Sandra and Laura support students of full-time Australian Defence Force (ADF) members, particularly during their transition into and out of school, on posting or during parental absence due to deployment, exercises or courses.
As a Defence School Mentor, they can assist you and your children to help familiarise you with the school and its facilities via tours, coordinate welcome/farewell and end of semester activities as well as monitoring personal and social issues and referring where necessary. Whilst Sandra and Laura are not teachers, as members of the support team they are able to liase with students, parents, teachers, heads of department, year level coordinators, support staff and administration, they both can seek to source information for families when requested within the school framework and can organise support, where required and tutoring where eligible, to ensure outcomes.
A variety of activities designed to support students within the school community may include but not limited to are, in class assistance, chess/games club, girls/craft group, Defence drop in, specialised support during deployment and exercise, parent morning teas as well as special services on Anzac Day and Remembrance Day.
Defence School Mentors are located in Q Block and have an open door policy, students and parents are encouraged to either call or drop in to see Sandra on Mondays and Fridays, Laura on Wednesdays.
Sandra Gardner email: sgard121@eq.edu.au
Laura Vinter email: lvint7@eq.edu.au