The Student Services team consists of dedicated staff members, with extensive knowledge and experience in a range of pastoral care contexts. These include positive behaviour support, mental health, physical health and social/emotional development. Student Support staff work collegially in developing:
- a safe, engaging and inclusive school environment
- the capacity of students to manage their own wellbeing and academic progress
- a culture at our school where all members support and encourage each other to “be their best”
The Student Support team coordinates the monitoring and provision of support to students identified as at risk. Staff liaise with parents, staff and external agencies in developing support and management plans for students or identified cohorts.
Student Services
Associate Principal Stephen Mounsey oversees the functioning of Student Services and coordinates the development, implementation and review of related process and policy. This includes the line management of Student Services staff in facilitating the development of a positive and inclusive learning environment at Rockingham Senior High School.
Stephen is also responsible for strategic planning and resource allocation in ensuring both the Business and Learning Area plan targets are met.
Heads of Student Services
Heads of Student Services manage the behaviour and attendance of their year groups, in addition to providing pastoral care to improve the engagement and wellbeing of each cohort.
They work collaboratively with the Student Services Team, Heads of Learning Areas and teachers to coordinate the provision of services for identified students.
Their responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- liaising with parents, support staff, and external agencies
- facilitating mental and emotional health support for students
- supporting teachers with strategies for managing student behaviour and engagement
- facilitating support plans for students at educational risk
- assisting in the creation of documented plans to support students with identified needs
- implementing policies to improve outcomes for all students
- monitoring the attendance and behaviour of students
- implementing educationally appropriate responses to high level behaviour issues
- implementing procedures to promote attendance
Year 11 and 12
Mr Jarrad Jones
Year 9 and 10
Ms Kellie Murphy
Year 7 and 8
Mr Jay Goddin
Student Services Coordinator
Michelle Dirksz coordinates the Student Services Team by helping to develop a responsive and effective support service for the school community. Her responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
- Counselling
- Case management
- Student Welfare Programs
- Focus weeks
- Attendance case management
- In-class support
- Leadership training for students
- General support
School Psychologist
School Psychology Service
School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to teach. School psychologists apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behaviour, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviourally, and emotionally.
What Do School Psychologists Do?
The school psychologist helps Rockingham Senior High School staff meet the social, emotional, learning and behaviour needs of students. The school psychologist works closely with the Student Services Team, administration, teachers, students and parents to help Rockingham Senior High School make improvements that are good for all students, particular groups of students or individual students.
The School Psychologist at Rockingham Senior High School is Wendy Voysey.
Student Support Officers
At RSHS we have four Student Support Officers who are involved in all aspects relating to student attendance and wellbeing. Our Student Support Officers work collaboratively with the Student Services team to provide support to students in a range of settings, encourage positive engagement and achievement at school through providing an environment that nurtures emotional, physical, and academic wellbeing of all students.
The Student Support Officers provide both whole-of-school wellbeing initiatives and targeted strengths-based supports for students requiring personalised assistance. They also have a pivotal role in working collaboratively with external child and family support agencies and other government agencies to support students.
The Student Support Officers assist with administrative processes that ensure a responsive and effective student support service; under direction, collaborate and conduct discussions with staff, parents/guardians and the community to identify student absenteeism and truancy and collect and provide case information. They also assist with the implementation of a range of school attendance strategies; attend and provide supporting information to team meetings, case conferences and other intervention processes; maintain information and record systems and collate and prepare information used in case conferences and to develop strategies and student support programs.
Nurse
School Health Services are an easy access point to health care for students. The Nurse may carry out health assessments and provide information, advice, referrals and support for students.
The support encourages development of knowledge, skills and behaviour, and encourages the young person to deal with their health issues and make healthy lifestyle choices.
Individual students can seek information guidance and support about a range of issues that may include: coping with illness, feeling anxious, stressed or unhappy, healthy eating and nutrition, healthy weight and body image, mental health and wellbeing, loss and grief, problems at homes, relationships, sexual health, smoking, alcohol and drug use, other adolescent health concerns.
Facilitate the first aid process within the school, carry out psycho-social assessments on students as required, run various groups, provide open clinics at recess and lunchtime, support parents and families through various medical issues to enable students to be safe at school and at home, assist in emergencies and provide short term interventions, referral as identified and counselling around sexual health, drugs and alcohol, mental health and other identified health issues.
Community School Health Nurses work with school-age children and their families to foster the health, wellbeing and learning potential of each child. The focus of community school health nursing is on promoting mental and physical health, identifying and intervening early when health and developmental concerns are detected and providing specialist expertise in child and adolescent health to school staff and families.
Our school nurse Allison Davis, also conduct education sessions in the classroom around health issues and run various groups.
Chaplain
The role of the Chaplain is to focus on positive, empowering work, running targeted programs as well as mentoring. The School Chaplain work with the student services team is to meet the school’s educational objectives and support the students in the challenges that they face throughout their high school years.
The Chaplain is available to provide positive support, life skills and leadership to the students and their families as well as the staff at Rockingham Senior High School. The aim is to create and support a positive school culture through pastoral care and involvement in school initiatives.
Aboriginal Islander Education Officer (AIEO)
The role of the AIEO is to provide a point of contact within the school in order to help develop, promote and maintain communication between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, their parents and caregivers, the school, as well as the wider community. A vital part of the AIEO’s role is to identify and support the educational and social/emotional needs of students. AIEO’s also support teachers by providing knowledge and understanding of Aboriginal history, language and culture, and assist with the preparation and delivery of education programs where necessary.
Websites and Links to External Providers
Act Belong Commit
Act-Belong-Commit is a comprehensive health promotion campaign that encourages individuals to take action to protect and promote their own mental wellbeing
Reach Out
ReachOut.com is Australia’s leading online youth mental health service that is accessed by more than 4,500 people every day. We’re here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, providing practical information, tools and support to young people for everyday troubles to really tough times.
Get the Facts
Get the Facts gives young people in WA advice and accurate information on relationships and safer sex.
You can read information pages, check out the animations, have your question answered confidentially by a health professional and listen to true stories.
Beyond Blue
beyondblue is an independent, not-for-profit organisation working to increase awareness and understanding of anxiety and depression in Australia and to reduce the associated stigma
Headspace
headspace is the National Youth Mental Health Foundation providing early intervention mental health services to 12-25 year olds.
Youth Focus
Youth Focus is an independent West Australian not-for-profit working to stop youth suicide. Youth Focus works with young people aged 12-25 to help them overcome issues associated with depression, anxiety, self-harm and suicidal thoughts
Palmerston
Palmerston aims to prevent and reduce the harmful effects of alcohol and other drugs on people, families and community by offering tailored responses to their desired goals.
Cancer Council
Cancer Council Western Australia works to reduce the incidence and impact of cancer through advocacy, research, education and providing people affected by cancer with support to enhance their quality of life..
Suicide Callback Service
The Suicide Call Back Service is a 24-hour, nationwide service that provides telephone and online counselling to people 15 years
Lifeline
Lifeline provides 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services
Australian Drug Foundation
The Australian Drug Foundation is working towards changing the focus of alcohol and drugs through the provision of alcohol and drug information, community programs such as Good Sports, workplace services and policy & advocacy
Department for Child Protection
The Department provides a range of child safety and family support services to Western Australian individuals, children and their families, from the Kimberley to the Great Southern regions of the State
Brave Program
The BRAVE program is an online program that provides teenagers and their parents with information and skills to help cope with worries and anxiety.
Carers WA
Carers WA is a non-profit, community based organisation and registered charity dedicated to improving the lives of the estimated 310,000 family carers living in Western Australia
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