Counselling Services
There are a variety of counselling services available to students. Parents concerned about the educational, vocational, social or personal needs of their students may arrange interviews with the Student Services team which includes those people listed below, or through the school secretaries.
- The Student Services Coordinator
- Year Advisors
- The School counsellor
- The School Youth Worker
- IPS Coordinator
- Peer Mediation
- Peer Support Program
- Anti Bullying Policy
- Anti-Sexual Harrassment Contact Officer
- Anti-Racism Contact Officer
Student Services Coordinator.
A senior member of staff is responsible for overseeing student management throughout the school. Students and parents may discuss problems with this executive teacher who will refer to other staff where necessary.
Year Advisors
Each year group has a member of staff designated to deal with students’ concerns and welfare. Parents may wish to contact these teachers with specific concerns regarding the schoolwork, attendance, and health of their students. The Year Advisors in Year 9 and 10 work closely with the school Careers Counsellor to obtain job placements, help students with CVs or other work-related issues and pathways.
The School Counsellor
The School Counsellor is located in student services. The Counsellor offers services in the broad areas of educational and personal counselling. The Counsellor is a person with whom students and/or parents/carers can discuss, in absolute confidence, issues that cause them concern. The Counsellor is able to provide support and assistance and, if necessary, suggest other agencies outside the school for more specialised help. Students wishing to see the Counsellor should make an appointment by going to the Counsellor's office before school, at recess or lunchtime, by taking a slip from the student services notice board or talking to their year advisor. If the Counsellor's office is unattended, a message can be left with the staff in the Front Office (phone 62057588), or in the box placed near the Counsellor’s door.
Alternatively requests for an appointment can be made via email:
school.counsellor@melrosehs.act.edu.au
The School Youth Worker
The Youth Worker works with all students seeking assistance and confidential advice in personal, school-related, and emotional or other practical matters. The Youth Worker is available fulltime to support students looking for some counselling, help in curriculum or home matters and acts as a crucial liaison person between staff, student, home and other community members. Students should make an appointment with the Youth Worker by going to the Youth Worker’s office in their own time at recess, lunch, before or after school. The Youth Worker is available for parents/carers and should be contacted through the Front Office on 62057588.
Students (IPS) Co-ordinator
The IPS Co-ordinator is in charge of the overall well-being and pastoral care of International Students as well as providing support to ESL students other than IPS. Their duties include student enrolment, liaising with the Department’s International Education Unit and home-stay families, holding “Meet and Greet” sessions and supervision of the lunch time study centre/kitchen. The IPS Co-ordinator works closely with each faculty for the best outcome for the students’ learning and welfare.
Peer Mediation
In mediation, people in conflict sit down together and with the help of trained mediators, try to work out a fair and workable agreement towards a solution. Mediation allows the people involved to take responsibility for negotiating a solution that is acceptable to everyone. At Melrose High School students from Years 9 and 10 are trained to be Peer Mediators and are called upon to conduct mediation sessions involving other students. Issues between students include bullying, teasing, rumour spreading, ostracism and fighting. Mediation is suggested by the Year Advisors but students can choose to go to mediation themselves – in which case they would approach Student Services Team members or the Counsellor for a session to be arranged.
Peer Support Program
Melrose High School runs a peer-mentoring program called Peer Support. This program trains senior students to assist incoming Year 7 students to adjust to life at high school. The program focuses on social challenges such as making and dealing with friends, self-esteem and how to improve it, time management and resolving conflicts. For more information refer to the Special Programs section of this website.
Anti-Bullying Policy
By implementing an anti-bullying policy at Melrose High School, staff, students and parents, demonstrate their commitment to the well being of all members of the school community and ensure that everyone has the right to feel safe. Our school community will not tolerate bullying in any of its forms. A person is being bullied when he or she is being persecuted, oppressed or teased by others. Bullying can cause both physical and emotional damage. Bullying may involve assault and therefore may be a criminal offence under ACT Law.
Bullying may also involve such unacceptable behaviours as demanding money, invasion of body space, name calling, staring with malicious intent, racist comments, comments on physical appearance, rumour spreading, commenting on personal hygiene, malicious exclusion.
Suggestions for Students
Any student who is being bullied should report it to a parent or teacher or drop a note to the Youth Worker or Counsellor or any other members of the Student Services Team. Any student who is a witness to bullying is encouraged to report the bullying in the ways outlined above.
Suggestions for Parents
If a parent is concerned about his/her child being a victim of bullying behaviour, the parent is encouraged to speak first to the appropriate Year Advisor or to the Student Services Coordinator.
Staff Responses
Staff will at all times model the behaviour expected of students in regard to bullying. Student welfare procedures are to be followed in dealing with bullying. Bullying is to be regarded in the same way as any other unacceptable behaviour. Violent incidents (physical and/or verbal) are to be handled by the Student Services Coordinator and where sexual or racial harassment is involved, behaviour will be referred to an anti- sexual or anti-racism harassment officer for confidential counselling.
Methods for Dealing with Bullying
The prime objective in dealing with bullying is to assist both the victim and the bully in such a way as to prevent further incidents. Methods might include the “no blame” approach, peer mediation, interviews or diversionary counselling.
Consequences
Consequences are to be determined by the total context within which the bullying occurs. Consequences might include community service, detentions, and time out from class or playground, loss of privileges or suspension.
Bullying behaviour needs to be seen as totally unacceptable, but there should be a commitment to helping a student change his/her behaviour. Any solution needs to be addressed to both the bully and the victim.
Bullying will not be tolerated in our school community as it causes the school to fall short of its stated goals. If we are to free our school from bullying, constant application of the School rules by all stakeholders is required.
Melrose High School is committed to provide all our students with opportunities to reach their potential in a wide range of academic, social and physical activities in a caring and safe environment.
Anti-Sexual Harassment Contact Officer
Melrose High School also provides students with a number of Anti-Sexual Harassment Contact Officers. The Anti-Sexual Harassment Contact Officers are the first point of contact for students with sexual harassment concerns. Please contact the relevant Year Advisors or the Administration staff at the Front Office for the names of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Contact Officers.
Anti-Racism Contact Officer
The school has several Anti-Racism Contact Officer who acts as the first point of contact for students who have any queries or issues of racism within the school. Please contact the relevant Year Advisors or the Administration staff at the Front Office for the name of these people.
Melrose High School’s Student Services Team encourages cooperation and regular communication with all students and parents/carers. Close working relationships ensure that information flows readily and issues are resolved speedily. If parents/carers have any concerns about their child/ren the Year Advisor should be contacted and a solution will be sought as soon as possible. The Student Services Team values the input and feedback of the school community.
