excursions, school camps and coordinate different programs and lunchtime activities designed to build student resilience and self-awareness.
Our Chaplain also runs a Breakfast Club three mornings a week where students are provided with toast, cereal or a hot meal. Brekky Club is a also a space where students can feel welcome and supported.
Amy Phillips is available Monday to Wednesday and can be contacted on (07) 4963 6680 or via email on aphil370@eq.edu.au
School Based Youth Health Nurse
The School Based Youth Health Nurse (SBYHN) is a Clinical Nurse employed by Queensland Health. The SBYHN's primary role is health promotion, aimed at maximising positive health outcomes for young people. This includes;
- Curriculum support in relation to health and well-being (by the provision of evidenced-based recourses to support learning and includes teaching in the classroom).
- Supporting the development of a healthy school environment and ethos
- Planning, implementation and evaluation of health promotion activities
- Supporting the development of partnerships with relevant government and non-government agencies and community members
- Advocating on behalf of young people on issues affecting their health and wellbeing.
- Individual and group, confidential consultations for students, parents and members of the school community. These health consultations can include support, advice, health information, brief intervention and/or referral as appropriate.
Common reasons for which young people seek support from the SBYHN include;
- Nutrition
- Sleep
- Physical activity
- Vaping, smoking, alcohol and drug use
- Sexual health, puberty and development
- Feeling unhappy or stressed
- Mental health concerns
- Emotional regulation
- Self-care
- Relationships
- Personal and family concerns
The SBYHN is unable to administer medications, provide first aid or ongoing counselling for psychological problems.
Rachel Bradbury is available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. She can be contacted via phone (07) 49631606 or via email on rbrad160@eq.edu.au
Youth Support Co-ordinator - Well Being
Our Mackay North Youth Support Coordinators (YSC) are committed to work with at risk young people and support them in developing resilience. The YSC provides individualised support to students who may need help remaining engaged in their education and works with them towards satisfactory learning outcomes. Our YSCs provide emotional support, monitor attendance, identify barriers to engaging in education and can refer students to appropriate support services. The YSCs also deliver evidence-based social and emotional wellbeing programs to selected groups. These programs build the fundamental skills and values that support healthy interactions in peer relationships and empower a student's sense of belonging and self-esteem.
BeeJae Lugo is available Monday to Friday and can be contacted on (07) 4963 1607 or via email on blugo0@eq.edu.au
Alan Buckland is available Monday to Friday and can be contacted on (07) 4963 1734 or via email on abuck149@eq.edu.au
Youth Support Co-ordinator - Industry Pathways
School-based Apprenticeships & Traineeships (SATs) - Students looking to get a head start into an apprenticeship or traineeship can combine their post compulsory schooling with an externally provided course.
Work Experience: Students can complete work experience while studying for their QCE, to gain valuable time & expertise in a range of work environments to add to their resume and employability.
Lana Lawn is available Monday to Friday and can be contacted on (07) 49631 741 or via email on
llawn0@eq.edu.au
School Based Police Officers
The School Based Policing Program is a joint initiative between the Queensland Police Service and Education Queensland. The main role of the program is to establish positive relationships between police and the secondary school community to contribute to a safe and supportive learning environment.
School-based police officers support students at risk of offending while encouraging school communities to adopt approaches that aid in crime prevention and proactive policing.
The School Based Policing Program helps high schools and the community by:
- addressing identified needs within the school community
- helping teachers develop and present curriculum material to meet police and school community needs
- undertaking initial response and investigation of offences within the perimeters of the school.
(Education Queensland maintains 'OneSchool' which records all interations with parents and students. Interations with a school-based police officer may be required to be included in 'OneSchool'. School-based police officers will aways exercise discretion and confidentiality)
A school-based police officer has an office within the high school, and is contactable through the Administration Office during school hours.
If you would like to discuss any matters with Senior School Based Police contact:
Mackay Police: (07) 4968 3444
Anti-bullying
STYMIE
It’s important that all students feel safe at school, and to assist with this Mackay North has implemented STYMIE, an anti-bullying tool.
STYMIE.com.au is a website that allows students who witness another student being bullied, to anonymously report the incident and upload evidence including screen shots of social media discussions and text messages. The information is sent to appropriate staff at the school and contact will be made with the student being harmed so they know they are not alone.
Bullying - No Way!
Bullying. No Way! is a resource created by Australia's educational communities as well as students, staff, parents, agencies, education officers and community members. It is intended to support young people to be safe, supported, respected, valued - and free from bullying, violence, harassment and discrimination. The Bullying. No Way! website contains information and support for students on how to handle situations of bullying. For more information
visit the Bullying. No Way! website .
Online Games
Students and adults of all ages can play online multiplayer
games. To play, all one needs is an internet connection and a device such as a
computer, PlayStation, X-Box, Wii or a Nintendo console. However, these online
games can now be played on hand held devices such as smartphones, tablets, Nintendo
devices and other devices
with Wi-Fi connection.
With multiplayer games, students can communicate and chat
online with other players both locally and overseas. This allows contact with people
with whom your student is not familiar, and this may place your child at risk. Therefore,
Brett Lee, from Internet Safe Education, has put together a safety guide
handbook to assist parents with online games and to minimise that risk.
For your copy of the Game Handbook, please click on the link
below.