1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,279 Speaker 1: Now we know a national recruitment campaign has been launched 2 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:06,800 Speaker 1: to attract more school counselors to the Northern Territory. The 3 00:00:06,920 --> 00:00:10,160 Speaker 1: nt government provided one point nine million dollars in the 4 00:00:10,240 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: budget to expand school counseling across the NTA, and the 5 00:00:14,120 --> 00:00:19,040 Speaker 1: campaign is also targeting qualified social workers in Australia and 6 00:00:19,320 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: New Zealand. Now, the Minister for Education and Training, Joe 7 00:00:22,640 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: Hersey says that eligibility criteria has been expanded to attract 8 00:00:27,120 --> 00:00:31,760 Speaker 1: more qualified counseling professionals due to a national workforce shortage. Now, 9 00:00:31,880 --> 00:00:34,080 Speaker 1: if you've listened to the show for quite some time, 10 00:00:34,120 --> 00:00:36,240 Speaker 1: you'll know that this is something that we have spoken 11 00:00:36,240 --> 00:00:39,920 Speaker 1: about on quite a few occasions. In fact, I believe 12 00:00:39,960 --> 00:00:41,879 Speaker 1: it was at the beginning of last year. It may 13 00:00:41,880 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 1: have even been the year prior. We had students join 14 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:48,960 Speaker 1: us to raise concerns about a lack of counselors. So 15 00:00:49,000 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: it was actually something that was very much student lead. 16 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,840 Speaker 1: And joining me on the line is cogzo's executive officer, 17 00:00:57,160 --> 00:00:59,440 Speaker 1: Michelle Parker. Good morning to you, Michelle. 18 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:01,760 Speaker 2: Good morning Katie, Michelle. 19 00:01:01,800 --> 00:01:04,000 Speaker 1: Lovely to have you on the show. Now, do you 20 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,360 Speaker 1: think this announcement is a positive one. 21 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:12,000 Speaker 2: Oh, it's a fabulous announcement, isn't it. Katie, and you 22 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,440 Speaker 2: as well as COGSO have been on this journey, and 23 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:16,600 Speaker 2: you're right, it was a couple of years ago those 24 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:21,160 Speaker 2: students came on. So it's been quite the advocacy journey. 25 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,880 Speaker 2: And that's something that advocacy is. It's not something that 26 00:01:23,959 --> 00:01:27,119 Speaker 2: you ask for and it gets delivered immediately. It's been 27 00:01:27,560 --> 00:01:32,119 Speaker 2: relentless and it's been a good partnership actually, and that's 28 00:01:32,160 --> 00:01:35,240 Speaker 2: where you get results. COGSO is a peak parent body 29 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 2: to students, the school bodies and counsels the Department of Education. 30 00:01:39,600 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 2: And you may remember that our key election arts was 31 00:01:45,080 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 2: for the return of school based counselors and yeah, the 32 00:01:49,560 --> 00:01:53,880 Speaker 2: opposition fully supported that and committed to that if they 33 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:56,120 Speaker 2: won the election. They won the election. It's been a 34 00:01:56,160 --> 00:01:59,400 Speaker 2: priority for them and it's been a absolute pleasure to 35 00:01:59,400 --> 00:02:02,640 Speaker 2: work with Joe and the department and here we are. 36 00:02:02,680 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 2: It's a great announcement. 37 00:02:04,000 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: Well, that is really good to hear, Michelle, because you 38 00:02:07,240 --> 00:02:09,480 Speaker 1: know so often we sort of talk about these things 39 00:02:09,560 --> 00:02:11,160 Speaker 1: and you think, oh, is it ever going to make 40 00:02:11,200 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: a difference, And you know, I've spoken to you guys 41 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,880 Speaker 1: on so many occasions about the school counselors, and we 42 00:02:17,919 --> 00:02:21,480 Speaker 1: spoke to those students and they were so passionate about it, 43 00:02:22,000 --> 00:02:26,520 Speaker 1: you know, they were like, we really need school counselors 44 00:02:26,520 --> 00:02:30,320 Speaker 1: in our schools and spoke about why they are instrumental 45 00:02:30,400 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: within schools. So, Michelle, how are things tracking at the 46 00:02:34,200 --> 00:02:36,480 Speaker 1: moment when it comes to those school counselors and how 47 00:02:36,520 --> 00:02:38,359 Speaker 1: do you foresee this role out happening? 