Leadership and positive behaviour for learning
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 our student wellbeing section.
All NSW public schools promote the healthy development of students through:
- school programs and practices that protect and promote health and safety
- supporting individual students who need help with health issues
- providing first aid and temporary care of students who become unwell or who have an accident at school.
Student wellbeing
All NSW public schools 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 in schools and communities.
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
Our schools use Positive Behaviour for Learning (PBL) – a whole-school approach for creating a positive, safe and supportive school climate where students can learn and develop. Our school communities work together to establish expected behaviours and teach them to all students.
Student leadership
Student leadership helps young people find their voices, participate in decision-making, and understand their rights and responsibilities as active citizens. It helps students have a real impact on their learning and school environment and prepares them to participate meaningfully in their community.
Students can be leaders in the classroom, through their actions in the playground, through their support for others, or their involvement in academic, sporting, cultural or local community events or projects.
For more information about opportunities in NSW public schools, visit Student voice and leadership.
What is student voice?
Student voice is defined as students actively participating in decision-making on things which shape their educational experiences. It is an approach to education that values the perspectives, experiences and aspirations of students across three settings; the classroom, the school and in the wider community.
How are student voice and wellbeing connected?
When children and young people participate in meaningful decision-making at school, they:
- experience higher levels of wellbeing and empowerment
- feel a deeper connection to their learning and school community
- develop a range of skills and capabilities to feel connected and successful at school and in life.
How can student voice be encouraged at home?
As a parent, you want your child to love learning. You want them to feel confident in expressing their voice, having influence and making authentic choices at school. There are many ways you can support this at home and further develop the skills they are learning at school.
Top tips for supporting student voice at home
- Create opportunities within the home for your children to lead activities and make meaningful choices, for example, organising meals or a family outing.
- Support your children in identifying and celebrating their personal strengths and those of others.
- Support your children in making learning goals and sharing them with their teachers. This will empower them to shape their learning environment to reflect their unique needs.
- Encourage them to be a leader in their classroom, school and communities. These do not have to be traditional leadership positions, such as school captains. Students can become peer-support leaders, playground monitors, joining clubs and committees or become student mentors and volunteers.
- Create opportunities for collaboration in the home, for example, cooking or building something together.