We are committed to ensuring a safe and happy environment for your child.
We support your child’s health and safety through a range of strategies including:
- the behaviour code for students, which outlines the standards of behaviour expected in all NSW public schools
- anti-racism education
- anti-bullying programs
- conflict resolution and mediation training
- peer support
- road safety education
- the Healthy School Canteen Strategy.
For more information, visit the student wellbeing section of the department’s website.
Anti-bullying
Anti-bullying policy
Anti-bullying procedures
Reporting and handling bullying
All teachers are contact points for students who wish to report bullying. Teachers may respond by:
- Warning the bullies that their actions violate school rules.
- Taking more serious actions, such as:
- issuing detentions.
- referring classroom bullying to the head teacher of the faculty.
- referring playground bullying to the head teacher on duty.
- reporting to the year adviser for further investigation.
- involving the head teacher of welfare.
- referring to the school counsellor.
- reporting to the deputy principal.
Even if a teacher handles the incident directly, the year adviser must be informed. A referral should be entered into the school’s Sentral database. This ensures a school-wide perspective and coordinated action.
Bullying reports from parents
When parents report bullying, the school will investigate and take suitable action. Parents will be kept informed of the actions taken.
Unseen bullying
Bullies often avoid being seen by teachers. In these cases, we rely on the bullied student, another student, or a parent to report the issue.
Teacher training and student support
- Teachers will receive ongoing training in conflict resolution skills.
- The year 7 year adviser will deliver the anti-bullying message to Year 7 students.
- Vertical roll groups provide peer support for bullied students.
Support for victims of bullying
Possible actions to support victims include:
- discussions with year advisors and deputies principals on the consequences of continued bullying
- the counsellor working with both parties to devise coping strategies
- involving parents of both the bullied and the bullies to negotiate a resolution.
- applying interventions such as detentions, in-school isolation, suspension, or expulsion if necessary
- using behaviour support and student welfare consultants to run programs that address bullying
- changing the class of the victim or the bully if needed
- providing sheltered areas for break times
- the school welfare committee planning and monitoring individual cases
Proactive programs
The school has instituted programs to boost student self-esteem and counter bullying. They include:
- Rock and water
- Mind matters
- Conflict resolution
These programs, along with the outlined procedures, demonstrate the school's commitment to minimising bullying and addressing it effectively.
Reviewing the plan
The anti-bullying plan will be:
- discussed among the executive team
- reviewed in faculty meetings
- discussed with the Student Representative Council (SRC)
- revised and amended before endorsement by the P&C
- publicised in the school newsletter
- revisited during assemblies and roll calls
Regular evaluations by the school welfare committee and senior executives will allow for amendments and improvements. These evaluations will use:
- data from Sentral
- suspension reviews
- school culture surveys
- anecdotal evidence.
Consultation with students, staff, and parents and carers will inform these evaluations.
View and download the Anti-bullying plan (PDF 147KB)
Responding to reports of bullying
View and download Responding to bullying reports PDF (286KB)
Bullying - information for students
Definition and types of bullying
Bullying is intentional, repeated harmful behaviour by one or more people that causes distress or risks someone’s wellbeing.
Five kinds of bullying:
- Physical bullying: includes actions like hitting, poking, tripping, pushing, or damaging belongings.
- Verbal bullying: involves name-calling, insults, homophobic or racist remarks, and verbal abuse.
- Social (covert) bullying: actions like spreading rumours, lying, deliberately excluding someone and manipulating social relationships.
- Psychological bullying: includes threatening, stalking, and intimidation.
- Cyberbullying: utilising technology (email, mobile phones, social networking sites) to bully verbally, socially or psychologically.
Misconceptions about bullying
Bullying is not:
- mutual arguments and disagreements
- single episodes of social rejection or dislike
- single acts of nastiness or spite
- random acts of aggression or intimidation
Effects of bullying
Bullying can seriously affect a person's physical and mental health, causing significant distress and long-term psychological harm.
