Student Support Services
OUR AIM:
The Student Liaison Officer aims to support students to adjust to adult education life and to achieve their learning goals and to achieve satisfactory progress towards meeting the learning outcomes of the course.
The overarching framework guiding the professional student liaison services role offered at Hartwig Air is the Model of Human Occupation (Kielhofner 2003), which explores a students motivation to engage in flight training (ie. study, self-care, leisure), how they structure their time, the physical, mental and communication/interaction skills required to successfully perform at their studies, and the influence of the environment (ie. social, cultural, accommodation, financial) on training.
WHAT WE DO:
The Student Liaison Officer at Bruce Hartwig Flying School provides confidential personal support, advice and age and culturally appropriate information on issues that can affect study and adapt to life in Australia. Numerous support services include but are not limited to those listed below.
SETTLING INTO HARTWIG AND STUDENT LIFE
During orientation, each student is met individually by the Student Liaison Officer who welcomes the student and conducts an intake assessment. This process determines any concerns or needs and provides the student with information to facilitate transitioning to life and study in Australia. Learning goals are also determined, documented and reviewed on an as-needs basis or maximum quarterly between the Student Liaison Officer and student. Included in this process is the following:
- Copy of Student Guide
- Orientation checklist (each item to be signed and dated and then stored in their student record file) (see Appendix)
- Organising individual meeting times for regular catch up with each student to determine individual issues and progress
- Expectations of student role at Bruce Hartwig Flying school (eg dress code, punctuality and minimum hours per week training requirements)
PROVISION OF SOCIAL SUPPORT
Having opportunities to socialise and meet new people is paramount to settling into a new environment. Part of the process includes getting to know each student and their interest areas so that a program can be tailored to their individual needs.
- Exploration of student interests via Interest Checklist.
- Information and linkage to community groups
- Connection to places of worship.
- Facilitate interaction between international and local students such as arranging informal student outings, bbqs and other social opportunities
- Hartwig œBuddy program linking an international student with a local student
MONITORING OF HEALTH AND WELLBEING
Settling into a new environment can be daunting for many students especially those who have had to relocate from home to study. Adjusting to a new culture and way of living can be challenging thus it is important that each student regularly meets with the Student Liaison Officer who monitors their overall mental health and wellbeing. Included is eliciting feedback from the student regarding his or her progress in the course and to facilitate the process should there be any issues, grievances or complaints regarding the course. This can be done through a variety of means such as:
- Mental state monitoring via standardized assessment tools (ie. K10 and DASS 42).
- Linkage to local culturally appropriate general practitioner where possible
- Linkage to a pharmacist or traditional medicine practitioner
- Counselling support regarding family issues back home and homesickness
- Provision of one-on-one support to students in crisis
- Information and assistance regarding substance abuse issues
- Student feedback
COMMUNITY SUPPORT
Should any student find themselves in difficulties, the Student Liaison officer can offer support with the following:
- Assistance with housing issues and understanding rights and responsibilities as a tenant.
- Linkage to appropriate legal services if required
- Help with financial problems ie. practical assistance with budgeting or linkage to local community financial services
- Information regarding student visa conditions and school attendance requirements
LEARNING SUPPORT
It is recognised that each student has individual needs to successfully complete their course.
- Arranging further individual tutoring as required
- Feedback on non-flight related Compass results regarding individual strengths and limitations and addressing limitations through goal setting
- Exploration of learning style
- Consideration of student-instructor fit
- Exploration of time management style and methods (eg. iPhone, calendar, diary)
- Student feedback regarding course and progress
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE
Adapting to language and culture can be challenging for our international students. To assist with this transition, the following is provided:
- Information regarding transport use
- Assistance with language and adapting to œAustralianised English can be arranged via tutor, linkage to language groups or Australian English learning package
- Tourist/recreation information regarding South Australia
- Information regarding cuisine preferences
- Linkages through to local cultural clubs and groups.
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
- Printouts of internet-sourced materials are provided to the student so they receive the most up-to-date information such as the documents referred to via the links above.
- Detailed file notes are kept for inclusion in the students physical student record. Additionally, file notes and other relevant documentation are scanned and stored in the Schools secure electronic document management system with appropriate access permissions to ensure student privacy.
- File notes are printed and added to the students administration file. It should be noted that any sensitive information would not be included in the administration file rather would be stored in the Schools secure electronic document management system with appropriate access permissions to ensure student privacy.
- The school is highly cognisant of requirements under Federal and State Privacy Legislation and ensure that student information is only accessible by authorised personnel in accordance with those legislative requirements.