Doing what is ‘right’ to protect a child while acting within the guidelines of the law and policy is often easier said than done. Benefit from a detailed look at the changing legislation around LGBTQI+ students in schools, how best to manage bullying and discrimination complaints and how to support young people navigate life online. Gain clarity on your duty to report child abuse, informed consent challenges, and how to walk the tightrope as you balance families, conflict, the courts and your school.
Early Bird Discount ends 10 May 2024 $483.00
Description
Attend and earn 7 Professional Developmental Hours
10.00am to 11.00am Student Bullying and Discrimination Legalities Guidance Counsellors Need to Know
- Understanding the legal framework for bullying and discrimination in schools
- Practical considerations when a bullying/discrimination complaint is received
- Navigating privacy pitfalls and students’ rights
- Best practice for schools to minimise discrimination and bullying
Presented by Joseph Williams, Senior Associate, Duncan Cotterill
11.15am to 12.15pm Managing Online Incidents: Supporting Young People to Manage and Navigate Life Online
- Who Netsafe are and what is our role in online safety?
- The differences between adult and young people's view of the online world
- Understanding online harm and the options available for resolving harmful online incidents
- How parents, whānau & schools can support the development of online safety skills and capabilities in young people (and for themselves)
Presented by Sean Lyons, Chief Online Safety Officer, NetSafe
Session 1: Navigating Student and Counsellor Welfare: LGBTIQA+, Bullying, Online Incidents & WHS
Chair: Dr Alison Burke, Head of Counselling, Westlake Girls High School
9.00am to 10.00am LGBTIQA+ Students: The Current Landscape for Schools
- Current Queer rights issues
- Navigating examples from schools
- Disclosure: how to minimise harm
- Recent legislative changes
Presented by Jamie Martin, Legal Educator, Community Law Canterbury – Te Ture Whānui o Waitaha
11.00am to 11.15am Morning Tea
12.15pm to 1.15pm Key Workplace Health and Safety Issues for School Guidance Counsellors
How safe are you at work? How safe are your students? School guidance counsellors, like any other professionals working in educational settings, face various health and safety issues. While your primary focus is on supporting students' academic, social, and emotional development and wellbeing, it's essential you ensure your own safety and wellbeing as well.
- Understand your obligations under key workplace health and safety legislation, and how you can work with your school to ensure an environment where psychosocial risks are minimised, and where you feel supported, valued and best able to fulfill your role in supporting students.
- Understand health and safety lessons from the landmark Employment Court case for school guidance counsellors: Cronin-Lampe v The Board of Trustees of Melville High School
Presented by William Fussey, Associate, Anderson Lloyd
Learning Objectives
- Catch up on the latest legislative changes surrounding LGBTQ+ students
- Understand the legal framework for bullying and discrimination in schools and best practice for minimisation
- Consider what the HDCA means for schools, ākonga, whānau and the community
- Ensure you understand key work health and safety issues affecting school guidance counsellors
Session 2: Balancing Codes of Conduct, Court Orders, Consent & Disclosure
Chair: Victoria Marsden, Head of Student Services and Counsellor, Hobsonville Point Secondary School
2.00pm to 3.00pm To What Extent Does Counselling Fall Under the Code of Rights?
For those aspects that are covered by the Code:
- What are the key elements of informed consent:
- What information is required to make it “informed”?
- How is age considered in assessing consent in different circumstances?
- How does age affect considerations of consent where the student is between 12 and 14? What about those under 12 years?
- What is the role of parents/guardians with these age groups?
- When is a “blanket” or generic consent adequate?
- Evaluating oral versus written and ‘implied’ consent
- Addressing challenges with consent:
- What are your obligations to the student where the parent does not consent to counselling, but you believe the student needs it and the student consents to counselling?
- What are your options where only one parent consents, but the other objects to counselling
- Exploring circumstances where it can be claimed consent was obtained because of undue pressure or duress
- Obtaining specific consent regarding mental health and other assessments of the student
- Best practice in documenting consent and template consent forms
Presented by Dr Cordelia Thomas, Associate Commissioner, Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner Te Toihai Hauroa, Hauātanga
Learning Objectives
- Explore the key elements of informed consent
- Receive valuable tips for balancing the needs of students, families, the court and your school
- Gain perspective on how to handle tricky situations as a school guidance counselor
3.00pm to 4.00pm Families, Conflict, The Courts and Your School
- Knowing and understanding the relevant legislation: a snapshot
- The Care of Children Act 2004
- The Family Violence Act 2018
- The Oranga Tamariki Act 1989
- What do I do if I have concerns about a child?
- Working with the lawyer for child: those lawyers appointed by the Court to represent children
- “I’ve been asked to get involved in Court proceedings: what should I do?”
