DOVETON College is set to have its own psychologist as a part of a study with Parenting Research Centre.
In coming months, the centre will post a senior research officer vacancy at the college for two years.
PRC chief executive Warren Cann said the centre was interested in the college because of its visionary leadership in a challenging, disadvantaged zone that had high unemployment. “Not many schools would have as many challenges as Doveton College.”
He said the psychologist would not be there as a therapist but to help teachers and parents work out ways to manage student behaviour.
“There will be a whole-of-school approach to manage kids in the classroom. We work closely with the parents because many of the parents haven’t had a good experience with schools themselves. Learning and schools are quite alien to them.
“What schools realise is we have to think of kids as a whole person. You can’t just take care of the three R’s and things will be OK.”
