During the last reporting period in 2019, the NSW Department of Education recorded 657 incidences across its schools in the rural south and west region.

Roughly 20 of the reports noted police involvement, while 59 reports indicated the presence of weapons on school grounds was at least rumoured.

Also alarmingly, the reports document five instances of self-harm and two of suicidal tendencies.

In NSW Parliament this week, Independent Member for Wagga Dr Joe McGirr cited Bureau of Crime Statistics indicating up to 33 per cent of malicious property offences, 33 of malicious property damage and 34 per cent of vehicle thefts in Wagga were committed by people aged 10 to 17.

"It is a complex issue, but an important part of our response must involve the school system," Dr McGirr told parliament.

In response, a Department of Education spokesperson said that "schools are amongst the safest places in our community".

"People under 18 are three times safer inside the school gate than outside," the spokesperson said.

"Violence and anti-social behaviour are not tolerated in our schools. We have discipline policies in place which set clear boundaries and apply fair consequences for inappropriate behaviour, which may include suspension."

Dr McGirr spoke of the plans to overhaul school suspension policies and introduce further early intervention support resources for teachers under the Student Behaviour Strategy.

Currently, schools are able to suspend a student for a maximum of 20 days, and Dr McGirr said, in some situations " there can be little contact between the school and the student during that time".

Secretary of Wagga's evening Country Women's Association (CWA) branch, Julie Morrison told The Daily Advertiser the issue of school-based counsellors was of enormous concern.

Currently, according to Department of Education records, there are 32.5 full-time equivalent counsellors shared across the Riverina region.

Recently, Ms Morrison's 13-year-old granddaughter made a request to see a school counsellor, but Ms Morrison said she was provided with an appointment that is still weeks away. The CWA is now lobbying the NSW government to provide more onsite counsellors.

"We need more counsellors in schools, [the students] need somewhere they can go to talk about their problems when they're having them," Ms Morrison said.

"It would benefit all students to have a counsellor on-site, one that can be seen without having to wait for weeks."

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