Wellbeing
Student wellbeing is a central part of all aspects of what we do at Brunswick South West Primary School. We have an Engagement and Wellbeing Team who undertake specific training and implement improvement programs at the school.
Strong relationships are nurtured through the Buddy Program, the Student Representative Council and Student Leadership groups. In addition to this, an extensive range of high interest programs and activities including Performing Arts classes, the Art Challenge, sport clinics, Circle Time and programs with the Waratah Special Development School Satellite Unit provide opportunities to compliment the educational programs at our school.
Student Leadership
Our Student Representative Council (SRC) has members drawn from each year level, from Foundation to Grade 6. SRC members take on leadership roles within the school and provide a voice for student opinions and needs.
In addition to the SRC, many student voice and leadership opportunities promote student engagement. Grades 5 and 6 assume responsibility for areas of school operations, such as school leadership groups, assembly, Active Travel, performing arts, the environment and lunchtime library activities. Students are involved in the Twilight Fete and working bees and create their own initiatives to raise funds for non-profit organisations such as the Indigenous Literacy Foundation.
Child Safe Standard
Protecting Young People
Brunswick South West Primary School has zero tolerance for child abuse. Everyone working at Brunswick South West Primary School is responsible for the care and protection of the children and young people within our care and reporting of information about suspected child abuse.
All members of staff share in the responsibility for the prevention and detection of child abuse, and must:
- Familiarise themselves with the relevant laws, Code of Conduct and Brunswick South West Primary School’s policies and procedures concerning child protection, and comply with all requirements
- Receive the School’s Code of Conduct for staff
- Take all reasonable steps to protect children from abuse
- Report any reasonable belief that a child’s safety is at risk to the Principal or delegate
- Teachers fulfil their obligations as mandatory reporters
- Report any suspicion that a child’s safety may be at risk to their supervisor (or if their supervisor is involved in the suspicion, to the Principal or delegate)
- Promote the cultural safety, participation, and empowerment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
- Promote the safety, participation and empowerment of children with culturally and/or linguistically diverse backgrounds
- Promote the safety, participation, and empowerment of children with a disability, and
- Provide an environment that is supportive of all children’s emotional and physical safety.
What are Child Safe Standards?
These standards fall under the Ministerial Order 870 – Managing the risk of child abuse in schools and take effect as of 1 August 2016. The development of the Child Safe Standards forms part of the Victorian Government’s response to the Victorian Parliamentary Inquiry into the Handling of Child Abuse by Religious and other Non-Government Organisations.
All Victorian schools are required to operate within a child-safe environment. Brunswick South West Primary School has met all the required standards for child safety and will continue to screen staff and train them to identify and report any suspected abuse. Brunswick South West Primary School will also work with students to make sure they also understand these important policies.
The Child Safe Standards consist of the following seven areas:
- Strategies to embed an organisational culture of child safety, including through effective leadership arrangements
- A child safe policy or statement of commitment to child safety
- A code of conduct that establishes clear expectations for appropriate behaviour with children
- Screening, supervision, training and other human resources practices that reduce the risk of child abuse by new and existing personnel
- Processes for responding to and reporting suspected child abuse
- Strategies to identify and reduce or remove risks of child abuse
- Strategies to promote the participation and empowerment of children
Social & Emotional learning
Each class has dedicated Social and Emotional Learning activities each week. Students are encouraged to value others, embrace diversity, share their ideas in supportive environments and demonstrate the courage to challenge themselves in all areas of their learning. They are encouraged to be thoughtful of others and the world around them and many undertake extra curricular activities that are evidence of a rich and varied worldview.