Term 1

For the remainder of Term 1 counsellors will:

• Provide face-to-face counselling at the school where needed, aligned to the social distancing requirements will be followed
• Undertake phone check-ins with parents in primary schools
• Make contact with students on their case list in secondary schools, where required
• Accept referrals as per our regular procedures

As part of COVID-19 response plan for CatholicCare school counseling, the following will be implemented: 

• A small number of school counsellors fall into the vulnerable high-risk category as identified by NSW Health Guidelines. These counsellors will be working remotely and will continue to deliver counselling services via phone until online counselling is implemented. All schools will be informed by the team leaders if the school counsellor cannot attend school in person. If there is a situation where a school requires a counsellor to attend school, we ask the Principal or their nominee to contact the CatholicCare Leader for that region
• From 30 March, new online user-friendly Intake Referral Form will be shared with the Principal to distribute to appropriate school staff

In the next couple of weeks CatholicCare will be trialing working remotely to test the system’s readiness to provide services in this new workspace.

Term 2

School Counsellors will:

• Deliver counselling services remotely via Zoom or phone counselling 
• Provide face to face counselling where required via your allocated school counsellor if available, or via another counsellor as soon as possible
• In the event of a full school closure, provide families and students with Zoom counselling session as requested.  These can be accessed by calling the CatholicCare intake number 4254 9395 or email Intake@catholiccare.dow.org.au

The referral pathway to school counselling will remain the same as current processes via Principal, Pastoral Care Coordinator and Year Coordinators as applies to individual schools. Protocols for working collaboratively with school counsellor and school staff in this new environment will be shared with schools in the next few days. Schools are encouraged to collaborate and have conversations with their school counsellor(s) regarding ongoing communication. Students and parents will be able to book an appointment with our CatholicCare counsellors by contacting the CatholicCare intake phone number 4254 9395 or email Intake@catholiccare.dow.org.au.