Hello, I’m Shalini, and I’m the Student Wellbeing Officer (SWO) here at Mitchelton State School. I have had the privilege of joining the Mitchie family in Term 2 of 2024. With a background in mental health and a passion for community enrichment, I am eager to work with the students and the larger Mitchelton community.
The
SWO program is provided by Jabiru, and is funded by the Government’s
Student Welfare Program. The role of a SWO is to provide support to
students and the school community both formally and informally, through
games, activities, or even just being a friendly face on the playground.
A SWO can also provide formal support, with consent of a caregiver, to
students needing an extra hand in building their confidence, social and
emotional skills, or just needing someone to chat to about what’s
happening for them. While a SWO doesn’t offer formal counselling, I
work closely with our Guidance Officer and Student Support teams to
provide holistic care for our Mitchie students. Ultimately, SWO services
are about supporting students to be the best version of themselves they
can possibly be, and build healthy and safe relationships with their
peers and the school community to support every member of the Mitchie
family.
Formal
engagement with the SWO is entirely voluntary, and families will always
be consulted if they are wanting to access these formal supports. I am
here at Mitchie on Wednesdays and Thursdays, so feel free to pop in for a
chat, come and say hello, or feel free to get in contact with the
school office for any enquiries.