Welfare Support
Support is provided via homeroom teachers with each student having this teacher act as their advocate. Direct connection with parents and other support is offered as required.
General Classroom Information
Head of Senior College – Sally Bennellick
Head of Middle College – Damian Mitchell
Head of Junior College (K-2) – Alison Hosgood
To contact any of the above staff members, please email them using the initial of their first name, followed by lastname@ccsc.nsw.edu.au. Alternatively, you can call Reception on 43029000 and leave a message for them to return your call.
Re: 2020 Multi-tiered System of Support
With the continued growth of Central Coast Sports College and our commitment to meeting the needs of our student cohort, we have been working on developing our multi-tiered support system. This has been an extensive process and will continue being developed as our college develops into the future.
The multi-tiered system establishes a framework of support across the whole school which utilises high quality evidence-based practices to ensure every student, regardless of their needs, receives the appropriate level of support. Theory and research supporting the effectiveness of multi-tiered systems of support comes out of Florida University and has been a focus area for Australian Educational Research into special and inclusive education since 2003.
Our aim for this framework is to keep our organisation informed of support resources that align with the specific academic, behavioural and welfare needs of our students.
The structure of this framework operates in three tiers and to ensure our it is implemented effectively, we have employed a team to provide services which will continue to develop and respond to the specific needs of our students. Your child’s homeroom teacher will put you in contact with our support coordinator who will assist in this process.
Support Team
Laura Croucher — Head of Wellness Team (K-12) [Maternity Leave 2021]
Laura is currently studying a Masters in Special and Inclusive Education at the University of Newcastle and holds a Bachelor of Arts/Education (Secondary) specialising in English, History, Visual Arts and EAL/D. Laura has been teaching at CCSC for 3 years now and in 2019 took on the primary role of coordinating our support services team.
Natalie Benton – Academic Support
Natalie is covering Laura Croucher who is on maternity leave for 2021. Natalie will lead interventions and support for students, with a focus on academic progress. She is also responsible for collating NCCD data collections and developing IEP’s with respect to academic support.
Katya Wengi – Emotional/Social Support
Katya will lead interventions and additional support with a focus on emotional/social support. She is also responsible for collating NCCD data collections and IEP’s with respect to emotional/social support.
Tim Walsh — School Culture and Wellbeing Coordinator
In 2019 Tim took on the responsibility of student wellbeing for the Junior College, as well as being a valued member of the junior college teaching team. To continue to develop a whole school approach for support in 2020, Tim extended his well being role into the senior college as well. Tim is also responsible for coordinating our Indigenous Lighthouse Team and the CCSC Leaderinme Program.
Chontelle Balbi — PKC Coordinator and Wellness Team member
Chonnie has been a part of the CCSC team for over 4 years now as a Teachers Aid and Multi Sport coach. With 25 years of experience working in education as a Child Care Worker, Centre Director and in Early Intervention Support, Chonnie has a wealth of knowledge and experience supporting students with additional needs and disabilities in their homes, child care centres and schools. Chonnie is also responsible for coordinating our Pre-kindy club, working closely with preschools and families throughout their transition to CCSC.
Scott Alward — Wellness Team member
With extensive experience working in education as a Learning Support Officer and Youth Worker, Scott is passionate about youth mentoring and developing meaningful relationships to support student development. Scott currently works across the Junior and Senior College spaces provide academic and welfare support.
Venessa Matatia — Wellness Team member
Over the past 30 years Ness has been employed across the Alternative Education sector in Youth work, Counselling and Sport & Recreation. During this time Ness has spent time working with Youth Justice, Care & Protection and disadvantaged individuals and communities incorporating Art & music, sport and hospitality to engage students into her programs. Ness is an accredited Chaplain & Pastor, counsellor, as well as a Youth/Student support worker & mentor in the area of welfare & well being.
Maria Robb — Wellness Team member
Maria has extensive experience and training in the area of child studies and special education, having worked in the education sector for the past 30 years. In 2021 Maria will oversee our school literacy intervention programs, and offers CCSC a depth of experience working with students from a broad spectrum of developmental and intellectual delays.
Alissa Reed — Wellness Team member
Throughout 2020 Alissa undertook her Certificate III in Education Support and completed her internship with us at CCSC. She is currently undertaking further study in Mental Health support and feels passionately about the CCSC school ethos. Alissa will be working closely with Chonnie over the next 12 months within the K-3 space providing learning support to students with diverse needs.
Jo Ward — School Chaplain
Over the last year Jo has worked in both public and private schools on the Central Coast as a chaplain. She is onsite every Tuesday providing welfare support to our students from K-12 and brings with her a wealth of knowledge as both a disability carer, youth worker and chaplain.
Larissa Chapman — School Nurse
Larissa has 20 years experience working as a haemodialysis nurse as well as an acute medical nurse at Sydney Adventist Hospital and Central Coast local health district. Larissa prides herself on caring and nurturing each individual student holistically taking into account their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.