The Department of Education’s vision for Advancing Queensland is built on a quality education system and is supported through the provision of a comprehensive guidance and counselling service for students and their families.
Guidance Officers support the social and emotional development of groups and individuals in the school community, extending into health and welfare issues.
Guidance Officers are committed to providing quality education services to enhance the education opportunities for every young Queenslander within our primary, secondary and special schools.
What does a Guidance Officer do?
Guidance Officers work closely with students and their families, teachers, non-teaching professionals and in some instances departmental agencies and authorities. They do this in order to provide a wide range of support to students. A Guidance Officer’s responsibilities include:
working directly with students and teachers, support personnel, family and other specialists/professionals
providing guidance and counselling services to students and their families
performing case management and referral services to optimise students’ access and engagement in education
preparing and implementing professional and personal skill development programs for administrators, teachers and parents
working collaboratively with other school-based support personnel to assess and address the needs of students
planning or assisting in planning support programs that can help students achieve positive outcomes
identifying factors that can be barriers to the learning and development of students
supporting the personal and social development of students
providing advice about education and career pathways.
Everything told to the Guidance Officers is confidential with the exception of:
you being at risk of harm
you harming and/or intending to harm another
someone else has or intends to commit harm to another
someone else it at risk of harm
At times during the year, the Guidance Officers will present information relating to:
Senior Education and Training (SET) Plans (year 10 only)
university experience opportunities
career counselling (years 11/12)
general information as needed related to career or personal counselling
There is no right or wrong reason to make an appointment with a Guidance Officer. Privacy is always protected and only appointment times will be communicated to teaching staff, not the reason for your appointment when absent from class.
Appointments are approximately 30 minutes in duration and can be booked via the following options:
Teachers can refer you if they are concerned for you. This will be discussed with you first by the staff member