Schools use five main health and wellbeing approaches, with more than one, or a hybrid approach often utilised. Approaches reflect the school’s unique features.

The impact of health and wellbeing approaches is maximised when underpinned by supportive leadership and embedded within whole school universal strategies.

”Start [supports] as close as you can to the kids and then move out”

Resource for schools - Five approach snapshots:

Summary: the snapshots highlight the key features of each of the five health and wellbeing approaches, including the benefits and challenges. Example initiatives are featured within each snapshot and embedded links take you to key department supporting tools. The snapshots are intended as illustrations of practice for schools.

Ten key principles were identified through the research discovery that are key enablers of success for all schools’ health and wellbeing approaches.

Schools with successful health and wellbeing approaches:

• embrace student voice and promote students’ health seeking behaviours and health literacy
• demonstrate a deep understanding of local context and the importance of fit for purpose and culturally safe spaces
• embed whole school universal strategies to strengthen the capacity of staff so they are better able to recognise and respond early to students’ health and wellbeing needs
• link appoaches to School Excellence in Action
• are supported by effective Learning and Support teams
• support capacity building of students, families and school communities to maximise longer term health and wellbeing, learning and life outcomes
• identify clear roles and responsibilities, operate within department policy and legal service agreements where required
• provide continuity of support, including through school transition points
• have an evidence based approach embedded.

NSW public school students represent the diversity of cultural, linguistic and socioeconomic backgrounds across NSW. The communities that NSW public schools serve have very different contexts, strengths, challenges and needs; as well as staffing structures and experience.

Schools are implementing a range of proactive and preventative health and wellbeing strategies for their students. Where schools are dealing with new or emerging issues, they gain a shared understanding of the problem they wish to address in partnership with students, families and the broader community.

Schools with successful health and wellbeing approaches:

• take stock of their programs and resources already in place, and what is readily available to help strengthen an existing response
• consider what the service gaps are and whether upskilling department staff will meet the gap and address the identified problem, or whether external partnerships are required
• respectfully listen and learn from their community, including the local Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG) and develop an inclusive and equitable response
• implement sustainable approaches for their local context that provide a continuum of care and continuity of support.

The health and wellbeing solutions schools are implementing often start small and build.

In rural and remote communities, issues around isolation and access to services are often significant barriers in addressing students’ health and wellbeing needs, and in designing health and wellbeing approaches.

Aim 3.2 of the Rural and Remote Education Strategy (2021-2024) is: All students in rural and remote communities have early access to and engage with wellbeing support services.

Enhancing the availability of digital technologies can facilitate increased access to health and wellbeing services for students and their families.

Partnering with local health services may support schools to address a service gap:

• The Local Health District (LHD) can act as a touchpoint for schools to navigate the health system and map local service delivery.
• Primary Health Network (PHN) and the NSW Rural Doctors Network are key links into the health system.
• Establishing connections with local GPs can support continuity of service.

Resource for schools – Step by step guide:

Summary: a flowchart that guides schools through a sequence of steps to tailor their health and wellbeing approach. Each step has been mapped to the key principles that underpin successful health and wellbeing approaches.