Staff Support in Schools

In September, the Western Australian Education Department initiated a pilot study of peer support for staff in 18 schools and educational centres. This pilot study involves 26 EDWA staff (teachers and school support staff) in the Cannington Education District. The program was called 'Staff Support' rather than peer support, to avoid any confusion with programs already being conducted with students.

The pilot study, being carried out by Michael Tunnecliffe (ESN) and Rozanne Biddle (EDWA), will involve meetings and data collection through 1999.

The data monitored over four school terms includes stress measures, staff satisfaction levels and measures of EDWA workers' compensation demographic. Staff support usage and perceptions of the usefulness of the program will also be included as part of this project. A final report on the Staff Support program will be delivered at the end of 1999.

This section of the Emergency Support Home Page will be updated with information on this pilot study at the end of each quarter during 1999.

Information on this program which went to interested school staff.

Experiences across many schools indicate that, from time to time, staff involved in their regular duties may be confronted with a wide range of stressors, which include conflict, change and confrontation by critical incidents. Such situations place a significant degree of strain on their personal coping. Most staff cope well in the short-term, but very few are completely immune from stress. One doesn't have to look much past recent times in schools to find evidence of change and disruption which has created on-going pressure, or stressful events which have affected the functioning of those involved.

Many staff report loss of interest in their work, reduced job satisfaction, avoidance of certain tasks, increasing disagreement and mood changes as common reactions to such stress.

Generally, school staff are fairly resiliant, and in time, are able to muster the resources necessary to cope with stress. There are, however, some staff who are either unable to cope with the impact of stress, or who have exhausted the resources they have, due to critical incidents, or excessive demands on them to manage the stress they encounter in their day to day work role.

Providing prompt assistance to staff under stress has become increasingly recognised, Australia-wide as a 'Risk Management' initiative. Collegial support programs are already in use within emergency services, hospitals, welfare services mining and heavy industry, and within many other work groups. In recent years, a constructive approach to this issue of assisting staff under stress, or after critical incidents, has been the development of Staff Support programs.

What is staff support?
Staff support is an in-house program where volunteer school staff are trained in appropriate methods of assisting colleagues, who may be in some way affected by stress.

Who is a staff supporter?
Staff supporters are peers who are trained in a range of stress support methods. For example, they are instructed on how to use a process called "stress defusion", either on a one-to-one basis, or in small groups. Support may also include giving practical assistance, and providing appropriate information or advice which aims to assist the individual's coping and recovery. The staff supporter is usually someone in the immediate staff group who is seen as trustworthy and approachable by colleagues.

As the name indicates, a staff supporter provides "support" only and does not become a counsellor, take responsibility for a colleague's stress problems, or take on any other role for which they are not trained or qualified.

What does Staff Support training involve?
The support program is a short training course (2-days) which covers a range of topics, including the types of stress which affect people, critical incident response initiatives, the stages of stress reaction, plus strategies, skills and procedures for assisting colleagues experiencing stress.

Who conducts the Staff Support training?
Training is conducted by Michael Tunnecliffe, a Clinical and Educational Psychologist who has established collegial support programs with more than 40 organisations, across Australia and New Zealand. Michael also has eight years of experience as a classroom teacher.

How can someone apply to participate in the Staff Support training?
An invitation to participate is extended to all members of your school staff. Complete the attached nomination form and have a colleague complete the reference on the back, then send this to the address indicated. Please encourage others from your school staff group to apply.