Asquith High School works in partnership with NSW Health and the NSW Department of Education through the Wellbeing and Health In-Reach Nurse Coordinator Program. This program places a qualified wellbeing nurse in selected schools to help support the health and wellbeing of students.
The wellbeing nurse is an additional support within the school community and works closely with our wellbeing team and learning and support staff. Their role is to help identify health or wellbeing concerns and connect students and families with the right services and supports when needed.
The nurse works with students and families on a wide range of wellbeing matters, which may include mental health, physical health, social and behavioural concerns, and relationships with peers or family members.
How the wellbeing nurse supports students and families
The wellbeing nurse works to:
build supportive relationships with students and families
help identify health and wellbeing needs early
connect families with appropriate health and community services
support referrals and coordination of services when required
promote positive health, wellbeing and understanding of available supports.
The wellbeing nurse works across both school and community settings and maintains strong connections with local health providers and services. As part of our broader school wellbeing and learning support team, they help ensure students and families can access the care and support they need.
Our wellbeing nurse is Ms Karina Old. Karina works Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.
Psychologist
The service employs highly skilled school counsellors and school psychologists who work directly with students to help them with issues related to learning, peer and family relationships, and managing emotions such as depression, anxiety, worry or isolation.
They also work with teachers, families, school executive, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community.
The School Counselling Service provides:
counselling to students individually or in groups
assessment of students with specific needs
collaboration with teachers and specialist staff
help to families in understanding and managing their children’s learning and mental health needs
liaising with external agencies and other mental health professionals to provide coordinated, wrap around support for individual students
School Counselling Service staff working across all public schools from Pre-School to Year 12 across a diverse range of school settings in metropolitan, regional, rural and remote areas of New South Wales.
Students and parents can contact their school counsellor or school psychologist directly through the school.
Asquith High School's School Psychologists are Ms Kiara Sweeny (Mon, Tue, Alt Wed), and Ms Arasi Pudasaini.
Student Support Officer
Student Support Officers (SSOs) work within the school community to enhance the learning and wellbeing outcomes of students, in partnership with the wellbeing team and the School Counselling Service. SSOs also play a pivotal role in working collaboratively with external agencies and creating referral pathways for students and families to youth and family support agencies.
Student Support Officer is a non-teaching member of a school’s wellbeing team. They apply their skills in working with young people, small group facilitation and knowledge of community services to:
Improve the wellbeing, resilience, and pro-social behaviours of students by working in partnership with the wellbeing team and the school counselling service to prioritise and deliver individual, small group and whole-school evidence-based programs and strategies.
Identify and establish support networks for students with staff, the school community, and locally based government services and community agencies.
Support transition, between schools and post-school enrolments by working with transition coordinators and external providers.
Establish referral pathways to appropriate local services through community partnerships.
Asquith High School's Student Support Officer is Ms Sonia Giwargis.
Connect to our Wellbeing Nurse
If you would like to reach out to our Wellbeing Nurse, contact the school directly and our office staff can put you in contact directly. Students can also request a meeting directly through the school.
