New specialists to support wellbeing and behaviour

The rollout of new expert staff across the State next year will help schools develop holistic support for their students.

Image:Guildford West Public School principal Kerry Weston with Year 2 students using the school’s sensory gym and equipment.

Teachers are receiving more support to manage complex student behaviour with 130 new student wellbeing specialists in public schools across the state.

The range of specialists will start in 2022, joining the more than 2000 staff who

already provide wellbeing and behaviour support in schools on a daily basis.

The new positions include:

• 32 Behaviour Specialists to join the 36 specialists already recruited in 2021
• 88 leadership positions in schools with seven or more support classes
• Five Inclusive Education Coordinators to oversee behaviour and inclusion at schools across the State.

Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning Sarah Mitchell said the additional positions would play a key role in the implementation of the NSW Government’s Student Behaviour Strategy.

“I want the education system focused on keeping kids in school not kicking them out, and enabling that requires deeper and more holistic support for schools,” Ms Mitchell said.

“This package will better equip principals and staff in NSW schools with the skills and support to respond to complex behaviours in the classroom.

“These new positions will form part of a wraparound support package, co-designed with key education stakeholders and experts, to ensure the Behaviour Strategy’s policies and procedures are implemented effectively next year.”

Since Term 1 2021, Behaviour Specialists have worked hand-in-hand with schools across NSW to address the behavioural and wellbeing needs of more than 400 students.

“We know that when a student feels valued and nurtured by their teachers at school, their educational outcomes improve,” Ms Mitchell said.

The new specialists form part of a comprehensive support package of resources and training to support the implementation of the Behaviour Strategy’s policies and procedures in Term 1, 2022.

These supports will include a suite of professional learning courses and resources to assist with the management of different behaviours in the classroom.