The purpose of the study was to identify the reasons stated by ACT primary school teachers for referral of students for specialist assistance, and the type of specialist assistance given to referred students. The study also compared student referrals in Resource Teacher and Non-Resource Teacher Schools, and examined what patterns were reflected in this sample of primary school student referrals. This study had two sections; an examination of: 1) primary school student referrals and 2) primary school teacher attitudes towards learning difficulties and behavioural difficulties children. The identification of courses undertaken by teachers which were helpful in teaching students with learning and behavioural difficulties were also compared to teacher attitudes. These results were compared with those of Bourke (1985), a previous study of ACT teacher attitudes towards learning difficulties students. The study confirmed findings within the literature review that classroom teachers were the major source of student referrals for specialist services and that two important student variables impacted upon referral. The student variables, student gender and behaviour were found to have a significant effect upon referral. Boys were referred more often in both samples of schools with girls more likely to be referred in Resource Teacher Schools. Referred students were more likely to have no reported behaviour problems in Resource Teacher Schools. There were differences in the patterns of referral in Resource and Non-Resource Teacher Schools, ie service response to referral, parents' role and attitudes of teachers.

A large percent of high school students in New Jersey aged 12 -17 can benefit from seeing their school counselor. The problem is that without teacher referrals, many students with unidentified mental health disorders may not receive the needed early intervention services. Limited research exists as to which factors may influence a teacher to refer a student to a school counselor. Framed with cognitive behavioral theoretical foundation, a cross sectional survey design study investigated how teachers' perception of school counselors influence teachers' willingness to refer to a school counselor, as measured by the Counselor Rating Form - Short Edition. Using a stratified cluster sampling method, 55 licensed New Jersey school teachers participated in the study. To assess the relationship between the results of the Counselor-Rating Form - Short Edition, and teacher made student referrals linear regression was used. In this study, a simple correlation between the CRF-S score and the number of referrals was found to be significant, r = .338, p = 0.012. Further, the scores on the CRF-S could be a significant predictor of making a referral, F(1, 53) = 6.825, p = 0.012, R2 = 0.114. This information could be used to infuse counselor education curriculum designed to increase teacher and school counselor conversations, and ultimately provide information to school counselors that may increase the rate of teacher-made referrals of students to school counseling for mental health services.