Hello, my name is Hayden and I’m a psychologist at Royal Far West in the Schools and Early Years Services team.
What does your role involve?
I provide a range of services for students, parents, and schools. This includes individual counselling, psychological assessment, and support for parents and teachers. As I’m based in Melbourne, most of this is done online via Zoom. Presenting referrals might include supporting a child experiencing grief following the death of a parent or perhaps working with a Year 6 student who is anxious about commencing high school. It varies a lot, and no two days are the same which is both challenging and exciting.
How long have you been with Royal Far West?
I started with RFW in March of 2023, so almost 3 ½ years now.
What led you to work at RFW?
Royal Far West ticked a lot of boxes for me on both a personal and professional level. I am passionate about supporting students with additional needs, collaborating with schools, and engaging with communities across Australia. To be able to realise these passions in this role has been such a privilege.
Can you describe your typical day?
Most days comprise counselling sessions, assessment (this might be to explore a student’s ongoing learning difficulties), phone calls with parents and teachers, building resources, and consulting with other psychologists.
What do you love about working with families from rural and remote Australia?
For most families and schools in rural and remote Australia, accessing health services is a significant challenge. Supporting children from these communities to thrive at school, engage in the classroom, feel great about themselves, and build strong friendships, is such a privilege. Most of our families share stories about waiting months and sometimes years to access support for their children. It is a constant reminder of the systemic barriers facing rural and remote communities, and so to be able to provide support in these circumstances brings me a profound sense of purpose.
What do you think makes RFW unique?
Royal Far West has been dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of Australian children living in rural and remote communities for over 100 years! Everyone brings such passion, dedication and knowledge in striving to provide great outcomes for children and their families, and that is something worth being part of.
Can give us an example of a family’s positive outcomes through working with RFW?
One example that comes to mind is of an 11-year-old student who was referred for counselling. This student experienced a traumatic childhood that led him to respond to self-perceived threatening situations with anger and aggression. This had a significant negative impact on his well-being, relationships, and education. He was disengaged from learning, absconding from the classroom, and getting into fights on the playground. Following 12 months of holistic support, which included online sessions with the student, parent meetings, and working with his teachers, both the school and the student’s Mum shared ‘he is a different person’. The student was more engaged in the classroom, had repaired relationships with peers, and was enjoying the responsibilities of being an older sibling at home. He even performed songs at school assemblies and won student awards for demonstrating school values. It was heart-warming to see such meaningful change in his well-being, confidence, and behaviour at both home and school.
Where’s your country? – Where do you feel most connected to?
I have always lived in Melbourne and so there a lot of places here that feel like home. One place that stands out is Mount Martha, a coastal suburb that lies on the Mornington Peninsula on Bunurong Land. It is where my grandparents live, and it has been a great source of respite, happiness, and connection over the years.
Can you share some career highlights from your time at Royal Far West?
It is hard to go past the opportunities to visit the schools we are working with in-person. It is so special to see the students (we are used to seeing on Zoom) face-to-face, connect with communities on the ground, and strengthen relationships with parents and teachers. It is also a great space to build friendships with colleagues whilst seeing some beautiful towns and nature across rural Australia.
