Page 869 - Week 03 - Wednesday, 9 March 2016
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ACT public schools are committed to providing positive and engaging environments where young people feel connected, feel respected, achieve success and are fully engaged in education. ACT schools use a range of data collection processes to support them in identifying and monitoring student wellbeing trends, such as school satisfaction surveys conducted yearly, suspension data and attendance data, and critical incident reporting by the directorate.
In 2015, all schools participated in a survey called the Australian school climate and identification measurement tool. This survey is jointly constructed by the directorate and the Australian National University and focuses on relationships between parents, carers, students and teachers, connection to the school, and engagement in learning. The tool includes five tests on challenging behaviours, including bullying. While the results are not consolidated across schools and they are not publically available, they are made available to principals and school leaders of individual schools to assist in school improvement.
Students, parents and carers are also involved in countering bullying behaviour. The National Day of Action against Bullying and Violence conference is held annually, involving students from all ACT schools, and students, parents and carers are consulted on school-based procedures. There is also the Safe Schools Roundtable, which considers issues relating to the national safe schools framework and provides a forum for ongoing consultation with stakeholders.
There are also supports for students in ACT public schools: qualified school psychologists, youth support workers, social workers or pastoral care workers. These support staff are able to provide support to victims and perpetrators of bullying. Every ACT public school has identified, trained anti-sexual harassment contact officers and anti-racism contact officers who follow consistent directorate-wide procedures.
No student can learn when they do not feel safe. There is a strong connection between student safety, student wellbeing and learning. Effective student learning and wellbeing are promoted through a safe and inclusive school in which students, families and staff members feel a sense of belonging.
All children and young people need support with this, both those on the receiving end and those who may be involved in bullying behaviours. All ACT public schools take part in social and emotional learning programs such as friendly schools plus, KidsMatter and MindMatters.
Safe schools is an important program run by the Foundation for Young Australians through Safe Schools Coalition Australia. This goes to the issue of today’s matter. Mr Doszpot came in here today and talked about the broader element of bullying. The issues that I have just talked about go to that broader agenda. But the Safe Schools Coalition, which I guess is a subset of that in a way, and targets some very particular behaviours, is the very specific element of what Mr Hinder raised in his motion today. I think it is important that that area of focus is provided, because Safe Schools Coalition Australia does critical work with school communities to raise awareness and empathy, respond to bullying and discrimination, and create learning environments that foster the positive values of respect and inclusion.
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