Health and wellbeing

Schools strive to be safe, supportive and inclusive communities. They provide programs and opportunities to improve a student’s sense of belonging and their social and problem solving skills.

Schools also identify and support students who may be experiencing social or emotional challenges. Support may include referral to a school psychologist, other in-school support or referral to another community agency. You will be contacted if the school is concerned about your child’s wellbeing.

Duty of care

Teaching staff have a duty of care to take responsibility for the safety and welfare of all students. Teachers must exercise their professional judgement to achieve a balance between making sure students don’t face unreasonable risk of harm and encouraging independence and maximising learning opportunities. This duty of care is underpins and drives the policies and practices of public schools.

Pastoral care

Our schools are concerned with each student’s academic, emotional and physical development. Pastoral care plays an important role in both student wellbeing and learning. The pastoral care shown in public schools provides students with a feeling of belonging, supports students to develop a positive self image and helps students to manage the successes and disappointments in their life. 

Find out about the pastoral care in your school by contacting the principal.

Managing student behaviour

Schools aim to provide a safe and welcoming environment for all members of the school community. Each has a behaviour management plan that is developed in consultation with students and parents.

Each school’s plan outlines how it will establish, encourage and maintain acceptable standards of student behaviour and what processes will be followed when these are breached.

Schools consider the key values of learning, equity, excellence and care when developing and implementing their behaviour management plans. In particular, relationships within the school community are built on a basis of respect and responsibility to promote the resilience and wellbeing of staff and students.

You can obtain a copy of your school’s behaviour management plan by contacting the principal.

Working together to stop bullying

In spite of everyone’s best efforts, bullying sometimes occurs. The best way to manage bullying is for parents, school staff and students to work together.

Bullying is a form of abuse. It involves an imbalance of power where a person or group targets another to intentionally threaten or harm them.

If you believe your child is being bullied:

• Encourage your child to talk with you. He or she may be reluctant to talk, believing that things may get worse.
• Encourage your child to talk with their teacher or talk with the teacher yourself.
• Ask about the school’s plan for preventing and managing bullying.

School psychology services

Schools may recommend that individual students are referred to a school psychologist for extra support. If your son or daughter is referred, the school psychologist will contact you and discuss the referral. In secondary school, students may ask to see a school psychologist. Depending on the age of your child and the issue being discussed, you may be contacted.