Wellbeing

Here at Broadford Primary School, we believe that development of social and emotional competence is essential to success. Children who are socially and emotionally well-adjusted perform better at school, have increased confidence, cultivate positive relationships, take on and persist at challenging tasks and communicate well.

At Broadford Primary School, we take a holistic approach to learning and believe in nurturing the whole child. As such, we view social emotional learning as an integral aspect of both our curriculum and philosophy of teaching and endeavour to foster this learning in all of our students.

One way we approach the teaching of these skills is through an explicitly taught Social and Emotional Learning program, which we call, Wellbeing. This program draws on the best evidence based research from a wide variety of resources, including the following high quality social and emotional resources.

Resilience, Rights & Respectful Relationships

In 2020 Broadford Primary school became one of Victoria’s lead schools in Respectful Relationships. This federally backed program supports our school to promote and model respect, positive attitudes and behaviours. It teaches our children how to build healthy relationships, resilience and confidence

The Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships (RRRR) learning materials cover eight topics of Social and Emotional Learning across all levels of primary.

  • EMOTIONAL LITERACY
  • PERSONAL STRENGTHS
  • POSITIVE COPING
  • PROBLEM SOLVING
  • STRESS MANAGEMENT
  • HELP-SEEKING.
  • GENDER AND IDENTITY
  • POSITIVE GENDER RELATIONS

Resilience Project

The Resilience Project runs programs in schools around Australia. The aim of these programs is to develop students’ resilience and improve their mental health.

The Resilience Project program delivers evidenced based practical strategies to build resilience and happiness by focussing on 4 key strategies:

  1. Gratitude – The act of being thankful and appreciating what you have in life.
  2. Empathy (Kindness) – The capacity to understand and feel what another person is feeling.
  3. Mindfulness – The practice of attention regulation.
  4. Emotional Literacy – The ability to understand and express our feelings.

In 2020 we introduced the ‘Immersion’ program which included a professional development session for staff, student presentations and a parent night which provided strategies for parents to support the development of a resilient child at home.

Learn more about The Resilience Project.

There are many things that you can do at home to support the mental health and wellbeing of your child. For more information, please visit TRP @ Home.

Student Support Services

Broadford Primary School has a range of services available for students to support them through circumstances that may affect cognitive, emotional or physical wellbeing. These services are provided at school, during school times and are conducted by trained specialists.

We also have an in-house Wellbeing Team that includes a Youth Worker, a Wellbeing Counsellor, a Mental Health & Wellbeing Leader, and a Wellbeing Officer.

If you have any questions or would like more information about these services please contact our school’s Assistant Principal Christine Hyde.

Through the Department of Education and Training, we have access to Student Support Services. This comprises of a broad range of professionals including psychologists, guidance officers, speech pathologists, and social workers.

Other Community Services

Broadford Primary School has built relationships with a range of community services to support students and families that may need supports for their cognitive, emotional or physical wellbeing.

Family Care- https://familycare.net.au/

Nexus – https://www.nexusprimaryhealth.org.au/

The Orange Door – https://orangedoor.vic.gov.au/

Child Safe

Broadford Primary School is committed to providing a child safe environment where children and young people are safe and feel safe, and their voices are heard about decisions that affect their lives. Particular attention will be paid to the cultural safety of Aboriginal children and children from culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds, as well as the safety of children with a disability.

Protecting the safety and wellbeing of children enrolled at Broadford Primary School is our highest priority. Families put their trust in the staff, volunteers and external providers to keep their children safe as they learn. We know students learn best when they feel they are in a safe and supportive environment.

We are committed to the safety, participation and empowerment of our children and have zero tolerance of child abuse. All allegations and safety concerns will be treated very seriously and consistently. We have legal and moral obligations to contact authorities when we are worried about a child’s safety, which we follow rigorously. The school is committed to regularly training and educating our staff and volunteers on child abuse risks and all staff undertake Mandatory Reporting training.

We support and respect all children, as well as our staff and volunteers, and are committed to the cultural safety of children from diverse backgrounds, and to providing a safe environment for children with a disability.

For further information please read our Child Safety Policy.

Useful links

There are services that you can contact to access more information, and in some cases, to speak to somebody about your concerns.

National Child Abuse Helpline (Child Wise) | 1800 991 099
A toll-free number with access to expert advice from trained counsellors and an opportunity to speak up about child abuse.

Kids Helpline | 1800 551 800
For any time and for any reason – free, private and confidential phone and online counselling 24 hrs a day 7 days a week.

Headspace (National Youth Mental Health Foundation) | 1800 650 890
Headspace can help if you are aged 12 or over and you are going through a tough time. You can talk to someone at Headspace on the phone, online or in person. They also have a lot of information on their website.

Victorian Centres Against Sexual Assault | 1800 806 292
Victorian Centres Against Sexual Assault provide services to child and adult victims/survivors of sexual assault. The assault may have occurred recently or in the past.

Create Foundation | 1800 655 105
Creating a better life for children and young people in care.

Youthlaw | 03 9611 2412
Free and confidential legal advice.

Breakfast Club

From 8:20 – 8:50 each Wednesday and Friday we open our Community Hub and hold Breakfast Club! This is a great opportunity to have a chat while snacking on some toast, cereal, fruit, and Milo. We are always looking for some extra vounteers, so if you have a current Working with Children Check and some free time, please contact the office.