Did you know that all government schools have access to school social work services.
Students within schools have diverse abilities and needs. School social work is driven by a deep belief that every person has the right to positive and successful learning experiences. School social workers facilitate students’ access to support and resources.
They work at the interface between the student, school organisation and curriculum, peers, family, neighbourhood and wider society to promote participation and achievement.
School social workers have professional skills and knowledge in:
Access to the school social worker:
For referral to the school social worker service, a referral form is necessary. This can be obtained from the school. Talk to your child’s teacher or Senior Staff member in the first instance.
The social work service is free and confidential. Confidential information can only be shared or released by consent or by law, under the Children, Young Persons and Their Families Act 1997. Social workers cannot keep matters of personal safety confidential and are mandated reporters of child abuse.
Please see the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) website for more information on the social work profession including guiding values and ethics.
School social work has a history of more than 50 years in Australia. School social work has over the years responded to social change, new government policy with changed resource environment, and professional theory and practice development, but always kept at its core the support of students to achieve their potential in all aspects of academic and personal learning at school.