General enquiries
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address 363 Hogbin Drive
Coffs Harbour NSW 2450telephone 02 6659 3054
Who can I speak to?
Coffs Harbour Senior College has a well-established support structure to help our students to achieve their maximum potential – both academically and in their development as people.
To find the correct person for any questions you may have or issue that needs to be addressed, please see the downloadable infographic below.
Download the PDFQuick Links
Learning Support
Disability Provisions
Mentor Program
English as an additional language/dialect (eal/d)
School Based Apprenticeship & Traineeship Advisor
Careers Advice
Counselling
Support for aboriginal students
Life Ready and Risk
Techonlogy Access and BYOD
Student Representative Council
Headspace / BE YOU
Learning Support
Coffs Harbour Senior College strives to provide the very best learning environment for all of our students. We work in partnership with students, parents, carers and professionals in the community to help each of our students to work towards reaching their potential.
The learning support team
The Learning Support Team provides students with the support required to help them to participate in and contribute to college life. The team includes the Principal, Learning Support Teacher, School Counsellor and Careers Advisor. When a student with a specific learning need or disability is identified, a meeting with the Learning Support Team is usually the first step in supporting the student. The aim of a Learning Support team meeting is to gather as much information about the student as possible and discuss the ways in which the college as a whole and individual teachers can assist the students. The meeting will also give advice to the student that could help them to work effectively in Years 11 and 12 and can also involve looking at subject selections, pathways, careers advice and information about Disability Provisions, if appropriate.
Individual health care plans & emergency response plans
The Learning Support Team also meets to develop Individual Health Care Plans and Emergency Response Plans for students as needed. These are created with input from parents and carers to help ensure the wellbeing and safety of every student in our care, so it is important that the college is informed of any health condition that a student may have.
Learning support plans
After the Learning Support Team gets to know and understand the specific needs of a student, a Learning Support Plan is developed and this information is distributed to staff as appropriate. This ensures that each teacher understands the needs of the student.
Disability provisions
The college can provide special provisions for students with a diagnosed condition. In Year 11, students must submit a College Disability Provisions Application that includes supporting medical or other documentation. As we prepare students for the HSC examinations, we follow the NESA guidelines for Disability Provisions. It is important to note that any provision granted by the college for college-based examinations does not guarantee that the same provision will be granted by NESA for the HSC.
The college Disability Provisions Procedures document is available in Current Students.
Learn MoreMentor Program
Every student at Coffs Harbour Senior College is assigned a teacher to be their mentor for the year. This program is designed to ensure that students have access to the support they need to settle into the college seamlessly. Informal meetings between students and their mentors provide opportunities for students to raise issues of concern to them.
A Mentor Program has been developed with scheduled times across the year. These sessions will take the place of normal class time and are mandatory. There will be orientation activities, guest speakers, and study skills advice so that they can be well prepared for assessment tasks, exams and other assigned activities. Support is also available on coping with stress and other problems associated with Year 11 and Year 12 courses.
The program will cover the 25 hours required for the Life Ready course.
English as an additional language/dialect (eal/d)
The Senior College supports our students who speak English as an additional language. We work with our Careers Advisor to advise students on appropriate subject and study patterns and provide English language support as needed. We have also worked in partnership with the North Coast Institute of TAFE to provide English Language EVET courses.
School Based Apprenticeships & Traineeships advisor
Some students find during their time at CHSC they are more interested in doing a TAFE course, apprenticeship or finding work. Our SBAT Advisor can assist these students.
Careers Advice
The College’s Careers Advisor is available to students and their families to provide advice and support in making future study decisions, investigating career opportunities or for assistance in selecting HSC Subjects.
Go to careers websiteCounselling
Coffs Harbour Senior College has a dedicated Careers & Counselling Team available to support students through these important years of schooling. The Careers & Counselling Service is available to any student who needs guidance, support or just someone to talk to about how they are coping with the demands of the HSC and what they might do after completing school.
The Coffs Harbour Education Campus has arranged for Headspace to be on campus every fortnight.
Appointments are essential and can be made via the phone on 02 6659 3263 or by calling in to the Counselling & Support Services unit reception in Block F, above the canteen.
Support for Aboriginal students
Support for Aboriginal students is available through tutoring, funding and involvement in many campus activities. Please contact the Learning and Support Teacher.
Life ready and risk
Life Ready is a mandatory 25-hour course designed to prepare and support senior students as they become more independent and encounter situations related to health and safety. It focuses on offering opportunities for students to build functional knowledge and skills for life post-school.
Skill development is central to learning in Life Ready. At the Senior College, we have incorporated the elements of this course into the Mentor Program. They include:
- Communication and interpersonal skills
- Decision-making, problem-solving and critical thinking skills
- Coping, transition and self-management skills
Coffs Harbour Senior College is an enthusiastic participant in the RRISK program, a health promotion initiative that addresses risk-taking behaviour amongst year 11 students in the North Coast of NSW.
Adolescent risk taking associated with alcohol, drugs, driving and celebrating results in unacceptably high levels of injury and trauma. RRISK is relevant to the social life, developmental stage and concerns of adolescents. It extends the school based drug education and road safety curriculum by providing opportunities for senior high school students to develop knowledge, attitudes and skills to reduce risk taking and develop safer celebrating strategies. RRISK includes keynote presenters from Drug and Alcohol Research & Training Australia and the RTA.
Technology access and bring your own device
All students who attend Coffs Harbour Senior College have access to an extensive range of ‘university standard’ technology support, services and equipment. Students have the option to bring their own device (BYOD) or laptop to connect to the campus-wide wireless networks or they may access a range of computing labs and types in the Library, Student Learning Centre and labs that are not in use by a class at the time required (check the timetable on the door).
Learn MoreStudent Representative Council
Coffs Harbour Senior College has an active and vibrant Student Representative Council. Members of the group play an important role in college leadership and in representing the college to the broader community. The students are in the process of re-imagining what ‘student voice’ looks like at the senior college.
The Student Representative Council promotes the interests of the students at the college and provides a forum for discussion on college matters.
The 2023/2024 SRC Executive are:
headspace / be you
Headspace is the delivery partner of Be You for primary and secondary schools across Australia. Be You is a national initiative for educators, aimed at promoting and protecting positive mental health in children and young people.
Coffs Harbour Senior College is a registered member of the Be You Learning Community. This gives us access to professional learning, handbooks, fact sheets, tools, guides and events.
Go to headspace in schools