School counsellor joint review

By Lenore Hankinson and Michelle Rosicky

After long delays, meetings between the Department of Education and Training (DET) and Federation surrounding a joint review of school counsellors have commenced.

These deliberations were agreed to, in good faith, on matters arising out of the Crown Employees (Teachers in Schools and Related Employees) Salaries and Conditions Award 2006 (the award).

As part of the settlement of the award, DET agreed, in a letter to Federation dated October 21, 2005, that a joint review of issues relating to school counsellors be conducted prior to the expiration of the new award with any negotiated outcomes to be implemented as part of the next award unless agreed otherwise.

Suggested topics for discussion included the restructuring of school counsellor classifications, career paths and associated salary scales to improve the school counselling service and encourage retention and growth of school counsellor positions. With the current focus on student welfare in areas like bullying, depression and resilience training, the shortage of school counsellors is in sharp focus. Yet, the only response to the Inquiry into the Provision of Public Education in NSW chair Tony Vinson's stated shortage of 300 counsellors across the state has been the Howard Government's completely inappropriate Chaplaincy Program.

At a meeting held on May 1, DET, Federation Officers and school counsellors had broad-ranging discussions around terms of reference of the joint review:

1. To profile the current school counsellor workforce including qualifications and supply projections

DET undertook to provide written advice on school counsellor qualification requirements, timescales and recognised degrees and pathways for training. There was some discussion around the possible future registration requirements for psychologists. DET also agreed to provide written advice around workforce planning for school counsellors over a seven year period to maintain school counsellor numbers.

2. Strategies to attract and retain qualified school counsellors

Federation is to put forward its model for enhanced school counsellors' career paths, recognising professional expertise.

At the May 22 meeting it was agreed to invite a representative from Staffing Services School Counsellors Recruitment to hear how school counselling is promoted among undergraduates and teachers with two years or more teaching experience. Federation representatives reiterated the assertion that classroom teaching experience was vital to successful school counselling.

Lenore Hankinson and Michelle Rosicky are the Officers attached to the School Counsellor Special Interest Group and School Counsellors Reference Group.

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June 2007 contents