Student Support Services
Oonoonba State School provides and has
access to a range of services that supports students’ learning. This includes whole of school programs in
reading, writing and numeracy where students are grouped according to their
needs and supported by teachers or teacher aides.
Chaplain
The Chaplaincy/Pastoral Care Funding Program was introduced in
Queensland state primary and secondary schools in 2007 to assist school
communities to provide supportive school environments for students. Chappy Ros Parker works in the school 2 days
a week. Ros provides additional social,
emotional and/or spiritual support to students and/or staff as well as
enhancing engagement with the broader community including parents. If you would like to donate to this program
you can do so through the school or through Scripture Union (SU).
Defence School Mentor
We are fortunate at Oonoonba
State School
to have a Defence School Mentor. The Defence School Mentor Program provides support to children
of Australian Defence Force (ADF) Members and their families, particularly
during their transition into and out of a school on posting. The program aims to assist the smooth
transition of mobile Australian Defence Force children from school to school
and across the States and Territories.
Why do we have a Defence School Mentor in our school?
The Defence School Transition Aide assists children and parents to
quickly become part of the school community. They answer basic questions about
the school and provide a link from families to the school. They also help build
the school’s long-term capacity to support mobile children and their families.
Children respond differently to relocation and change. Some make a
positive transition into the new school. Others may experience difficulties.
These difficulties may present in changes in behaviour, loss of self-esteem and
diminished academic performance.
What does our Defence School Mentor
do?
A Defence School Mentor is a member of the school team. The
duties of the DSTA may include the following:
- Being a contact for new
parents of mobile ADF children in the school
- Assisting the school and
parents with enrolment procedures
- Introducing ADF parents and
children to the school and its facilities
- Monitoring day to day
children’s personal issues such as friendship
- Acting as a referral point for
cases requiring specialised educational advice
- Supporting individual
children’s needs as required
- Contributing to the school
newsletter items of interest to mobile families
- Providing opportunities for
ADF families to meet other ADF families
It is not intended that the Defence School Mentor work with an
individual child on a long-term basis.