Cover image caption: L-R: College counsellors, Yvette Rouse, Jacqui Vos and Debbie Campbell
At Flinders, we have three expert College counsellors on staff dedicated to our students’ social, emotional learning and wellbeing support as they grow and flourish.
Our Counsellors provide our students with the tools to handle challenges, improve relationships, process problems and set goals. They also provide trusted and valued advice to support our staff and parents, and collaborate where required with Student Protection Officers and external professionals.
In these Q&A profiles, we highlight the careers and vision of our counselling team:
- Jacqui Vos and Debbie Campbell who support our students from Years 7 to 12 in our Secondary School, and
- Yvette Rouse who guides our students from Prep to Year 6 in our Primary School.
MEET
Jacqui Vos | College Counsellor, Secondary School
Jacqui, please tell us a bit about your career journey.
With 25 years in education, I am passionate about seeing young people develop a strong sense of self and to know that they are valued not just for what they do but for who they are as a person.
I started my career as a high school science teacher and after seven years in this role, discovered my passion for student wellbeing. I retrained as a psychologist and have been working as a school counsellor for the last 17 years. Over this period I worked across a number of high schools, primary schools and specialist settings, both in government and independent schools. I joined Flinders in 2021.
What vision do you have for your role?
The favourite part of my role at Flinders is my individual counselling with students. I feel privileged to walk alongside our students as they navigate the challenges of life. My vision for all students at Flinders is to develop positive wellbeing, with the knowledge and skills to protect their mental health during times of stress.
I also find great value in the contribution I can make to support students in the greater school context by working with their teachers and other school staff. As both a registered psychologist and teacher, I find my teaching background is so valuable when considering the practicalities of supporting wellbeing in a school and classroom context.
What are your hobbies on the Sunshine Coast?
I am an avid reader and also enjoy playing netball. I enjoy dining out (I’m a bit of a foodie) and am at my happiest when spending time with my family, whether it is at the beach, SUPing on the river or playing board games at home.
I love the beaches, beautiful weather, friendly people and the outdoor oriented lifestyle of the Sunny Coast. My family relocated from Sydney at the beginning of 2019 so we have been living here for the last six years.
What do you enjoy about working in a school community?
I enjoy being able to partner with families in helping students develop and grow. The most amount of time in a young person’s life outside of home is spent at school, so schools are poised to have a huge impact on a young person’s development. The best outcome occurs when schools and families work together. Working as a health professional in a school context gives me the advantage of building connections over many years, which allows me to make a continuing positive contribution to a young person’s life and to witness much growth.
Any words of wisdom you appreciate?
A couple come to mind:
1) A favourite quote of mine is one from Viktor Frankl, an Austrian psychiatrist who was imprisoned by the Nazis and lost all of his family members in WWII concentration camps.
“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.”
This quote is a great reminder that, no matter what the situation, we always have something within our control, such as our actions, our words and our mindset. This can be a source of hope in times of difficulty and uncertainty and I use this idea not only with my clients but also in my own life.
2) In order to have a rich and meaningful life:
“Be present, open up (make room for all thoughts and feelings) and do what matters.”
I love the simplicity of this statement that summarises the core theory and practices of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, a therapeutic approach that greatly resonates with me.
MEET
Debbie Campbell | College Counsellor, Secondary School
Debbie, please tell us about your role at Flinders.
My position at Flinders is College Counsellor, and my role is to provide holistic support to students from Year 7 to Year 12. I work with students to develop the tools they need to cope with the many challenges that often arise in adolescence.
I am looking forward to meeting with students, offering support, and teaching them various tools and strategies that will help them cope with whatever challenge they are facing. I enjoy walking the journey with young people, being a constant support for them, especially the ones that find the school setting particularly challenging for many different reasons.
Please share your career experience and journey.
I have worked with children and adolescents for 20 years as a mental health social worker, both in the school setting and in private practice. I am passionate about teaching young people the skills and strategies they need to be mentally fit and resilient, both now and throughout their lives. After years in the field, I bring strong interpersonal and relationship skills, as well as a wealth of knowledge on child and adolescent social, emotional and psychological development. I have worked with young people experiencing a vast range of issues, and I have developed numerous wellbeing programs in schools to increase the emotional intelligence, resilience and mental strength of young people. I look forward to contributing to and supporting the various wellbeing programs here at Flinders.
What do you find rewarding about working in a school environment?
I especially like working in the school setting as it allows me to intervene early in the mental health of young people. Unhealthy thought patterns and behaviours become entrenched over time and are much more difficult to change as they become hardwired. Working in the school setting means we can teach young people healthy thought patterns and coping skills early on in their lives so unhealthy patterns are not able to form and behaviours become entrenched.
What is your career background?
I have been a mental health social worker for 20 years and I first started working in the school setting in 2006, at Rouse Hill Anglican College in Sydney. I moved to Canberra in 2013 and worked for the Catholic education system. I was placed in various Catholic schools around Canberra. In 2016, I started in private practice, counselling children and adolescents with a range of psychological and behavioural issues. In 2020, I returned to the school setting and worked part-time at Trinity Christian School in Canberra while continuing in my private counselling practice.
How do you enjoy the lifestyle on the Sunshine Coast?
I arrived in Queensland in January 2025. I am really enjoying the weather and the atmosphere here on the Sunshine Coast. I enjoy going to the beach, strolling through markets and exploring new places. I am enjoying everything here…except the cane toads; I am yet to get used to these. My favourite place in particular is the Mooloolaba esplanade. My family and I have holidayed in Mooloolaba for years so it holds a lot of great memories for me there.
What is some great advice you have received?
“A negative mind will never give you a positive life.” Our thoughts are pivotal to who we are and who we become in life. Often, we go through life reacting to situations without paying attention to the thoughts that are contributing to our overall experience. These thoughts are often quite negative and self-critical. When we change these thoughts, we then change our mood, our behaviour and our experience of the world around us. Many times I have been challenged to start thinking differently about things and it has changed my mood and my experience, and often the outcome of the situation, for the better. Change your thinking, change your life.
MEET
Yvette Rouse | College Counsellor, Primary School
Yvette, please tell us a bit about your experience and skills.
I chose a career in social work as my personal values are aligned with the core values of the profession: respect, service, social justice and the importance of human relationships. It is a profession that is dedicated to assisting people to improve their lives, primarily focusing on personal and social wellbeing. Early on in my career I knew I wanted to work with children and young people and so I have dedicated the last 20 years to supporting children and young people who have been affected by trauma.
I am really excited to support the “Grow Your Mind” program that has been established in the Primary School at Flinders. Helping students to develop social skills and emotional regulation skills will help all students throughout their life at Flinders and beyond.
How do you enjoy the lifestyle on the Sunshine Coast?
I moved to the Sunshine Coast five years ago from Sydney. I have cousins that have lived here for over 30 years and visited often. It was a hard decision to move, as I loved my job at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick. Since moving I haven't looked back, and thoroughly enjoy living on the Coast and raising a family here.
What do you find rewarding about working in a school community?
Flinders is a very special place, and I’m lucky to have found another great place to work. Working in a school I feel very privileged to watch students grow each year, gaining knowledge and developing skills.
Any words of wisdom that inspire you in life?
I live by the concept that life is fragile. My father would often say to me, “You don’t have a contract with life” meaning it was important to really live your life and not be an observer to it, as you didn’t know what was around the corner. I do this by being in the moment, practising gratitude and engaging in life to the fullest. Being at Flinders is a reminder of this everyday - all you have to do is watch the children during morning tea and lunch!
