LOUISE VICKERS
Fig Tree Pocket,QLD
Summary
Dynamic education leader with extensive experience at Metropolitan North, excelling in strategic support for complex students. Proven ability to foster interagency collaboration and deliver impactful professional development. Adept at designing data-informed interventions, enhancing student well-being, and building trust-based relationships with stakeholders to drive positive educational outcomes.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Acting Senior Guidance Officer
Metropolitan North
04.2025 - Current
- High-Level Guidance and Supervision: Provided direct advice and supervision to Guidance Officers and Principals, ensuring alignment with policy and evidence-based procedures.
- Professional Development: Conducted professional development sessions and provided technical and clinical supervision to enhance Guidance Officers' skills and effectiveness.
- Strategic Support for Complex Students: Supported school leaders with strategies for individualised and differentiated student support, collaborating with whole-school teams and external stakeholders.
Guidance Officer - Family, Student & Child Connect
Metropolitan North
01.2024 - Current
- Leading the Transition Program for Children in Out-of-Home Care: Led the transition program for children in out-of-home care as a regional leader, ensuring a smooth and successful start to school for vulnerable students.
- Collaboration with School Leadership Teams and Child Safety Services: Worked closely with school leadership teams and child safety services, ensuring that all stakeholders were aligned in supporting the child's transition and well-being.
- Delivering Tailored Interventions: Provided targeted interventions to address the specific challenges faced by each child, ensuring that their educational experience was positive, supportive, and aligned with their emotional and academic needs.
- Leading Cross-Functional Teams: Demonstrated strong leadership by managing cross-functional teams, ensuring that team members worked together effectively to provide comprehensive support to vulnerable students.
- Building Partnerships with External Agencies: Cultivated strong, collaborative partnerships with external agencies, ensuring a well-rounded approach to the child's transition and ongoing support.
- Championing Student Wellbeing and Educational Success: Advocated for the educational success and wellbeing of each child, reducing the risk of educational disruption and fostering positive, long-term outcomes despite their traumatic backgrounds.
Acting Deputy Principal
Grand Avenue State School
Fig Tree Pocket
01.2024 - 11.2024
- Pedagogical Change Implementation – Led Prep teams in the strategic rollout of the Australian Curriculum Version 9 with a strong focus on age-appropriate pedagogy. Designed and facilitated high-impact professional learning, resulting in increased teacher efficacy and student engagement.
- Curriculum Alignment and Capability Building – Facilitated collaborative planning and professional learning to deepen curriculum knowledge and coherence across Prep and Year 1. Delivered measurable improvements in staff capacity and student achievement.
- Behaviour and Engagement Reform – Implemented proactive strategies to reduce behaviour incidents and enhance engagement, fostering a dynamic, student-centred learning environment responsive to diverse needs.
- Transition to Prep Program – Designed and implemented a targeted transition program in response to AEDC data and declining enrolments. Improved early engagement, readiness, and enrolment numbers through tailored support and family partnerships.
- Professional Learning Teams Leadership – Led data-informed Professional Learning Teams to analyse student data and implement responsive interventions, resulting in improved literacy and numeracy outcomes across the early years.
- Network Leadership – Foundational and ongoing member of the Primary Deputy Principal Network Management Team, contributing to strategic planning and cross-school collaboration to share best practices and drive improvement.
- Early Support Planning – Developed individualised transition support plans for incoming Prep students requiring additional support, improving preparedness, attendance, and overall early engagement.
- Complex Needs Coordination – Established and led a school-based team to support tier-three students, coordinating wraparound interventions aligned with the school’s wellbeing and engagement priorities.
Guidance Officer - Maximising Learning Day Team
Metropolitan South Region
01.2022 - 12.2023
- Collaborative Multi-Disciplinary Approaches: Led efforts across school teams to provide holistic support for complex young people, achieving reduced disciplinary absences and improved attendance.
- Evidence-Based Support for Vulnerable Students: Partnered with principals and guidance officers to implement evidence-based approaches, enhancing support for vulnerable students facing significant challenges.
- Out of Home Care Transition to Prep Project: Led a project to ensure strong starts for children in care, successfully integrating 20 children into their school by establishing strong connections between kindy's, Child Safety and their destination state school.
- Professional Development Coordination: Coordinated and led professional development sessions for school teams, enhancing team capability and consistency in supporting students.
- Data Analysis for Strategic Improvement: Analysed data to develop strategic approaches for improving the outcomes of students in prep and year one.
Acting Senior Guidance Officer
Metropolitan Region
04.2023 - 06.2023
- High-Level Guidance and Supervision: Provided direct advice and supervision to Guidance Officers and Principals, ensuring alignment with policy and evidence-based procedures.
- Professional Development: Conducted professional development sessions and provided technical and clinical supervision to enhance Guidance Officers' skills and effectiveness.
- Strategic Support for Complex Students: Supported school leaders with strategies for individualised and differentiated student support, collaborating with whole-school teams and external stakeholders.
