Positive wellbeing is fundamental to a child’s ability to learn, develop and thrive at school.
We know that when students feel supported, they are more engaged with their learning.
At Sydney Catholic Schools, we commit to providing safe, supportive and inclusive environments which nurture the wellbeing of all students and staff in our community.
Our student wellbeing policy is underpinned by the Australian Student Wellbeing Framework. The framework recognises five elements that are key to supporting the whole school community to build and maintain safe, positive relationships and wellbeing: leadership, inclusion, student voice, partnerships and support.
This is complemented by the Be You Framework, a national initiative for educators aimed at promoting and protecting positive mental health in children and young people. The integration of both frameworks supports our school communities to provide every student with the strongest foundation possible for them to reach their aspirations in learning and in life.
We have a systemic approach to wellbeing and positive behaviour with tiers of support to meet the diverse needs of staff, students and families. The offerings range from whole school initiatives, actively seeking student voice, system policies on anti-bullying, student counselling, staff training in student wellbeing, along with targeted interventions for students with complex social and emotional needs.
At St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School Coogee, we endeavour to promote a healthy, safe and supportive learning environment for all students. We have implemented the Schoolwide Positive Behaviours for Learning (SPBL) initiative, which has enabled consistency of expectations throughout the school.
Our school expectations:
At St Brigid’s, we are:
- Safe
- Respectful
- Resilient
- Learners
Positive interactions are encouraged through programs such as our Year 6 student leadership program, peer support and Kindergarten/Year 6 buddies. A variety of reward systems are used successfully in the school including good citizenship awards, principal awards and class awards linked to our school wide pedagogy: Connect, Collaborate, Challenge.
Our school counsellor, who is provided by CatholicCare, delivers a valuable support service for students and families. She provides group services, facilitates whole-school wellbeing programs and aids social-skill development. Referrals are processed through the school principal.
Sydney Catholic Schools rejects all forms of bullying behaviours, including online (or cyber) bullying, by maintaining a commitment to providing safe, inclusive and respectful learning communities that promote student wellbeing for learning. Staff at Sydney Catholic schools are committed to employing wellbeing strategies that allow for a healthy school environment where bullying is less likely to occur.
If your child is experiencing bullying of any kind, or you have a wellbeing concern, we have a number of support services available for parents/carers and students, as listed below.
Support services:
- Kids Helpline
- Student Wellbeing Hub – Department of Education
- Anti Bullying – Department of Education
- Be You
- Community Services Helpline: 133 627
- NSW Health: (02) 9391 9000
- Parent Line NSW: 1300 1300 52