Keith Street School principal Linda Ireton is ecstatic to be part of the programme. Photo / Bevan Conley
Keith Street School principal Linda Ireton is ecstatic to be part of the programme. Photo / Bevan Conley
A Whanganui school principal has described a new school counselling programme as a chance to give students "ambulance at the top of the cliff" emotional support.
Family Works Central have been awarded a new counselling in schools contract from the Ministry of Education and a number of Whanganui schools areset to benefit.
The pilot of the Kōrero Manaaki programme will be rolled out to 14 schools in the Taranaki, Whanganui and Palmerston North areas.
Keith Street School, Rutherford Junior High School, Tawhero School and Whanganui City College are all included in the 14-school list.
Keith Street School Principal Linda Ireton was ecstatic to be part of the programme.
Students needed to be supported across a range of emotional factors, she said.
"Emotional regulation, which leads to self-regulation, managing anxiety, managing social relationships and then into the more complex issues such as trauma.
"These are conversations that have been going on across the sector in New Zealand for a long time."
Tawhero School principal Karleen Marshall says counselling in schools has been needed for a long time, regardless of the impact Covid-19 has had. Photo / Bevan Conley
The need for counselling had only been exacerbated by Covid-19 lockdowns and their impact.
"It has really shown us as a nation that there are real needs in all of our communities ... I do think that providing counselling in schools is a way of having the ambulance at the top of the cliff.
"The younger you can help children understand themselves and have that sense of hauora, the less likely we are going to see the other issues in our country around anxiety and depression."
Family Works practitioners will work with schools, whānau, hapū, iwi and other community groups providing evidence-based, age-appropriate support which follows Te Ao Māori practice models.
"We know that schools have noticed anxiety being experienced by students around attending school, friendship issues, anger in the classroom and playground, and bullying, which results in ākonga disengaging with learning," Family Works general manager Julia Hennessy said.
"We are really keen to be part of this pilot and engage with schools and their communities to support tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau."
Tawhero School principal Karleen Marshall said counselling has been "highly needed" for a while.
"I think it is a wonderful thing that the Ministry of Education is introducing this into schools."
Through all the uncertainty over the past 18 months with Covid-19, Marshall said they had strived for their school to be the one certainty for their students.
"We have tried to create a sense of calm and consistency and normality for the kids. They know they are going to get that here.
"Despite all the stress outside of school due to Covid, when they are at school it's their safe haven. It is really good for them."
