St Patrick’s strives to build a positive learning environment where all students feel valued and respected within our community. We aim to provide a safe, supportive and secure environment – one that values diversity and promotes care, respect and cooperation. We aim to foster an acceptance of the uniqueness and value of each person – promoting relationships based on mutual trust and respect We aim to provide an environment in which students are treated as individuals and are encouraged to develop a love of, and interest in learning, a sense of wonder and a sense of their own identity. Our Wellbeing Coordinator works with students to develop and promote self-worth and a positive mindset.

Social and Emotional Learning is taught across the school to reflect student need and develop student values consistent with the teaching of Jesus.

Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships

The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships learning materials have been designed for teachers in primary and secondary schools to develop students’ social, emotional and positive relationship skills. Efforts to promote social and emotional skills and positive gender norms in children and young people has been shown to improve health related outcomes and subjective wellbeing. It also reduces antisocial behaviours including engagement in gender-related violence.

Seasons for Growth

The Seasons for Growth Children and Young People’s Program strengthens the social and emotional wellbeing of children and young people (aged 6-18 years) who have experienced significant change or loss in their lives. The program provides a safe learning environment for children and young people where they can give voice to their experiences, understand and befriend their feelings, learn skills that help them adapt, develop friendships, and recognise ‘I’m not the only one’.

The Wellbeing Officer

The School Wellbeing Officer role within St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School Community is broadly based on enhancing connections between the home, school, parish and wider community and assisting children, staff and families in both spiritual and wellbeing needs, in conjunction with existing provisions.

Role of our Wellbeing Officer:

  • Provide guidance to children where required;

  • Harmonize Victorian Child Safe Standards with National Principles for Child Safe organisations;

  • Maintain disability standards eLearning modules for all staff through NCCD portal;

  • Inform staff on NCCD requirements;

  • Oversee formation and function of Pastoral Wellbeing Team;

  • Ensure that Pastoral Wellbeing policy and procedures are up to date and that professional practice is aligned with policy and procedures;

  • Member of the School Leadership Team;

  • Serve children who require support / intervention in relation to a range of needs (social/behavioural/spiritual, Learning needs);

  • Organise and facilitate PSG meetings with students personal learning plans;

  • Oversee and implement systems to promote, record, follow up and monitor student attendance;

  • Maintain school implementation of and compliance of child safe standards;

  • Implement a positive behaviour approach – Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships;

  • Induct graduate and new staff to the school;

  • Support the furtherance of links between the school, families and outside support agencies (e.g. Catholic Education Office, Parish, Family Care, NECHAMS, St Vincent’s, etc.);

  • Cyclical training in Critical Incident management with Principal and member of the leadership team;

  • Continue to review / update one page safety plan (behaviour plan) and functional based interventions to support student success;

  • Work with CEO staff for support and guidance where necessary;

  • Attend diocesan Professional Development, Training and Network Days and provide information to our staff and school community;

  • Ensure members of our school community in need are connected with internal and/or external support;

  • Be a visible, accessible and available presence in our school community for children, parents and staff;

  • Deliver welfare / wellbeing programs to students as requested / referred e.g. Seasons for Growth (grief support), Peer Leadership, Resilience Building & Anti

  • Bullying Programs Resilience Rights and Respectful Relationships;

  • Respond to ‘in need’ members of the community; and

  • Attend School Pastoral Wellbeing and Catholic Identity network meetings where appropriate.

Attendance Matters

The Wellbeing coordinator’s role is to support programs for young people who need assistance to access the school curriculum. They facilitate meetings with parents, teachers and students (Parent Support Group meetings) termly. The wellbeing coordinator liaises with external agencies and professionals to support your child’s learning and development.

The wellbeing coordinator oversees the NCCD allocation of funding for students who require support and adjustments to their learning.