Biloela State High School offers a range of support services.
Guidance Officer
The Guidance Officer provides
- counselling and advice on personal issues
- resources and advice on careers and courses
- personal development and mental health issues
- support in behaviour management of students and advice to parents
Students may self refer or be referred by parents, teachers or members of the administration. The Guidance Officer is able to extend beyond the teacher role and handle sensitive situations in a confidential manner, and may also maintain links with and can refer to outside agencies.
Areas of Operation
The role of a Guidance Officer is very broad and they are involved in many areas. Some of the common ones are:
- Personal counseling
- Assisting with behaviour management
- Study skills development
- Ascertainment of students with special needs
- Career counselling and advice
- Course information
- Overseeing tertiary applications through QTAC
- Information on jobs and how to get them
School Based Youth Health Nurse
The School Based Youth Health Nurse Program places registered nurses, employed by Queensland Health, in state high school settings to work with students, their families and school staff for healthier school communities. The nurse can act as a support person at times when a young person has difficult issues and will assist the young person with seeking appropriate help from family or other supports, such as Guidance Officers, Doctors, Youth Workers, Chaplaincy or specialist counselling. Common issues that young people access the service for are health concerns, personal and family problems, smoking, alcohol or drug use, sexual health, healthy skin, feeling unhappy or stressed, puberty, healthy eating, exercise and weight information, getting in touch with the right service and anything that impacts on their feeling of health and wellbeing.
The service is generally kept confidential, except in cases where the young person is at risk of being hurt or hurting someone else. The nurse is also available to support teachers in classroom activities with a health focus, and become involved in school activities where there is a link with student health and wellbeing.
School Chaplain
Chaplaincy Services provide spiritual, ethical, and personal support to school communities. SU Qld Chaplains provide positive adult role models for students. Chaplains are present in schools at the invitation of the Principal, in consultation with the local community, and with the support of the P&C Association.
What does a School Chaplain do?
A School Chaplain is a safe person for young people to connect with at school and provides a listening ear, caring presence, and a message of hope. Chaplains run positive, fun activities for students and assist in fostering supportive, caring school communities.
Working with other members of the school’s support team, the Chaplain cares for students struggling with issues such as difficult relationships with other children or family members, poor self-esteem, family breakdown, and depression. The partnership between the school and the Chaplaincy Service, supported by local churches, businesses and community organisations, provides a network of local support and assistance. These positive relationships help young people to face difficult issues, and provide hope, connection, meaning, and purpose.
The Chaplaincy Service is available to everyone in the school community regardless of their religious beliefs.