The case for increasing the number of counsellors in secondary schools: Ratios, research, and recommendations.

Abstract

For many years the New Zealand Association of Counsellors (NZAC) and the Post Primary Teachers' Association (PPTA) have been lobbying the government for a higher ratio of counsellors to students- without much success. There have been many formal and informal documents, representations and press releases written to highlight the need for more counsellors in secondary schools. Evidence regarding the escalation of counsellors' workloads, their levels of job-related stress and potential burnout has accumulated over the years. Research from the USA and UK has shown that school counselling benefits students' educational and personal lives in numerous ways. In addition, higher counsellor-to-student ratios have been shown to be associated with better student outcomes. Until recently, apart from anecdotal evidence, there has been no equivalent research on the impact of counselling on students' lives in New Zealand schools. However, two new studies have now identified: 1) the broad range of problems that counsellors deal with in schools and how that factor might be affecting counsellors' workloads; and, 2) the benefits of counselling for student wellbeing in a national sample of schools. Within months of the results of the second study being released, the New Zealand government announced that $44 million will be made available to community organisations to provide counselling in primary and secondary schools. This has marked the first significant increase in funding for counselling since 2001. The potential effect of that expenditure on the role of counsellors is discussed, and a target ratio to be used as a benchmark for all schools is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of New Zealand Journal of Counselling is the property of New Zealand Association of Counsellors and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)