Student Support

The Dean oversees the functioning of Student Support and coordinates the development, implementation and review of related process and policy. This includes the line management of Student Support staff in facilitating the development of a positive and inclusive learning environment at Comet Bay College.

The Dean is also responsible for strategic planning and resource allocation in ensuring that both the Business and Learning Area plan targets are met.

Associate Deans manage the behaviour and attendance of their year group, in addition to providing pastoral care to improve the engagement and wellbeing of each cohort.

They work collaboratively with the Support Staff and Learning Area Deans to coordinate the provision of services for identified students.

Their responsibilities include but are not limited to –

• liaising with parents, support staff, and external agencies;
• facilitating mental and emotional health support for students;
• supporting teachers with strategies for managing student behaviour and engagement;
• facilitating support plans for students at educational risk;
• assisting in the creation of documented plans to support students with identified needs;
• implementing policies to improve outcomes for all students;
• monitoring the attendance and behaviour of students;
• implementing  educationally appropriate responses to high level behaviour issues;
• implementing procedures to promote attendance.

School Psychology Service
School psychologists are uniquely qualified members of school teams that support students’ ability to learn and teachers’ ability to teach. School psychologists apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behaviour, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviourally, and emotionally.

What Do School Psychologists Do?
The school psychologist helps CBC staff meet the social, emotional, learning and behaviour needs of students. The school psychologist works closely with the Student Support, administration, teachers, students and parents to help CBC make improvements that are good for all students, particular groups of students or individual students.

More information about the School Psychology Service can be found here:
Department of Education School Psychology Services

The School Psychologist at Comet Bay College is Krystyna McGerr.  Appointments can be made by contacting the relevant Associate Dean for the student year group.

Chaplains are employed by YouthCARE, whose three core values of respect, compassion and service shape the actions and impact students and the wellbeing of WA school communities.

The role of the Chaplain is to focus on positive, empowering work and programs such as Rainbows, Grief & Loss and Brave as well as mentoring. The School Chaplains work with the student services team to meet the school’s educational objectives and support the students in the challenges that they face throughout their high school years.

The Chaplains are available to provide positive support, life skills and leadership to the students and their families as well as the staff at Comet Bay College. The aim is to create and support a positive school culture through pastoral care and involvement in school initiatives.

Dean of Learning Support provides assistance to staff with planning, delivering, monitoring, assessment and evaluation of differentiated teaching and learning programs that meet the diverse educational needs of our students across years seven to twelve. This includes working closely with parents/carers, various support staff at the school level and external agencies to ensure students with diagnosed disabilities and learning difficulties are able to access the curriculum on the same basis as their peers.

All our students are integrated into mainstream classes, where they are supported by their teachers, Student Support staff and experienced Education Assistants as they work towards achieving success in their chosen educational pathways.

Our Student Support Officers David Karcheski and Brianna Player facilitate a range of programs on offer at Comet Bay College that foster safe and nurturing environments for students requiring additional support. They bring a wealth of experience to the role as trained youth workers.

David runs the RISK Program and the College’s various cadet programs and Brianna oversees the Student Leadership Team, Year 12 Peer Mentoring Program and Breakfast Club.

Comet Bay College values the emotional and social development and mental health awareness of all students. Our dedicated Student Support Officers also run a range of small-group programs for students who have been identified as needing extra support. There are offered throughout the year and may include our Gardening Program or Girls Group. The small-group programs give students a chance to spend time with like-minded peers and an opportunity to seek additional guidance from our Student Support Officers.

School Health Services serves as a convenient gateway to healthcare for students, offering a wide range of support and resources. The dedicated school nurse conducts health assessments, imparts information, advice, and referrals, while providing unwavering support to students.

This support system fosters the growth of knowledge, skills, and positive behaviours, empowering young individuals to address their health concerns and make informed choices that promote a healthy lifestyle.

Individual students have the opportunity to seek information, guidance, and support on various topics. These may include coping with illness, navigating cultural or racism-related issues, managing feelings of anxiety, stress, or unhappiness, understanding healthy eating and nutrition, promoting a positive body image and maintaining a healthy weight, addressing mental health and overall well-being, dealing with loss and grief, managing challenges at home, handling relationships, learning about sexual health, addressing smoking, alcohol, and drug use, and addressing other concerns specific to adolescent health.

Additionally, the school nurse facilitates the provision of first aid within the school premises, conducts psycho-social assessments as needed, organizes different support groups, offers open clinics during recess and lunchtime, provides assistance to parents and families in dealing with various medical issues, ensuring students’ safety both at school and at home. In emergencies, the nurse is ready to provide immediate aid and short-term interventions. They identify appropriate referrals and offer counselling on sexual health, drugs and alcohol, mental health, and other pertinent health concerns.

Furthermore, our school nurses conduct educational sessions in classrooms, focusing on health-related topics, and lead various groups to promote health and well-being among students.

Comet Bay College is aware of the unique educational needs of students whose parents work within the Australian Defence Force due in part to their mobile lifestyle and long absences of a parent due to deployment and training. As a result, funding has been secured through the Defence Community Organisation for the implementation of the Defence in Schools Mentor Program.

The role of the Defence in Schools Mentor at the College is designed to provide support and assistance to the student and to hopefully alleviate some of the concerns that families may incur when transferring to a new school. Brochures are available which give further details about the role.

Should have any questions please feel free to contact Claire Hunt, our Defence in Schools Mentor, via email Claire.Hunt@education.wa.edu.au or call on 9553 8130.

Our AIEO is committed to focusing on improving the educational achievements and outcomes for all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, and providing support for families and teachers.

Collaborating and working in partnership with the teachers and school community to incorporate culturally inclusive learning programs.

The role of the Attendance Officer includes:-

• Monitoring attendance of students
• Identifying continuous unidentified attendance and notifying parents
• Sending communication to parents for unexplained absentees
• Liaising with the PBIS Coordinator in rewarding students with consistently high attendance
• Developing a database of student absentee factors
• Identifying and notifying Associate Deans of students requiring Case Management