Aaron Jackson became one of the first in the state recruited to the role when he accepted the position with Dubbo College.
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The NSW Coalition made an election commitment to trial student support officers and Mr Piccoli came to Dubbo this week to tick the job as ‘actioned’.
"It was exciting to have a politician come . . . it was good he took an interest," Mr Jackson said.
"The culture I’d like to create and the student leaders would like to create is no tolerance of bullying."
Mr Piccoli, with Dubbo MP Troy Grant in attendance, spoke to school leaders, Year 7 students, campus principals and deputy principals and Mr Jackson at an outdoor gathering at Dubbo College’s Delroy Campus.
The pilot program aimed at minimising the harm of bullying and mental illnesses was not the only decision of the minister’s in the spotlight.
He went on the front foot to convince the community his college model - two campuses for Years 7-10 and one for Years 11-12 - would work.
It would also be ready on time, he said.
He praised the "terrific" work of school education director for the college, Kerri Leigh-Gordon, in leading the transition.
He rejected a suggestion that NSW Teachers Federation support for a Years 7-12 comprehensive high school would sink his model.
"The model we’ve adopted is going to work and is supported by the majority of people involved in education, that’s across all the stakeholders and it will be ready to go in January of next year," he said.
Mr Piccoli placed importance on the student support officer role in his vision for the college.
"I made the commitment that where we can add to what’s been provided at Dubbo College, we will," he said.
"Part of the reason why I’m here today with Troy (Grant) . . . is about supporting Dubbo and supporting the college and making sure that we don’t just have a college structure that works, but that is fantastic for students in Dubbo and produces fantastic results for students."
Mr Grant lobbied for Dubbo to receive one of the 10 student support officers in the pilot and thanked Mr Piccoli for listening. The appointment gave schools more armour and more resources to face challenges, he said.
