Our goal
Our Integrated Student Support team is committed to assisting students in reaching their full potential. Building on individual strengths helps us support students in becoming happy and positive members of the Indooroopilly State High School community. We align with the school’s vision of valuing Each person’s dignity, Our community’s diversity, Open communication and Quality learning. This is achieved by empowering students and teachers.
Who are we?
Our team comprises specialists who case manage students with learning disabilities and difficulties. The team consists of the Head of Department, Teachers, Teacher Aides, Auslan Language Models, Notetakers, Educational Interpreters and where necessary, Guidance Officers and support from Department of Education Speech Language Pathologists, Advisory Visiting Teachers, Occupational Therapists and Physiotherapists, in addition to external agencies such as Doctors, Paediatricians and Psychologists.
What we do
Our primary role is to assist students and teachers in accessing the curriculum. We achieve this by working collaboratively with teachers, parents and students to implement strategies and resources. Our Integrated Student Support Team maintains a holistic approach to facilitate student learning by collecting, collating and acting on information. This is achieved through formal assessments, observations and interactions with students; and discussions with parents’/carers as well as external agencies.
What Integrated Student Support looks like at Indooroopilly State High School
Students are supported in class and in the school community by our Integrated Student Support Team. We endeavour to provide every student with what they need in order to succeed and feel successful in their schooling journey. This looks different for every student; some need regular support while others will thrive through scheduled ‘check in’ times and students who identify themselves as culturally Deaf, are actively encouraged to develop and utilise their Auslan and English skills on a daily basis. We work with students, parents and teachers to ensure a consistent and effective approach.
For further details contact Hillary Morrison, Head of Department – Integrated Student Support, on hscro2@eq.edu.au.
Ludo the Therapy Dog
Ludo is for students accessing Integrated Student Support. The main purpose of the Therapy Dog is to support engagement and community connection that will in turn enhance quality learning.
Therapy Dogs can:
Improve the wellbeing of children;
Lower anxiety levels;
Make the learning environment happier and more enjoyable;
Calm fears;
Teach skills (for example, reading to a therapy dog is wonderful to build reading-out-loud confidence).
Ludo is at S Block within the Integrated Student Support Department each Monday and Wednesday. The dog cannot come to classrooms.
University of Queensland Psychology students Carli Erwee and Sarah Johnston analysed Ludo’s impact on student wellbeing during their placement at the school in Term 3 and 4 of 2019. Their study showed Ludo had a positive effect on emotions when students were experiencing anxiety or feeling distracted.
The Effect of Ludo the Therapy Dog at Indooroopilly SHS (PDF, 429KB)