Facing challenges

STOPPING suicides and substance abuse are just some of the challenges two new NT school counsellors will face this year.

Sarah Jenkins and Melinda Hazel are two of the 15 new counsellors starting work in NT secondary schools this week.

Ms Jenkins, a former teacher on Groote Eylandt, will be the new Maningrida school counsellor. She said she had taken up counselling to help teenagers deal with the serious issues facing bush kids.

"Suicide is always going to be an issue in remote communities," she said. "Substance abuse and family issues that impact on learning are issues I want to help with."

Ms Jenkins said she hoped to work with mental health services to prevent suicides in the community.

She said the move would be a challenge but she hoped her experience in remote communities would help her.

Ms Hazel, 33, who will be based at Taminmin High Scvhool in Darwin's rural area, said she is "excited" about starting her new job this year.

She will also service other outlying areas that do not have full-time counsellors such as Batchelor and Adelaide River.

"Schools are often the first place emerging problems are realised as students are based at school five days out of seven for 12 years," she said. "It's never a dull moment. The biggest issue in adolescents is self-harm.


Newshawk: http://www.napnt.org
Pubdate: Sunday, 22 January 2006
Source: Sunday Territorian (Australia)
Website: httpp://www.sundayterritorian.com.au
Email: ntnmail@ntnn.newsltd.com.au