Guidance Counsellor

Michael Oates

Guidance Counsellor

A warm welcome to the 2021 school year from the Guidance Counsellor team at SMCC. Your GC team is Jana Aksamitova, Daniela Rizzato, and Mick Oates (who has just joined the team this year). We are available to support students experiencing stresses or worries associated with school, home or social life, or mental health issues. Appointments can be made through your child’s Pastoral Leader, at reception, through the Indigenous Liaison Officer, or directly with us.

Throughout the year the team will provide some advice and tips to help with common issues or experiences that your family may have. Given that we have just returned from the long Christmas break, we thought we would discuss some of the challenges that your child may be experiencing currently:

The start of the school year presents a lot of changes and challenges to students and families. Things like separation anxiety, stress from changes in family routines, disappointments about classes and groups, or being tired and hard to motivate in the mornings are all common. Families can experience increased stress levels and discord, while students may have increased absences, difficulties engaging with learning, and behaviour and mood problems.

Many of these issues will sort themselves out after a couple of weeks as the school routine becomes normal again. However, doing things like quickly re-establishing the rules around bedtimes, socialising and technology, having discussions to prepare your child for any unexpected issues that pop up, and simply checking in as they go through this adjustment period will all help to minimise the degree and length of problems.

If they do persist, consider a referral to the team and we will be happy to provide assistance.