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.

St Mary’s Catholic Primary School Erskineville provides a positive and safe learning environment that enhances the well-being and mental health of all students.

Specific well-being initiatives include:

  • Peer Support Groups across all grades help establish friendship networks and develop social skills
  • Buddy system between Kindergarten and Year 5 students
  • Positive Behaviour Recognition through awards given each week at assembly.

The school motto, Learning To Live, is incorporated into the school’s Positive Behaviour for Learning (SPBL) to challenge the students to ‘Be Compassionate, Be Safe, Be a Learner’ with Boris the Bee as the school mascot. Through SPBL lessons and acknowledgement of positive behaviours, students are taught self-discipline, self-regulation and respect for others.

St Mary’s is fortunate to have a school counsellor available to assist students and parents through difficult times. The school counsellor works with individual and small groups of students.

Anti-bullying policy

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: