Counselling & Support
School Counsellors
The school counselling service is part of the Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Team at MacKillop Catholic College (MCC). Pastoral Care refers to all actions taken within a school to promote a climate of care that enhances students’ and staff’s personal, social, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. The counselling service provides specialist support to the MCC community to better understand and manage student mental health and wellbeing issues, to improve student outcomes. The service spans from Kindergarten to Year 12 and provides direct support to students as well as preventative programs and assessments.
Miss Abbey Smith is a Registered Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and a Member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). During her work in private practice, Miss Smith developed a keen interest in working with adolescents and young adults. Miss Smith continues to work within a private practice setting in addition to her role as a school counsellor at Mackillop Catholic College Warnervale. She has experience working across the lifespan, seeing clients with a range of presentations from early childhood through to late adulthood. Miss Smith has experience in the administration of psychometric assessments as well as delivering evidence-based interventions, including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and interpersonal skill development. Miss Smith is part of the MacKillop secondary school counselling service.
Ms Jade Kremer is an experienced mental health clinician who has worked in services supporting children and adolescents presenting significant mental health concerns, behavioural challenges and neurodevelopmental disorders. Ms Kremer has been working as a primary school counsellor in a number of schools in the diocese before commencing at MacKillop in 2023. Ms Kremer works directly with children, school staff, parents and carers to enhance the wellbeing of Primary and Secondary students at our College.
Ms Angela Lykousis is a Child and Family Therapist with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work and a Master’s in Counselling. Her experience has included working in contexts of Child Protection, Foster Care, Domestic and Family Violence, Mental health, and Childhood trauma. Angela’s therapeutic approaches are guided by an understanding of the neurobiology of attachment and trauma, child development, body-based therapies, expressive arts, and play-based therapy.
Ms Ashleigh Smith is a Registered Provisional Psychologist with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA). Ms Smith has previously worked with participants within the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) where she developed a keen interest in neurodivergence and disability. Ms Smith aims to centre her clients at all her work, providing individualised care, and collaborating to meet them where they currently are. She aims to support her clients to embrace their authentic selves and work with the people and systems around them in a way that best meets their needs. Ms Smith has experience in the administration of psychometric assessments as well as delivering evidence-based interventions. Ms Smith is part of the MacKillop secondary school counselling service.
Secondary students can self-refer to the counselling service or be referred by Parents/Carers and/or Pastoral Leaders. A referral form is required for all secondary referrals; please contact the school to access these. Counselling appointments are made with students during school hours, Monday through Friday.
Referrals to the Primary Counsellor can be initiated by Parents/Carers and Teachers and are processed through the Principal. This intervention is short-term and requires parental permission. A referral form can be accessed via the Class Teacher. Please return the completed forms to the Class Teacher or Principal.
