Wellbeing
Student Wellbeing
At Bairnsdale Primary School, we believe that students need to feel safe, connected and ready to learn in order to achieve their best. Our wellbeing approach is built around positive relationships, early intervention and providing students with the skills and support they need to successfully engage in learning.
Our Wellbeing Team works closely with classroom teachers, students and families to identify and respond to individual student needs. Through our School-Wide Positive Behaviour Support (SWPBS) approach, we use positive, proactive and consistent strategies to support students’ social, emotional and behavioural development.
Supporting Every Student
Students may be referred to the Wellbeing Team when they require additional support beyond the strategies available in the classroom. Following a referral, the team works with staff and families to identify the student’s needs and determine the most appropriate support.
Support may include:
- individual check-ins
- targeted wellbeing support
- social skills programs
- emotional regulation strategies
- mentoring
- opportunities to develop positive relationships
- problem-solving and conflict-resolution support
- structured play and social opportunities.
Our targeted programs help students to develop skills such as:
- building and maintaining positive friendships
- communicating effectively with others
- managing emotions and regulating behaviour
- solving problems and resolving conflict
- understanding and responding to social situations
- developing confidence, resilience and independence
- building positive connections with peers and adults
- developing the skills needed to be ready to learn.
I-Connect
Through our partnership with I-Connect, students can access mentoring and small-group programs designed to build confidence, connection and practical life skills.
These programs provide students with positive opportunities to develop relationships, explore their interests and build important social and emotional skills through engaging activities such as cooking, journalling and Lego Club.
These experiences provide students with opportunities to experience success, develop confidence, strengthen relationships and learn in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Play Therapy and Counselling
Bairnsdale Primary School also provides Play Therapy three days each week, giving students access to counselling and therapeutic support in a safe, supportive and child-centred environment.
Play-based approaches provide students with an opportunity to express themselves, explore and understand their emotions, develop coping strategies and build positive relationships. This support is tailored to individual student needs and works alongside the broader wellbeing strategies provided by the school.
Structured Play and Playground Support
Our commitment to wellbeing extends beyond the classroom. During break times, we provide structured play opportunities that give students a safe and supported environment in which to develop their social and emotional skills.
Structured play encourages students to:
- build friendships and positive relationships
- practise cooperation and communication
- develop turn-taking and sharing skills
- manage emotions and navigate challenges
- solve problems and resolve minor conflicts
- develop confidence and independence
- experience positive interactions with peers and adults.
These opportunities help create a positive playground environment where students can develop the skills they need to successfully interact with others and build a strong sense of belonging.
Allied Health Partnerships
We work closely with allied health professionals to support the individual learning, developmental, social, emotional and physical needs of our students. Where appropriate, students can access the expertise of professionals including occupational therapists, physiotherapists and speech pathologists within the school environment.
Our school works collaboratively with allied health professionals, classroom teachers, Education Support staff and families to develop a shared understanding of each student’s needs and identify strategies that can be incorporated into the school environment.
This collaborative approach helps ensure that recommendations and strategies can be integrated into students’ learning, communication, physical development, participation and engagement at school.
By working closely with families and allied health professionals, we aim to provide a coordinated and consistent approach to supporting each student’s individual needs.
Working Together for Student Wellbeing
Our approach provides a layered system of wellbeing support, ensuring that students can access different levels of support according to their individual needs. This includes classroom-based strategies, SWPBS, targeted wellbeing programs, mentoring, counselling and play therapy, structured playground opportunities and collaboration with allied health professionals.
Our goal is to ensure that every student is supported to feel a sense of belonging, develop the skills to navigate challenges and be ready to engage positively in their learning.
By working together with students, families, staff, allied health professionals and our wider community, our Wellbeing Team helps create a safe, inclusive and supportive environment where every student can thrive.
This approach aligns with the SWPBS framework, which uses proactive and evidence-based practices to support students’ social, emotional, behavioural and academic outcomes.
