Doonside Technology High School adds HSC Check-In Week to its long list of HSC supports

Shweta Sharma has been Head Teacher of Senior Studies and Careers Advisor at Doonside Technology High for the past four years. During this time, she’s worked tirelessly with Year 12 students to support them through the HSC exam period and to set them up for success after school.

As Shweta explains, the school has a tailored approach to supporting the goals of its senior students. One support feature is the Individual Education and Transition Plans (IETPs), which help students create academic and post-school goals.

“To begin with, the IETP's are shared with the teaching staff to ensure that the teachers are aware of the student’s learning needs and that those needs are met,” Shweta begins.

“In addition, every student who is studying an exam subject gains and develops study skills by attending workshops to support exam day preparations.

“Students are also referred to the after-school homework club that runs twice a week and is supervised by teaching staff.”

Another way Doonside Technology High supports its students’ success is via a Senior Mentoring program where Year 11 and Year 12 students come together to share their positive practices.

It’s essentially a peer support program to ensure Year 12 students engage with each other to discuss assessment requirements and share study skills.

In her role, Shweta finds ways to remove hinderances that may impact her senior students learning and engagement, including making referrals to the Learning and Support faculty; Counsellors; the wellbeing unit and external employment, training and education providers.

“My role at the school is instrumental in helping students to develop and maintain positive connections with their peers and teaching staff,” Shweta said.

“In addition to this, I run the Ready 4 Work program for our non-ATAR students who can engage in part-time employment or work placement whilst completing their HSC studies.”

Other HSC supports available to students include:

• University mentoring and tutorial programs, where students gain additional academic support
• School counsellor-led stress management sessions for HSC students
• A teacher mentoring program where students are linked to teachers and are individually supported using mentoring booklets.

This year Doonside Technology High will be taking advantage of the Stay Healthy HSC Hub resources available to all Year 12 students in NSW.

Shweta said ‘Check-In Week’ (from 19-25 September) provides an opportunity to let students know about additional ways they can get support with their mental health and wellbeing as they complete their HSC journey.

“Our school will be regularly sharing information at roll call and the year meetings, as well as sharing the Stay Healthy HSC Hub resources on the school's web page and social media page,” Shweta said.

“Any additional support ensures that students can reach out as often and when they need it. The resources provided on the Stay Healthy HSC Hub compliment the internal supports available within the school.”

For all Year 12 students about to embark on their last lap of the HSC year, Shweta said that ‘arriving here today represents a significant achievement for a number of people’.

“It’s important for students to know that the results they receive at the end of the year do not define or limit them. The majority of people’s lives bear witness to the fact that there are many pathways to get to where we want in life,” Shweta shared.

Stay Healthy HSC Check-In Week 2022 is all about making sure all HSC students check-in before they check-out of the school gates this week. See Student wellbeing for the Stay Healthy HSC information and to download the Check-In Week kit.