Guidance Officer - Secondary Schools
Ipswich SHS and Corinda SHS
01.2020 - 12.2022
- Student Support Implementation: Implemented strategies and interventions tailored to secondary school settings.
- Professional Development Facilitation: Led professional development for staff on best practices in student support and well-being.
- Interagency Collaboration for Complex Case Management: Coordinated with external agencies, including mental health services and youth support networks, to develop integrated support plans for students with complex social, emotional, or behavioral needs.
- Career and Pathway Planning: Provided individualized career counseling and subject selection guidance to support students in making informed decisions about their post-school pathways.
Head of Wellbeing
Parkdale Secondary College, Victorian Department of Education
01.2018 - 12.2019
- Wellbeing Initiatives: Led initiatives to enhance student well-being and support systems within the secondary school context.
- Program Coordination: Coordinated with staff and external agencies to implement effective well-being programs.
Guidance Officer
Department of Education, Camira SS
01.2017 - 12.2017
- Provide counselling and mental health support to students, helping them manage emotional, social, and behavioural challenges that impact their wellbeing and learning.
- Conduct psychoeducational assessments and use data to inform targeted interventions and support planning for individual students.
- Collaborate with school staff to develop and implement evidence-based programs that promote positive behaviour, resilience, and inclusive practices across the school community.
- Lead interagency collaboration by working with external services such as child safety, youth justice, and mental health professionals to coordinate support for students with complex needs.
Senior Teacher
Independent and Queensland State Schools
01.1997 - 12.2016
- Teaching Across Grades: Taught across all primary grades, from Kindergarten to Year 5, in various educational settings.
- Curriculum Development: Contributed to curriculum development and instructional strategies to enhance student learning outcomes.
School-Based Senior Researcher
Griffith University Gold Coast
01.2011 - 12.2012
- Teacher Coaching: Coached teachers to improve literacy outcomes in low ICSEA schools.
- Professional Development Creation: Developed and implemented professional development programs tailored to instructional needs.
- Literacy Program Leadership: Led school teams in planning and executing effective whole-school literacy programs.
Education
Under Graduate Certificate - Psychological Science
UNE
12.2024
Graduate Certificate - Trauma Aware Education
QUT
12.2021
Graduate Diploma - Family and Systemic Therapy
ACU
12.2019
Masters of Education - Guidance and Counselling
UQ
12.2005
Bachelor of Education - Early Years Education
CQU
12.1998
Bachelor of Teaching - Primary
CQU
12.1996
Skills
- Leadership – Led professional development for teachers, principals, parents, and external stakeholders on student wellbeing and support
- Relational Skills – Built strong, trust-based connections with students, staff, families, and agencies to enable effective collaboration
- Interagency Collaboration – Coordinated with external services to support complex student needs through integrated case management
- Communication and Advocacy – Effectively communicated student needs and support plans across diverse audiences
- Strategic Practice – Designed and implemented targeted, data-informed interventions for secondary students
- Child and Adolescent Development – Strong understanding of developmental needs across the lifespan, informed by experience in both primary and secondary school contexts
Accomplishments
- Led multi-agency collaboration for children in care, ensuring seamless school transitions and improved educational outcomes.
- Reduced student disengagement rates through targeted intervention programs and trauma-informed approaches.
- Increased A-C results in Year One English through teacher professional development on reading fluency.
- Designed and implemented a 9-week parent engagement program to strengthen school readiness and community partnerships.
References
- Bronagh Browne, Current Supervisor - Director Student Family Connect, 0447 239 727, Bronagh.Browne@qed.qld.gov.au
- Angela Kerslake, Principal Advisor Student Protection - Metropolitan North Region, 0473 525 276, Angela.Kerslake@qed.qld.gov.au
- Diana Masci, Executive Director - Metropolitan South Region, 0730288196, Diana.MASCI@qed.qld.gov.au
Timeline
Acting Senior Guidance Officer
Metropolitan North
04.2025 - Current
Guidance Officer - Family, Student & Child Connect
Metropolitan North
01.2024 - Current
Acting Deputy Principal
Grand Avenue State School
01.2024 - 11.2024
Acting Senior Guidance Officer
Metropolitan Region
04.2023 - 06.2023
Guidance Officer - Maximising Learning Day Team
Metropolitan South Region
01.2022 - 12.2023
Guidance Officer - Secondary Schools
Ipswich SHS and Corinda SHS
01.2020 - 12.2022
Head of Wellbeing
Parkdale Secondary College, Victorian Department of Education
01.2018 - 12.2019
Guidance Officer
Department of Education, Camira SS
01.2017 - 12.2017
School-Based Senior Researcher
Griffith University Gold Coast
01.2011 - 12.2012
Senior Teacher
Independent and Queensland State Schools
01.1997 - 12.2016
Under Graduate Certificate - Psychological Science
UNE
Graduate Certificate - Trauma Aware Education
QUT
Graduate Diploma - Family and Systemic Therapy
ACU
Masters of Education - Guidance and Counselling
UQ
Bachelor of Education - Early Years Education
CQU
Bachelor of Teaching - Primary
CQU
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