School Counselling Service Action Plan 2019-2023

Wellbeing and inclusion of all students is a priority for the department and every school in the Northern Territory (NT).

The plan

The department released the 2018 School Counselling Service Action Plan for 2019-2023, read the action plan PDF (5.0 MB).

The plan outlined an integrated approach to support students to improve their social and emotional wellbeing so they can successfully engage with education and learn to their potential.

It focussed on improving the safety and wellbeing of students and ensuring wellbeing services were comprehensive, innovative and responsive to the complex needs of schools across the NT.

We are now in the final stage of closing out the action plan as the school counselling service was embedded within the new wellbeing and inclusion multidisciplinary teams as of January 2023.

Establishing multidisciplinary teams to provide wellbeing and inclusion services to support our schools across the Northern Territory

In response to the action plan in January 2023 the department established regional multidisciplinary which consist of over 80 wellbeing and inclusion professionals.

The regional teams are based in Darwin, Palmerston, Nhulunbuy, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs and provide services to all government schools as needed.

The move to multidisciplinary teams was established to improve equity and access to wellbeing and inclusion services to support schools to enhance their skills, knowledge and attitudes to ensure all students have access to quality, inclusive education.

The multidisciplinary teams are made up of:

• senior teachers
• occupational therapists
• speech therapists
• psychologists
• social workers (inclusive of school counsellors).

The school counsellors are part of these multidisciplinary teams servicing schools across the NT. A number of our school counsellors are time-allocated to our larger middle and senior secondary schools in urban settings and work closely with the school’s principal, wellbeing team, teachers and families to ensure all students are able to access supports and services.

For more information about Student wellbeing and inclusion go to the Northern Territory Government website.

For more information about Student mental health and wellbeing go to Northern Territory Government website.

Outside of school supports

Families and students can access wellbeing supports at anytime through 24 /7 online or phone support available at:

• headspace.org.au
• kidshelpline.com.au
• dollysdream.org.au.

Contact

For more information on accessing wellbeing and inclusion services please talk with the school, or email Student Wellbeing and Inclusion Programs and Services at sesupport.det@education.nt.gov.au.