AN140296 – Teachers' Award - Non-Governmental Schools 2003

SCHEDULE 11 - CATHOLIC SCHOOLS QUEENSLAND - SCHOOL COUNSELLORS (TEACHER)

S11.1 Coverage

Schedule 11 shall apply to School Counsellors (Teacher) employed in schools under the control of the Employing Authorities in the State of Queensland but shall not apply to such person who are in Holy Orders or are members of a recognised Religious Order.

S11.2 Date of operation

Schedule 11 takes effect from 30 June 2005. Schedule 11 replaces the Teachers' Award (Non Governmental) Schools - Catholic Schools Queensland - School Counsellors (Teacher), Industrial Agreement.

S11.3 Contract of employment

Each person appointed to a position of School Counsellor shall be appointed for an initial period of 3 years with a further 3 year appointment subject to satisfactory performance review and continued designation of the position. Subject to continued satisfactory performance and continued designation of the position, the appointee may continue to be employed on a 3 x 3 year basis. A periodic review/appraisal process shall be determined by the Employing Authority. That process shall be in accordance with the principles set out in Schedule 6.

S11.4 Recognition of prior service

All previous experience as a School Counsellor, either in the Catholic Education system in Queensland or as a School Counsellor with any other school authority in Queensland or other States and Territories within Australia, shall be recognised by the Employing Authority in placing an employee on the appropriate salary step.

S11.5 Professional development

The specific nature of an employee's skills require professional development on an ongoing basis. It is the joint responsibility of both the Employing Authority and the employee to have due regard to this requirement.

S11.6 Termination of employment

S11.6.1 Should the position of School Counsellor cease to exist within a school or system and the School Counsellor concerned has performed satisfactorily in that position, they shall be guaranteed a teaching position by the Employing Authority and such salary and conditions contained in the Award.

S11.6.2 Provided further that clause S11.6 shall not apply to any employee dismissed for incompetence, misconduct, or neglect of duty, who may be summarily dismissed without notice.

S11.7 Relationship to the Award

All conditions of employment, other than those stated in Schedule 11 shall be in accordance with the Award excepting clauses 1.6.6, 1.6.14 and 5.6.1 of the Award.

S11.8 Savings clause

Existing employees shall not have their current conditions, contract of employment or salary reduced by the coming into effect of Schedule 11.

S11.9 Definitions

S11.9.1 School Counsellor

The School Counsellor is a person appointed as such at the discretion of the Employing Authority to provide a specialist guidance and counselling service within the context of a Catholic School.

The School Counsellor is required to address the relevant educational, personal, vocational and social needs of students within the school setting. In the wider context consultation is required with specialist and other personnel as well as various agencies in achieving service delivery.

The School Counsellor operates as an integral part of the school's educational team and provides services which are negotiated with and authorised by the School Principal in support of both the Mission of the school and the goals of the school's development plan:

Provided that the School Counsellor designation shall not include those persons employed to provide careers advice, work experience or other co-ordinating roles confined to the career/work experience area.

S11.9.2 Qualifications

Qualifications of a School Counsellor shall be:

(a) Possession of an appropriate degree with major studies in psychology from a recognised tertiary institution and completion of an approved post graduate counsellor training program of at least one year's duration comprising academic course work, supervised practicum and a professional practices component with appropriate experience and demonstrated competency or other relevant qualifications which are acceptable to the employer.

(b) Current teacher registration with appropriate experience and demonstrated competency.

S11.9.3 Skills, knowledge and aptitudes

A School Counsellor shall possess the following typical skills, knowledge and aptitudes,

- Highly developed interpersonal communication and human relations skills with awareness and sensitivity to a range of issues arising from guidance assessment and counselling practices.
- Planning and organisational skills.
- Skills and knowledge in community liaison and operating with community agencies and other professionals.
- Ability to deliver counselling services with minimal supervisory direction.
- Ability to participate in developmental planning processes of the school.
- Ability to provide advice to senior management in relation to the school's accountability for student welfare.
- Ability to perform or capacity to be trained to perform current comprehensive educational and psychological testing analysis and diagnosis, and to recommend appropriate strategies.
- Ability to offer a comprehensive referral service.
- Ability to liaise with appropriate government departments and agencies.
- Ability to devise and offer appropriate whole of school support programs for staff and students.
- Sound knowledge of curriculum provisions and the teaching/learning process.
- Sound knowledge and understanding of curriculum and developmental issues.
- Knowledge of relevant legislation within area of competence.

S11.9.4 Experience

(a) "Appropriate Experience" as contained in clause S11.9.2(a) and clause S11.9.2(b) means 9 years' experience accumulated either as a Teacher or a Counsellor. In the case of experience as a Counsellor such experience shall have been obtained in a school environment.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of clause 11.9.4(a) an employee who has less than 9 years' appropriate experience but who is:

(i) required to carry out the major and substantial responsibilities of the position of School Counsellor as defined in clause S11.9.1;

and

(ii) who fulfils the qualification requirements contained in clause S11.9.2;

and

(iii) who possesses the skills knowledge and aptitudes contained in clause S11.9.3;

shall be entitled to the full benefits of Schedule 11.

S11.10 Remuneration

The following scale of minimum salaries shall apply to the School Counsellor position as defined:

	Per Annum
	$
First year of service	64,512
Second year of service	66,547
Third year of service	68,588

S11.11 Matters reserved

S11.11.1 The parties agree to enter into negotiations on:

(a) hours of duty of School Counsellors based on existing custom and practice

(b) other categories of School Counsellor which do not require the level of responsibility, qualifications and experience as the category contained in Schedule 11.