SSS Network
Student Support Services (SSS) teams are comprised of professionals including:
SSS staff work as part of an integrated health and wellbeing team within each area, focusing on providing:
Mental Health Practitioner
The Lakes, supported through the regional offices of the Department, has access to a Mental Health Practitioner 1.5 days per week (Secondary Campus).
The Mental Health Practitioner role provides an additional resource to the College’s existing wellbeing team and includes:
The Lakes Mental Health Practitioner (registered social worker) provides short term intervention for students with mild to moderate mental health needs and liaises with the relevant internal and external services where students need more intensive support.
Referral to the Mental Health Practitioner is made in partnership with the College, students and parents/carers. Informed consent is sought before commencing sessions.
PSD – Program for Students with Disability
The Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) provides funding to assist schools to support eligible students with disability and high needs. Eligible students are supported to participate in meaningful ways with their education at the College. All students within the program with have a co-designed Individual Education Plan and regular Student Support Groups to establish and review SMART educational and wellbeing goals.
Students with Disability may have access to the Visiting Teachers Service, which provides expert teachers who assist students and staff in ensuring the learning environment is supportive and inclusive. The PSD may also include the provision of aides and equipment.
Behaviour Support Plans
A Behaviour Support Plans (BSP) addresses inappropriate behaviour, and outline strategies to improve behaviour. Targeted plans may be developed for students who:
Safety Plans
Safety Plans are developed to addresses specific safety concerns in the indoor and outdoor learning environment. Targeted plans may be developed for students who:
Plans are co-designed with students, families and the College. A Student Support Group may be established to create and review the plan.
Individual Education Plans
Individual Education Plans (IEP) address educational needs, and outline goals and strategies to improve educational outcomes. Targeted plans may be developed for students who:
Education Support Staff
Education Support Staff in classroom support roles have a significant impact on the achievement, engagement and wellbeing outcomes of students, particularly those with disability and additional needs. They have an important role in strengthening an inclusive school culture and creating a positive climate for learning through their targeted work with identified students.
Student Support Group
Student Support Groups involve a partnership between schools, parents/carers, the student and relevant agencies. The group works together to plan and support the educational, health, social, cultural and emotional wellbeing of students with diverse learning needs. This may include students:
Student Support Services (SSS) teams are comprised of professionals including:
- psychologists
- speech pathologists
- social workers
SSS staff work as part of an integrated health and wellbeing team within each area, focusing on providing:
- workforce capability building for school staff
- group based and individual support
- the provision of specialised services.
Mental Health Practitioner
The Lakes, supported through the regional offices of the Department, has access to a Mental Health Practitioner 1.5 days per week (Secondary Campus).
The Mental Health Practitioner role provides an additional resource to the College’s existing wellbeing team and includes:
- contributing to whole-school approaches to mental health prevention and promotion
- provision of direct counselling support to students and other early intervention services
- coordination of supports for students with more complex needs.
The Lakes Mental Health Practitioner (registered social worker) provides short term intervention for students with mild to moderate mental health needs and liaises with the relevant internal and external services where students need more intensive support.
Referral to the Mental Health Practitioner is made in partnership with the College, students and parents/carers. Informed consent is sought before commencing sessions.
PSD – Program for Students with Disability
The Program for Students with Disabilities (PSD) provides funding to assist schools to support eligible students with disability and high needs. Eligible students are supported to participate in meaningful ways with their education at the College. All students within the program with have a co-designed Individual Education Plan and regular Student Support Groups to establish and review SMART educational and wellbeing goals.
Students with Disability may have access to the Visiting Teachers Service, which provides expert teachers who assist students and staff in ensuring the learning environment is supportive and inclusive. The PSD may also include the provision of aides and equipment.
Behaviour Support Plans
A Behaviour Support Plans (BSP) addresses inappropriate behaviour, and outline strategies to improve behaviour. Targeted plans may be developed for students who:
- have been diagnosed with severe behaviour disorders
- have bullied others
- have been bullied
- require additional assistance because they display difficult, challenging or disruptive behaviours
- can benefit from additional wellbeing support.
- known triggers of the behaviour
- situations that make the behaviour more likely or cause the behaviour to occur
- strategies to reduce or remove or address triggers
- strategies to teach the student how manage behaviours
- responding to, without reinforcing, the behaviour.
Safety Plans
Safety Plans are developed to addresses specific safety concerns in the indoor and outdoor learning environment. Targeted plans may be developed for students who:
- have an identified safety concern in the learning environment
- are ‘at-risk’, pose a risk to themselves, or, pose a risk to others
- can benefit from additional wellbeing support.
- protective factors
- triggers and risk factors to safety
- strategies to improve safety
Plans are co-designed with students, families and the College. A Student Support Group may be established to create and review the plan.
Individual Education Plans
Individual Education Plans (IEP) address educational needs, and outline goals and strategies to improve educational outcomes. Targeted plans may be developed for students who:
- have a learning disability
- Require learning catch-up or extension
- require additional assistance because they display difficult, challenging or disruptive behaviours
- can benefit from additional wellbeing support.
- learning strengths
- factors that impact learning progression
- strategies to improve learning outcomes
- SMART goals for learning.
Education Support Staff
Education Support Staff in classroom support roles have a significant impact on the achievement, engagement and wellbeing outcomes of students, particularly those with disability and additional needs. They have an important role in strengthening an inclusive school culture and creating a positive climate for learning through their targeted work with identified students.
Student Support Group
Student Support Groups involve a partnership between schools, parents/carers, the student and relevant agencies. The group works together to plan and support the educational, health, social, cultural and emotional wellbeing of students with diverse learning needs. This may include students:
- with a disability or diverse learning needs, including, but not limited to, students supported by the Program for Students with Disability (PSD – SSG is mandatory)
- in Out of Home Care (OoHC - SSG is mandatory)
- who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
- with a behaviour support plan
- from refugee or migrant backgrounds
- on youth justice orders or having transitioned from the youth justice system
- who are identified as young carers.