- Tips for handling tricky situations, challenging personalities, and hostile environments
Presented by Aroha Fletcher, Senior Associate, Stace Hammond and Lena Wong, Director, Complete Legal
4.00pm to 4.15pm Afternoon Tea
4.15pm to 5.15pm WALKING THE TIGHT ROPE: Your Duty as a School Counsellor Vs. An Employee of the School
- Understanding the information privacy principles and how they apply to schools
- Dealing with tricky situations that Guidance Counsellors may encounter
- Balancing the needs of your professional code of conduct and your duties as an employee
- Reflect on learnings from relevant case law
Facilitator:
Victoria Marsden, Head of Student Services and Counsellor, Hobsonville Point Secondary School
Panellists:
Jo Martin, New Zealand Post Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua
Dr Dzinta King, New Zealand Post Primary Teachers Association Te Wehengarua
Adana Dobranis, School Counsellor, Liston College
Presenters
Dr Cordelia Thomas, Associate Commissioner, Office of the Health and Disability Commissioner
Dr Cordelia Thomas is the Associate Commissioner for the Health and Disability Commissioner. She has previously been the HDC Associate Commissioner- Investigations, Acting Chief Legal Advisor and Specialist Senior Legal Advisor. Previously, she was the senior legal advisor for Toi te taio: the Bioethics Council. Her projects included “Who Gets Born: Pre-birth testing” and “Human Embryos for Research.” For several years, she was a senior lecturer in law at Massey University and continues to teach Public Health Law. Her research interests include medical law and bioethics and her PhD thesis in law proposed a legal framework for the collection, retention and use of human body parts. She has published widely and is the author of several textbooks.
William Fussey, Associate, Anderson Lloyd
William is an Associate in the Anderson Lloyd Employment team, based in Christchurch. William recently joined Anderson Lloyd having previously worked as an employment lawyer at a boutique Auckland-based employment law firm, a top tier firm, and for a specialist employment law barrister. William advises on the full suite of employment law issues, including employment agreements and policies, personal grievances, disciplinary and performance improvement matters, restructures and redundancies, medical incapacity, bullying and harassment, and negotiated exits. William also specialises in privacy law, health and safety, and the nuances of the Holidays Act 2003. William has represented both employees and employers at the Employment Relations Authority and Employment Court and regularly attends mediations. He takes a strong but pragmatic approach to resolving employment relationship problems. He is also a regular presenter on a range of employment law matters. William is a member of the New Zealand Law Society (NZLS) and Auckland District Law Society (ADLS) and is on the ADLS Employment Law Committee.
Joseph Williams, Senior Associate, Duncan Cotterill
Joe has extensive experience advising on all facets of employment and health & safety law. He prides himself on understanding the unique needs of his clients and providing tailored and effective advice and assistance. Joe regularly assists employer and employee clients to navigate difficult workplace issues, including disciplinary investigations, performance management, restructuring and personal grievances.
Victoria Marsden, Head of Student Services and Counsellor, Hobsonville Point Secondary School
Victoria completed her training at Waikato University, graduating in 2008 with a Masters in Counselling with First Class Honours. She has worked with both adults and young people in a variety of settings, such as counselling, teaching, and facilitating. Victoria has also mediated Family Court cases and worked as a counsellor with couples. Alongside Victoria's counselling and supervision practice, she is the Head of Student Services with a counselling role in a co-educational Secondary School. Victoria has been a fully accredited member of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) since 2008, and she adheres to the principles of the NZAC Code of Ethics. Victoria is also committed to on-going training and reading professional literature to supplement her work.
Aroha Fletcher, Senior Associate, Stace Hammond
Aroha Fletcher is a Senior Associate at Stace Hammond. Aroha specializes in Family Law, helping clients navigate and resolve disputes, particularly in high-conflict cases involving children. She is a member of Te Hunga Rōia Māori o Aotearoa and the Family Law Section and has been involved in community initiatives to assist people’s access to family lawyers. Aroha currently assists various ethics committees in resolving disciplinary actions for different professional bodies. Aroha previously practiced on the North Shore and has been involved in the Royal Commission’s Inquiry into abuse of children, young people, and vulnerable adults in State and faith-based care in Aotearoa New Zealand between the years 1950-99.
Lena Wong, Director, Complete Legal
Lena is a Director of Complete Legal and has been practising In South Auckland for the past 9 years. Lena graduated from the University of Auckland with a Masters of Laws and Bachelor of Arts and was admitted to the bar in 2012. Lena specializes in Family Law and has a vast range of experience in COCA, Family Violence, Oranga Tamariki matters as well as PPPR, trusts, wills and estates. She is a court-appointed lawyer for child and is a member of the Family Law Section and the Pacific Lawyers Association.