Steps to take if being bullied
- Talk: start a conversation about being bullied.
- Listen: hear the whole story without interrupting.
- Explain: assure that it's normal to feel hurt and it's not their fault.
- Find out what is happening: understand the details and context.
- Contact the school: check the school’s bullying policy and talk to teachers or coordinators.
- Give sensible advice: don’t advise the child to fight back or explain the bully’s behavior.
- Help your child work out solutions: practice useful strategies and top tips for kids.
Top tips for kids
If you're being bullied:
- tell the person to stop
- use neutral language
- walk away and act unimpressed
- talk to friends, parents, or teachers if it continues.
If you see someone else being bullied:
- tell the person to stop
- talk to a teacher
- don’t watch or join in
- comfort and include the targeted person
If you are cyberbullied:
- don’t respond
- save the evidence
- block and delete the sender
- report the situation
- inform trusted people (friends, adults, teachers, parents, police if necessary)
Seriousness of bullying
Bullying is a significant problem that can severely impact students’ health and wellbeing. In Australian schools, it predominantly occurs during break times. Bullying is a growing issue affecting a vast number of students, with cyberbullying affecting at least 1 in 10 students.
View and download Bullying - information for students (PDF 247KB)
School counselling service
Book an appointment
School counselling staff are members of the school learning and support team.
Referrals
A teacher may recommend the service by referring a student to the school’s learning and support team. As a parent or carer, you may refer your child directly to the school counselling service. Students can also self-refer to the service.
What do school counsellers do?
The school counselling service can:
support students who are worrying about school work, friends or feeling down
help parents and carers make decisions about your child’s education
assess a student’s learning and behaviour
help teachers and students identify and address disabilities that may affect learning
liaise with other agencies regarding student wellbeing.
School counselling is confidential.
Book a counselling appointment
To book an appointment with our school counsellors, please contact us.
Student health
School clinic and first aid procedures
If a student becomes unwell or injured during the day, they must go to the school office. They will be taken to the first aid room and assessed by our first aid staff.
Medical consent and medication
- Consent forms: all students with medical issues must have a signed consent form from their parents. This form should detail all necessary information and medications required at school.
- Panadol policy: Panadol is not kept on school premises. If parents provide Panadol for their child, it will not be given to the student unless a signed medication form is provided to the first aid staff.
Contacting parents
- Unfit for class: if a student cannot return to class, parents will be contacted to collect their child and take them home.
- Alternate arrangements: if a parent cannot collect their child, they must make alternate arrangements for the student to be picked up as soon as possible.
Emergency procedures
- First aid room: the first aid room is for assessment and observation only.
- Calling an ambulance: in emergencies, an ambulance will be called at no cost to the parent. Parents will be contacted immediately. If necessary, the child's doctor will be notified.
- Contact information: it is essential that parents keep their contact telephone numbers up to date.
Parent responsibilities
Parents are expected to:
- cooperate with the school on student health matters
- inform the school of their child's health needs at enrolment or when health conditions develop or change
- liaise with their child's medical practitioner about the implications of any health condition for schooling. Convey advice and information from the medical practitioner to the school
- provide prescribed medication and necessary supplies for administration by the school in a timely manner and as agreed with the principal
- collaborate with the school in planning support for their child's health needs. This includes updating information and reviewing plans
By following these guidelines, we ensure the health and safety of all students at our school.
Student wellbeing
Like all NSW public schools, we provide safe learning and teaching environments to encourage healthy, happy, successful and productive students.
The department is committed to creating quality learning opportunities for children and young people. These opportunities support wellbeing through positive and respectful relationships and fostering a sense of belonging to the school and community.
The Wellbeing Framework for Schools helps schools support the cognitive, physical, social, emotional and spiritual development of students and allows them to connect, succeed and thrive throughout their education.
Positive Behaviour for Learning
At our school, we use Positive Behaviour for Learning – a whole-school approach for creating a positive, safe and supportive school climate where students can learn and develop. Our whole school community works together to establish expected behaviours and teach them to all students.