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5. Accessing Student Support Services
The Student Support Services (SSS) referral process identifies students with the greatest needs and matches these with the expertise of SSS members.
The SSS referral process involves 3 steps.
1. Pre-referral
School
- Check the Student Online Case System for previous referrals related to the student
- Review previous recommendations or school-based actions
- Collect relevant information regarding the student, for example, Individual Education Plans (IEPs) (refer to template IEPs in the Resources tab) and teacher observations
SSS and school
The SSS Key Contact and school work together to:
- Discuss concerns and plans made to date, for example Individual Education Plans (IEPs) or Behaviour Support Plans (BSPs)
- Identify strategies to provide immediate support to the student
- Identify whether referral is appropriate and the types of service required. This may include a referral to SSS, visiting teacher or another departmental or external service such as mental health
- Identify sections of the Student Information Form relevant to the student
2. Referral
School
- Complete only the relevant sections of the Student Information Form. Refer to the SSS Handbook for examples of how to use the form
- Get consent from the student’s parent/carer(s)
- Submit referral and consent on SOCS
SSS
- Hold SSS team intake meeting
- Advise school of the intake outcome, assigned SSS and service delivery timeline
Cases are prioritised against SSS statewide priorities, Area plans and discussion with schools.
If the intake decision is that a service other than SSS is more appropriate, this will be discussed with the school and advice on referral processes is given.
3. Service delivery
SSS and school
- Establish aims for the service delivery and support to the student
- Provision and regular review of service with all stakeholders
- Decide how to determine when the service has met the needs of the student and communicate with all stakeholders that the service is ending
Guidance chapter outlining the process for accessing Student Support Services
Reviewed 19 January 2024