Defence Support Mentor
We have a Defence School Mentor!
Proudly Supporting Defence Families
A Defence School Mentor (DSM) is a school employee dedicated to supporting Defence students, funded by Defence Member and Family Support, who can:
- Provide families with information about the school environment and the support available to assist with your child's schooling needs.
- Support students to access school based social and emotional support.
- Offer opportunities for students to build relationships and connections through events and other initiatives.
- Raise awareness in the school community about the impacts of the Defence lifestyle on students and families.
Contact your Defence School Mentor today!
Students: Your DSM is a friendly face who can support you at school.
Families: Your DSM can help with changing schools, community resources and more.
Staff: Collaborate with the DSM to enhance understanding and support for Defence students in the classroom.
What programs does our DSM run?
The Xena Project
Xena, the Educational Assistance Dog, is here at the school two days a week providing support in class and on the playground with students. Xena also works with individual students, as well as group work, including a agility program. Xena has different programs to assist students to strive to achieve their best outcomes. Information and enquiries on Xena’s Programs can be made by an appointment or phone call with the DSM.
Poppy Enrichment Program
Poppy has joined us this year. She is encouraging teamwork and problem solving through game play. Challenging the students with tasks, fun and camaraderie in a relaxed environment. Poppy participates in the game play with students along with encouragement and learning strategies gained through animal therapies.
Roam, Rove and Ramble, the DSM Bears
Not a program as such however, a little bear and his rug in a basket goes home with K-2 children (older children when required) to give them a feeling of self-worth, friendship, love and responsibility. Children take one of the bears home on Monday and return on Friday and have adventures with the little bear throughout the week and then write in his diary. Just an activity to cheer people up and may be requested, if needed, from the DSM.
Friendship Groups
This Program will help teach how to make friendships, teach resilience and how to handle change and teach confidence. Speak about the positives and negatives of moving and how to turn a negative feeling into positive ones. Talk about feelings and emotions and to accept that they are all feeling, and everyone has these feelings from time to time. The Friendship Group Programs are varied and run at different times during the year.
Tyler Turtle Program
The Tyler Turtle program is run for 5-6 year olds. This program focuses on feelings when the serving parent is away and how to stay positive and feel in control of worries and feelings.
Transition to High School
Transitioning program for students in year 6 moving up into high school. Focusing on individual concerns and worries, coping skills and strategies that can be used in times of anxiety.
Pre-Removal Groups
The program will help teach resilience and controlling emotions when leaving one posting to go to another. The students go through the Pre-Removal Program in small groups, once a week for approximately four weeks. This program is aimed at having them prepared for the move and transition that lies ahead.
Deployment or Parental Absence
Supporting children on a weekly basis when a parent is away for a short or long period of time, either in the classroom environment, individual or group work.
Friendship Worx!
This program is designed to challenge students and refresh friendship values. It encourages teamwork, communication, creativity, and problem solving to come together and create a project. Students from years 3 through to 6 will have the benefit of learning dog handling skills and create an agility course together. On the final week, the students will show the results of this challenge to their classmates. A certificate will be presented to each student in the program on the final week.
Friendship Worx Junior
Students from Kindergarten to year 1 will have the benefit of modified friendship values and fun activities each week. This will be tailored to their age and ability. Due to their young age and limited abilities in the younger students this does not include Xena the Therapy Dog.
Learning
Find out about our approach to learning and supporting students to progress.
Travel to school
Learn about local transport options and how to get here safely.