Identification of areas of stress and support for senior guidance officers and guidance officers in Queensland

Abstract

A Queensland statewide study of guidance officer stress was undertaken with the support of the Queensland Guidance and Counselling Association Inc. (QGCA). The results showed that guidance officers were under a high level of stress due to a multitude of situational and organisational stressors. The survey also showed that key factors helped to reduce the degree of guidance officer stress. These were peer support and debriefing, access to supervision, centrebased support, networks and professional associations. The challenge for guidance officers is to consolidate factors that reduce occupational stress and target factors that increase stress to minimise the consequences.