48 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 2: Well, it's going. Well, it's fundamentally the return of what 49 00:02:46,400 --> 00:02:49,080 Speaker 2: we call the knock on the door, that a student 50 00:02:49,160 --> 00:02:51,280 Speaker 2: can be in a school and knock on a door 51 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:55,600 Speaker 2: and there's somebody appropriately qualified to be able to do 52 00:02:55,639 --> 00:02:58,320 Speaker 2: that preventative work that we've talked about that is so well, 53 00:02:58,360 --> 00:03:01,680 Speaker 2: that can a student can check in with something that 54 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,600 Speaker 2: might be going on and have a trained professional on 55 00:03:04,639 --> 00:03:07,399 Speaker 2: the other side of the door. And so that's what's 56 00:03:07,440 --> 00:03:11,800 Speaker 2: being returned. And then to meet the shortage, the department 57 00:03:11,880 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 2: has looked at how do we expand the qualifications from 58 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,560 Speaker 2: a psychologist counselor point of view and look at social 59 00:03:21,600 --> 00:03:25,120 Speaker 2: workers and other people that have counseling experience, because there's 60 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:28,480 Speaker 2: lots of different streams for these professionals and they're all 61 00:03:28,480 --> 00:03:32,240 Speaker 2: of value. And so last year we passed a policy 62 00:03:32,280 --> 00:03:37,600 Speaker 2: as an organization on mental health services, you know, supporting 63 00:03:38,320 --> 00:03:41,840 Speaker 2: that expansion of the type of people that can be 64 00:03:41,880 --> 00:03:45,680 Speaker 2: the mental health experts in a school. And so that's 65 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:48,280 Speaker 2: now our policy position of the organization and that's what 66 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:51,280 Speaker 2: the Department's gone down in terms of how do we 67 00:03:51,320 --> 00:03:55,800 Speaker 2: recruit and fill these positions. So we're excited about the campaign. 68 00:03:56,000 --> 00:04:01,680 Speaker 2: It's concentrated, it's dedicated, it's planned designed to reach many 69 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 2: people across Australia and into New Zealand to come and 70 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:10,320 Speaker 2: live in the beautiful territory landscape and be a part 71 00:04:10,360 --> 00:04:11,920 Speaker 2: of our amazing public schools. 72 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:16,200 Speaker 1: Michelle, We've just had somebody call through wondering if COGSO 73 00:04:16,360 --> 00:04:18,920 Speaker 1: know what the school allocations are going to be for 74 00:04:19,000 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: those counselors and if there's going to be certain schools 75 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:25,919 Speaker 1: that need the most. Also, how many school counselors have 76 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,080 Speaker 1: been budgeted for. I'm not sure whether you've got that 77 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:29,040 Speaker 1: level of detail. 78 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,160 Speaker 2: I have, but just not in front of me. I'm 79 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:34,080 Speaker 2: out of the meeting at the moment. I'm sorry. So 80 00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:36,200 Speaker 2: we will certainly get that out to our members and 81 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,919 Speaker 2: if the person inquiring wants to contact cogso through the website, 82 00:04:40,920 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 2: we'd be more than happy to share that. It would 83 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:45,680 Speaker 2: be on our going up on our comms and socials 84 00:04:45,720 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 2: as well. It's a return for the middle and the 85 00:04:50,200 --> 00:04:55,560 Speaker 2: secondary in regional and urban of a dedicated health professional. 86 00:04:55,600 --> 00:04:58,719 Speaker 2: And there's other people that will work within the school 87 00:04:58,720 --> 00:05:01,400 Speaker 2: well being team as well, not just the counselor. So 88 00:05:01,480 --> 00:05:06,040 Speaker 2: well being is seen by everybody as critical. What's exciting 89 00:05:06,160 --> 00:05:10,240 Speaker 2: also is that the department is also committed to looking 90 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,640 Speaker 2: at mental health services as we are for our remote 91 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 2: and very remote and so the body of work has 92 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 2: already started around what other models might be appropriate for 93 00:05:21,000 --> 00:05:24,520 Speaker 2: those remote schools and students and you know, working with 94 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:28,599 Speaker 2: Aboriginal controlled organizations and various models that might work for 95 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:32,799 Speaker 2: them that's culturally appropriate. So everyone's focused on every student 96 00:05:32,839 --> 00:05:34,400 Speaker 2: and their well being, yeah. 97 00:05:34,200 --> 00:05:36,880 Speaker 1: Which can only be a good thing. But so your 98 00:05:36,960 --> 00:05:39,640 Speaker 1: understanding though, is that the majority of those middle and 99 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: high schools will go back to having a school counselor 100 00:05:42,320 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: at the school. 