At John Curtin College of the Arts there is a strong culture of representation and belonging, we believe in nurturing this culture so that each and every student feels comfortable being included as who they are. Student Services exists to promote wellbeing among the cohort and the concept of ‘Student Care’ is central to both our student services team and the college as a whole. ‘Student Care’ in this context encompasses everything we do as a school and a community to ensure the personal, social and academic needs of our students are fulfilled. Our student services team achieves this by engaging in constant communication with our student body and ensuring that everyone they engage with is given support and treated with respect.
Classroom Teachers
Classroom teachers play a vital role in student care. As first responders our teachers have played a crucial role in helping to identify and alleviate potential wellbeing issues.
Classroom teachers:
- provide a safe and welcoming classroom environment;
- promote positive health;
- are familiar with the signs of potential mental health problems; and
- follow referral pathways.
Specialist Teachers and Professionals
To support classroom teachers, the College has a team of specialist teachers and professionals.
Student Services work as part of an integrated health and wellbeing team focusing on providing individual and group based support, workplace capacity building and specialised services.
The Student Services Team comprises of:
- Heads of Student Services
- Student Services Coordinators
- Psychologists
- Nurses
- Chaplain
- Course Advisors
- Learning Support (PROPEL)
- Allied Support Staff
The teachers within the team are selected on their ability to develop positive working relationships with students. They are trained in first aid, youth mental health first aid, gatekeeper suicide prevention and coaching.
Student Services and Health and Wellbeing Centre
Student Services work in partnership with students, teachers, parents and the wider community in areas including:
- transition to high school
- attendance
- academic monitoring and support
- learning support
- subject selection and career guidance
- pastoral care
- social, emotional, mental and physical wellbeing
- behaviour management
- peer relationships
- bullying prevention
- student council
- house system
- assemblies
- social events
Our Student Services operate with a Triage System. Students are assessed and meetings are arranged with the right person at a suitable time.
Our College nurses promote healthy development and wellbeing to help students reach their full potential and provide the necessary skills to manage their own health.
School health services are an easy way for students to access health care and health information. As the College nurse we can be your first interaction with a health professional and we can help you with access to medical care and other health services as required.
Our College Psychologists work in partnership with the Student Services team, parents, teachers and external services to provide psychological, social, emotional and academic support. Appointments are made through Student Services.
PROPEL-Learning Support Program
PROPEL
The PROPEL (Providing Real Opportunities = Participation, Empowerment and Learning) program at JCCA has grown since its inception in 1999. Propel won the prestigious 2001 Norm Hyde Award for best practice in pastoral care in a secondary school in Western Australia and the 2016 Learning Difficulties Australia’s Bruce Wicking Award. This very successful program caters for students with average to above average ability, inclusive of intellectually gifted students from Years 7 to 12 and is unique in Western Australia. PROPEL is an innovative, successful and research-based model of secondary learning support that aims to provide accommodations and support to teenagers to empower them to achieve their secondary education goals.
PROPEL uses a variety of approaches to cater for the individual needs of students. These approaches are different to normal remediation processes that may not have worked in the past.
Teachers in charge
Director of PROPEL:
Dr Lynne Ivicevic
Email: [email protected]
Assistant Director of PROPEL:
Mrs Emma James
Email: [email protected]
EAL/D:
Ms Ellen Morrissey
Email: [email protected]
