Defence School Transition Aide Program (DSTA) Greenwith Campus

Transcription

1 Defence School Transition Aide Program (DSTA) Greenwith Campus

2 THE ROLE OF THE DSTA o o o o o Welcome parents and families into their school community Assist ADF families to integrate into their local community Facilitate access of ADF families to Defence and community supports Offer support to children during parent absences Farewell ADF families INFORMATION REFERRAL & SUPPORT

3 PROVIDING INFORMATION The newly arrived student and family will be in an unfamiliar environment They will have lots of questions about the school and local environment The DSTA will gather and provide information about the school, the roles of various staff members, school policies, local services, sporting and community groups

4 REFERRAL The DSTA is not expected to solve problems, however they will know who to refer to for help If a school related issue is identified, the DSTA will refer to the appropriate staff member eg the classroom teacher, counsellor or principal The DSTA will encourage parents to address issues themselves

5 SUPPORT TO STUDENTS THE DSTA WILL: Get to know the students individually Have a range of activities that they can use to work with the students, when required Be available and interested

6 SUPPORT TO PARENTS THE DSTA WILL: Be available Be interested in parents and their children Be friendly Listen Maintain confidentiality Offer referral when appropriate Offer to support when needed e.g. making introductions

7 SUPPORT TO TEACHERS THE DSTA WILL: Establish a referral process so that classroom teachers can seek assistance if required Advise teachers of Defence children in their classes Spend time with their students Be accessible and keep teachers informed of their activities, timetable, commitments etc.

8 LIFESTYLE FACTORS THAT IMPACT ON EDUCATION MOBILITY Grieving lost friends, making new friends, finding way around new school, understanding new teachers, different work, different expectations, different school systems, different handwriting, feeling of not belonging and class placement issues

9 How DSTAs Can Help Overcome Effects of Mobility Have a Welcoming & Fare welling Strategy Organize a Buddy Provide opportunities for students to meet with peers Talk with the child about friends & events Encourage children to try and resolve own problems Endorse & encourage positive, friendly behaviour Take a problem solving approach Get to know children & parents - make sure they know how to make contact Encourage a positive, resilient attitude towards social setbacks

10 FAMILY SEPARATIONS Children can be affected by Courses, Exercises, Deployments Missing Mum or Dad Lack of knowledge about whereabouts Lack of opportunity to talk Fear of harm and/or danger Insensitive comments by others

11 THE DSTA CAN HELP WITH FAMILY SEPARATIONS BY: Encouraging parents to let teachers know about exercises, courses and deployments Assisting communication with the absent parent i.e. by children communicating with absent parent via from school. Creating opportunities to talk about the absent parent Providing information about where Mum/Dad has gone maps, books Providing calendar/chart to mark special dates

12 Children may fear for the safety of their absent parent Teachers and DSTAs can help by: Not trivializing concerns Always taking the time to listen The newly arrived student and family will be in an unfamiliar environment Emphasizing that the Australian Defence Force is very well trained Reinforcing that Australia is lucky to be a free country

13 THE DSTA CAN ENCOURAGE UNDERSTANDING FROM TEACHERS BY: Encouraging parents to keep teachers informed about separations Providing teachers with any information about Defence that may be useful Providing teachers with assistance and resources in the classroom Establishing open communication channels with teachers and other teaching staff

14 EDUCATION ASSISTANCE SCHEME One hour per week for 14 weeks tuition per subject Can be done during school hours if parents wish and arrangements can be made with the school Parents to organize their own tutor Paperwork done through orderly room or shop front See REDLO for more details

15 We hope your stay at Greenwith Campus is a happy one.