ERIC Number: EJ1398229
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2023
Pages: 19
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1359-866X
EISSN: EISSN-1469-2945
"They're Coming to Us and We Don't Have Any Training" -- Professional Learning Approaches for Secondary Australian School Year Advisors: A Call for Support
Asia-Pacific Journal of Teacher Education, v51 n4 p362-380 2023
Secondary school year advisors fulfil an important relationship-building, middle leadership position in schools. Although responsible for supporting the wellbeing of students with a range of academic, social, and emotional needs, there is limited research into year advisor's role and the support provided for these educators. This qualitative study provides insight into year advisors' perceptions of professional learning that prepared them to support student wellbeing. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with secondary school year advisors in New South Wales, Australia, investigating their training experiences and views on navigating the expectations of their role. Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis revealed key themes capturing the limited provision of formal training for year advisors and the perception that training was insufficient for responding to students' mental health needs. Year advisors reported relying on self-sourced informal training methods including collaborative partnerships, practice-based learning and independent investigation, to manage situations encountered when supporting students. Findings reveal a disparity in formalised professional learning opportunities across schools and year advisors' desire for systematic, role specific, formalised training, especially for supporting students' mental health.
Descriptors: Secondary Schools, Faculty Advisers, Middle Management, Professional Education, Well Being, Foreign Countries, Mental Health, Student Needs
Taylor & Francis. Available from: Taylor & Francis, Ltd. 530 Walnut Street Suite 850, Philadelphia, PA 19106. Tel: 800-354-1420; Tel: 215-625-8900; Fax: 215-207-0050; Web site: http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Secondary Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Australia
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A