AN INDEPENDENT review has found a trial of student support officers at public high schools had been successful.
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As part of the state government's Supporting Students Plan, 50 student support officers were placed in schools to provide assistance to teenagers this year.
The education department collaborated with the University of NSW in the trial in which an officer was placed at each school to work with volunteer students from years 7 to 11.
Student support officers aim to complement existing support structures in schools. After only two months of the trial, schools saw positive results in behaviour, interaction and learning.
Support officers focused on tackling bullying and discrimination, enhanced mental health resilience, improved family and peer relationships, linked schools to community agencies, and gave one-on-one assistance to disadvantaged students.
Predominantly female, some officers were highly trained in working with youth, and others recent graduates.
Participating schools noted that an average of four-fifths of students felt that the support officers helped them feel safe at school, particularly in indigenous and non-English-speaking school communities.
A major finding was that the trial resulted in reduced repetition of antisocial behaviours such as suspensions, particularly among males.
But the trial revealed that many support officers did not feel well equipped to deal with matters that would have been better suited to a school counsellor.
Others stated that they were often left alone with students without adequate supervision.
The researchers also recommended that the long-term training needed to be addressed at policy level if the idea is implemented into schools.
Has your child benefitted by help from student support officers?
