Your role
You might be thinking, “Hey, I’m here to teach or support learning – I didn’t sign up to be a counsellor!” – which is a great point, because being a counsellor is not your job.
Read each statement below and think about whether it’s in your role, or outside it, when assisting students – then check by dragging and dropping the statements into the boxes.
*Learning Institution* wants students to engage in their learning and get the most out of their studies. As a staff member, you can assist by noticing when issues are getting in the way of this happening. For students in distress, this means you can:
- Recognise the issue when it shows up. If a student is distressed or acting strangely, or shares a concern with you – pay attention.
- Express concern, encourage support seeking and communicate the limits of your role.
- Know the protocols for how to respond to distressed students in urgent and non-urgent situations.
Taking these steps gives you peace of mind that you’re doing all you can – while allowing you to focus on your main job of helping students get the most out of their studies.
