As an employee of Sydney Local Health District you have access to the Sydney Education Coaching Service.

We aim to support you to be your best self while at work, and to grow and develop in your role.

We believe when you engage in coaching, there are benefits for you, your team, your clients, your personal life and the broader community in which we live and work. Coaching supports you and your team to find your own solutions and way forward.

Coaching is available for individuals, managers and teams. Our coaching services include:

• Individual Coaching
• Coaching for Managers
• Team Coaching
• Self-Awareness Tools
• 360 Degree Feedback
• Accessing the Coaching Service

Frequently Asked Questions

Are coaching sessions confidential?

As part of the coaching agreement, the coaching process is confidential and managers are not advised of the content of coaching sessions. Confidentiality will be maintained, except in rare circumstances where the coach has safety concerns, for example if someone may be at risk of harming themselves or others. This will be discussed with you at your first session and will be included in the coaching agreement.

Are coaching sessions documented?

Documentation of sessions will primarily be up to you.  Notes of sessions are not required to be kept by the coach; however, we encourage you to take your own notes of key points and action plans and bring these with you to all sessions.  You may wish to share these notes with your coach via the private chat function on MS Teams, or an equivalent platform, which can be deleted at the end of the sessions.

As part of your professional development, you may like to document that you are engaged in development, through coaching, on your Performance and Talent system (PAT).

Stored documents are kept to a minimum and are kept on a secure Sydney Education drive accessible only to Sydney Education coaches. Documents include EOI, referral form and coaching agreements.

Is coaching recorded in My Health Learning?

Coaching occasions will be recorded in My Health Learning (MHL) with date and type of coaching received (e.g., individual or team coaching). No details related to the coaching sessions (such as discussions, goal setting, action plan) will be recorded.

How many coaching sessions can I attend and is it free?

There is no personal fee or charge to cost centres for engaging in coaching sessions.

As coaching takes places in work time (unless negotiated separately) you will need to advise your manager of your attendance.

After the first introductory session, we recommend a minimum of 4 coaching sessions for approximately 1 hour, usually monthly.

What if my manager refers or recommends me for coaching?

Great! Your manager is on the right track as we think coaching will benefit everyone! Your manager will discuss with you the reasons why they believe coaching may benefit you and it is always your choice if you want to be referred to our service.

Is coaching the same as counselling?

No, but there are similarities. Both coaching and counselling share a focus on supporting the exploration of thoughts, emotions and behaviour and the impact on performance.

Coaching sessions focus on goals identified by you and are aimed at enhancing professional performance. This may involve self-reflection, leading to personal development and growth.

Counselling focuses mainly on providing supportive and therapeutic psychological services often in response to stress or crisis in order to restore an individual’s mental health and coping strategies.