Hello from the PSA Student Support Officer Advisory Group delegates.

The Student Support Officer (SSO) Advisory Group is working on important issues facing PSA SSO members including professional recognition, supervision, access to flexible start and finish times, and payment of overtime for school excursions. As professional ethical practitioners dedicated to student mental health and wellbeing, we are committed to making a positive impact.

With the support of PSA industrial staff, and a newly elected group of delegates from across the state, we will continue to ensure improved workplace conditions for SSOs. With such a strong team, we’re excited for the next chapter of success, together with the PSA staff, we’re ready to tackle the challenges ahead and ensure every student receives the care and guidance they need and that we are best paced to support them.

Get to know our PSA SSO Advisory Group delegates

Amy Smith has worked as a Student Support Officer since joining the pilot program in 2011 and is currently based at Toronto High School. She has valued being part of the evolving Student Support Officer community, witnessing the growth and impact of the role over time. Amy is passionate about supporting young people in building the skills and resilience needed to maintain their mental health and overall wellbeing.

Callum Baillie has been the Student Support Officer at Tomaree High School since 2016 and has watched with pride as the role has transitioned from a small pilot to a statewide essential service. Callum’s areas of interest include incorporating sport and music into his practice and advocacy for the broader youth work sector. Outside of school you’ll catch Callum fishing or surfing in the beautiful waters of Port Stephens.

Josh Larwood is the Student Support Officer at Kooringal High School in Wagga Wagga since 2020. Josh enjoys the variety within the SSO role, particularly delivering wellbeing programs that focus on different interests and skills of the students he works with. The promotion of connection, resilience, balance and personal growth to improve overall wellbeing is a key factor that drives his work.

Lisa Peek is a Student Support Officer at Eagle Vale High School. She has dedicated over 20 years to working with vulnerable young people, supporting them through challenges and helping them build brighter futures. She is passionate about empowering young people to achieve their goals, build resilience, and reach their full potential.

Lisa Weber is the Student Support Officer at Dubbo College South Campus and has been in the SSO role for six years. Representing the Central West including areas such as Lightning Ridge, Coolah, Trangie and Coonabarabran, Lisa has a particular interest in early intervention and supporting rural, remote and disadvantaged students who may not have access to resources and services available in metropolitan areas. Lisa’s passions are photography, art and travel.

Melissa Carey is the Student Support Officer for Rivendell School, a dual Education and Health setting. Mel has worked as the SSO since July 2021. Previous to this role, Mel worked for just over a decade in the Blacktown LGA, managing a youth contract for at-risk youth who were disengaged from school. Mel represents the Sydney Metropolitan Region. In her free time, Mel loves being in nature, meditating, and camping.

Rose Dooley is the Student Support Officer at Fort Street High School in Sydney’s inner west, representing the Sydney metropolitan area. Rose has been at FSHS in the permanent SSO role for 3 years. She has a particular interest in developing ways to best support neurodivergent and queer young people in her community. Rose is looking forward to representing her SSO colleagues to achieve better working conditions and support, we are stronger together!

Summary of Key Points – PSA SSO Vocational Advisory Group Meetings

SSO delegates and the PSA are continuing to work closely together to support the development of a safe, collaborative, and rewarding environment for Student Support Officers. Elected SSO Vocational Advisory Group delegates have met twice this year with another meeting coming up in term 3.

Key topics discussed include:

• Concerns about the department recruiting SSOs without the required qualifications.
• The need for tailored professional learning and supervision.
• Improved workplace conditions upholding access to flexible start and finish times within bandwidth hours and working from home during vacation periods.
• SSOs being provided with functional and appropriate workspaces that support confidentiality, privacy and respect when meeting with students.

At each meeting the Organiser and Industrial Officer deliver update reports on their work for SSOs, and updates are provided on the union-wide activities, such as the Domestic Violence Summit and Pride Conference.

Delegates share regional updates, identifying ongoing challenges with inconsistent record-keeping practices, workspace losses, and a lack of tailored training and professional learning.

Together, the group is actively working on solutions and advocating for improvements for SSOs working conditions and for the department’s recognition and professional and ethical best practice standards in record keeping, documentation and supervision.

Knowledge share

Student vacation periods

SSOs are required to be on duty during the student vacation periods unless they are taking an approved form of leave. Principals and SSOs should plan for vacation periods and talk about the work that will be completed.

During vacation periods, an SSO may be approved to work from home, from a local education office, another school with another SSO, or from their own school. A risk assessment should be conducted and approved before working on a school site during a vacation period.

SSOs and their principals should refer to the working arrangements for student support officers and school psychologists during student vacation periods which can be found HERE.

SSOs may wish to use the SSO holiday workplan template to assist in planning for the student vacation periods which can be found HERE.

SSO’s conditions of employment can be found HERE.