From the Counselling Team
- Counselling Service
- Online Webinars
- Boxercise is Back - Every Thursday and Friday mornings
- Counselling Team
Counselling Service
Our role as College counsellors is to support students’ emotional wellbeing by providing psychological counselling, assessment and intervention service to students at the College.
We work directly with individual students to assist them with issues related to their learning, peer and family relationships and complex issues that can include managing anxiety, depression, worry, social isolation and academic stress. Our criterion for accepting referrals is that these issues need to be having a significant impact on their school day to day functioning.
In addition to working with students, we also offer brief assessment and family intervention when appropriate. If we asses family relationship issues as being complex and ongoing, we usually tend to refer externally to Family Therapists and Psychologists who are in a position to provide more specialized ongoing therapy and support that may be required.
Throughout the academic year we also provide small group Programs as a response to an identified need as well as implementing some whole Year screening to identify students who may be at risk of developing mental health issues and require follow up by our Team. We also work collaboratively with the Diverse Learning Team, Teachers and Year Coordinator’s to assist students in reaching their identified goals at the College.
Please be aware that our School Counselling Service can often receive a high number of referrals and requests for intervention. Counsellors meet once a week to prioritize and allocate students based on need, at risk, or urgency criteria.
At the current time we have a short waiting list for allocation of cases, however we will respond to referrals and establish phone contact within a week of receiving any new referral. We can also provide resources and contacts for external psychological therapy and support if required and appropriate.
Online Webinars
Navigating Online Friendships
This 30 minute webinar, being held by the Council of Catholic School Parents, on Thursday 23 February is designed for parents and carers of young people in secondary school.
It will cover how to support young people to have safe and respectful relationships online, what to do when something happens at school and ends up on social media or private messaging apps and how to report to social media platforms and eSafety.
To register, please use the following link:
Help! My child hates school!
Parenting expert, Dr Justin Coulson is holding a webinar on Monday 27 February for parents whose children don't like school.
Cost: $35 per registration
Please use the link below to book.
Ms Judy Gill - College Psychologist, School Counselling Team
Boxercise is back - every Thursday and Friday
'Box to get Fit!’ …….A Wellbeing activity for all those interested in their physical/mental health.
Boxercise is back every Thursday and Friday morning at 7.30 am. It’s free, it’s fun and it’s great for your wellbeing. It’s a no brainer!! A 40-minute session to set yourself up for a great day.
Welcome to our new staff member, Mr Anesh Naidoo, who has joined our boxing team this year!!
Mr Rick Russo - College Counsellor
The College Counselling Team
The College Counselling Team are available to provide confidential emotional and social support and guidance for your son and family.
For reference our College Counselling Team contact details are shown below.
Parents are encouraged to reach out to the Counselling Team via the counselling email of scounselling@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au .
Mr Rick Russo
Counsellor (Tuesday to Friday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: rrusso@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4359
Mrs Joe McCarthy
Psychologist (Monday to Thursday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: jmccarthy@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4322
Mrs Judy Gill
Psychologist (Monday, Tuesday and Friday) working with students across all year groups.
Email: jgill@stpiusx.nsw.edu.au
Direct Phone: 9414 4315