101 00:05:44,279 --> 00:05:47,000 Speaker 2: That's right, that's exactly right at the school, knocking with 102 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:48,760 Speaker 2: the door that can be knocked on by a student 103 00:05:48,800 --> 00:05:51,800 Speaker 2: and they can access and recognizing that from next year, 104 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 2: we'll have high schools. 105 00:05:53,960 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, yeah, that's exactly right. They'll all be high 106 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:59,279 Speaker 1: schools rather than the middle schools as well. Michelle. I 107 00:05:59,279 --> 00:06:02,400 Speaker 1: mean this is like to me, this is exactly what 108 00:06:02,560 --> 00:06:05,520 Speaker 1: those students were asking for a couple of years ago, 109 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,080 Speaker 1: you know, to have that school counselor back at the school, 110 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:11,040 Speaker 1: to be able to build that relationship, build a rapport 111 00:06:11,240 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: with somebody who they feel comfortable going in and speaking to. 112 00:06:16,000 --> 00:06:20,080 Speaker 2: That's exactly right. And for parents who've had children, and 113 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:24,039 Speaker 2: I can speak about my own lived experience, having your 114 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:26,600 Speaker 2: student able to have somebody when there's something going on 115 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 2: at the school or it could be home, like it 116 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:33,520 Speaker 2: could be anything that's impacting their ability to learn is 117 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,880 Speaker 2: just incredibly powerful. And you know, I don't mean to 118 00:06:36,920 --> 00:06:39,680 Speaker 2: speak for the minister, but the minister had lived experience, 119 00:06:39,800 --> 00:06:42,600 Speaker 2: and that's the thing. When you're a student or a 120 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:46,360 Speaker 2: parent who has lived the benefit, of course, you want 121 00:06:46,400 --> 00:06:51,600 Speaker 2: it to continue to expanded and improved. So that's what 122 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 2: we thought, they promised, it delivered. Couldn't be more thrilled. 123 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:57,560 Speaker 1: I guess the only issue now is making sure that 124 00:06:57,600 --> 00:07:00,760 Speaker 1: we can fill these roles Michelle, how quickly and how 125 00:07:00,839 --> 00:07:02,680 Speaker 1: do you think it's going to be a difficult thing 126 00:07:02,800 --> 00:07:03,120 Speaker 1: to do. 127 00:07:05,600 --> 00:07:08,040 Speaker 2: I'm not sure who's out there. It's not our sort 128 00:07:08,040 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 2: of area, but you know, I would encourage all your listeners. 129 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:15,920 Speaker 2: If you have people in the field who elsewhere, encourage 130 00:07:15,960 --> 00:07:17,920 Speaker 2: them to come to the territory. When you start to 131 00:07:17,920 --> 00:07:20,800 Speaker 2: see the campaign roll out, share it as widely as 132 00:07:20,840 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 2: you can. I'd imagine that for this year there'd be 133 00:07:24,480 --> 00:07:31,240 Speaker 2: intensive recruitment drives and processes for recruitment and getting them 134 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:33,760 Speaker 2: in as soon as possible. It's what everybody wants to see. 135 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,840 Speaker 1: Well, Michelle Parker, great to speak with you this morning. 136 00:07:36,880 --> 00:07:40,040 Speaker 1: I really appreciate your time. I always love a good 137 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: news story when something does come to fruition. I know 138 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:45,160 Speaker 1: you guys have been pushing really hard for these at 139 00:07:45,280 --> 00:07:49,800 Speaker 1: nt COGSOS. So good to see this positive move being made. 140 00:07:50,440 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 2: Yeah, and thank you to Katie for your advocacy. It 141 00:07:53,600 --> 00:07:56,840 Speaker 2: takes somebody who listens and sees it as an important 142 00:07:56,840 --> 00:07:58,560 Speaker 2: issue and covers it, so thank you too. 143 00:07:58,880 --> 00:08:01,720 Speaker 1: Anytime I think it. You know, fundamentally, for me, we've 144 00:08:01,720 --> 00:08:03,720 Speaker 1: got to make sure that kids have got these supports 145 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:05,680 Speaker 1: when they're in school. You know, they may not want 146 00:08:05,720 --> 00:08:08,360 Speaker 1: to talk to their parents about some of this, some 147 00:08:08,480 --> 00:08:10,880 Speaker 1: of the stuff that they're dealing with. They may not have, 148 00:08:11,120 --> 00:08:13,080 Speaker 1: you know, somebody that they can talk to. And if 149 00:08:13,120 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: you've got a school counselor and if that person can help, 150 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:18,880 Speaker 1: you know, just some of these kids, it can only be. 151 00:08:18,840 --> 00:08:21,640 Speaker 2: A good thing, absolutely good. 152 00:08:22,040 --> 00:08:24,440 Speaker 1: Michelle, thank you lovely to talk to you this morning.