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Encouraging Student Access to and Use of Pastoral Care Services in Schools

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  14 December 2012

Patricia Cardoso ,
Laura Thomas ,
Robyn Johnston  and
Donna Cross
Patricia Cardoso*
Affiliation:
Child Health Promotion Research Centre, School of Exercise and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Australia
Laura Thomas
Affiliation:
Child Health Promotion Research Centre, School of Exercise and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Australia
Robyn Johnston
Affiliation:
Child Health Promotion Research Centre, School of Exercise and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Australia
Donna Cross
Affiliation:
Child Health Promotion Research Centre, School of Exercise and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Australia
*
address for correspondence: Ms Patricia Cardoso, Senior Research Officer, Child Health Promotion Research Centre, Edith Cowan University, 2 Bradford Drive, Mount Lawley WA 6050, Australia. Email: p.cardoso@ecu.edu.au
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Abstract

School-based health services (SBHS) including pastoral care can play a pivotal role in addressing adolescent health and wellbeing; including their tobacco and other drug use. To maximise the benefits of these services, they need to be accessible, useful for, and acceptable to students. This formative, qualitative study involved 12 focus groups within nine lower socio-economic Western Australian Government secondary schools. The purpose was to identify student (n = 59) perceptions of the availability and usefulness of SBHS (and other identified caring staff) to reduce students’ harm associated with tobacco and other drug use. The findings suggest students were aware of the SBHS available to them, but considered them less useful if staff were regularly unavailable; presented a ‘don't care’ attitude; held solely disciplinary roles; and were based in an area of the school unfamiliar to the student. Services were considered useful when staff members built rapport with students; took time to listen; followed-up with students and displayed a general concern for the student's wellbeing. Interestingly, students acknowledged trusting health teachers more than SBHS staff for tobacco information and support. These findings have important implications for school counsellors and other school health/pastoral care staff who want to increase the likelihood of students approaching and using school support services to reduce harm associated with tobacco and other harmful drug (OHD) use.

Keywords

pastoral careschool health servicestobaccoother drugsstudentssupport
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of Psychologists and Counsellors in Schools , Volume 22 , Special Issue 2: The promotion of mental health and wellbeing in children and adolescents , December 2012 , pp. 227 - 248
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2012

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