Wellbeing

The Wellbeing Team follows the guidelines set by the Department of Education Wellbeing Framework that encourage schools to create learning environments that enable students to be healthy, happy, engaged and successful. At North Sydney Girls High School, the Wellbeing Team provides support for student wellbeing through a dynamic program of activities purposefully designed to strengthen student wellbeing and provide strong connections between students and the school community. There are strong links between wellbeing and learning and success. Wellbeing is valued as a fundamental aspect for all students and takes place as one of the three Strategic Directions in the School Plan, known as ‘Supporting Learning’. The aims are for students to:-

be actively connected to their learning, have positive and respectful relationships and experience a sense of belonging to their school and community.
be respected, valued, encouraged, supported and empowered to succeed.

grow and flourish, do well and thrive.

Wellbeing Team

The team that supports student wellbeing is comprised of:

Year Advisers (Year 7 - 12)
Head Teacher Wellbeing
Student Support Officer (SSO)
Principal
Deputy Principals
Learning and Support Staff
School Counsellors
Careers Advisor

For matters relating to student wellbeing, please contact your child’s Year Adviser, Head Teacher Wellbeing or Deputy Principal on 9922 6666 or northsydgi-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Wellbeing activities have been scheduled for each cohort throughout the school year to provide connections between year groups. Guest speakers will provide important information on topics such as sleep, online safety, prosocial behaviours and help seeking.

Years 7, 8, 9 and 11 will have the opportunity to go on school camp. They will participate in various activities aimed at creating new friendships, while developing teamwork and leadership skills.

Wellbeing Activities

Year 7 Transition Program

The Year 7 Transition Program is designed to welcome and orientate students as they begin their high school journey. Students will be provided opportunities to make new connections with their peers, meet staff from the school’s Wellbeing Team and engage in various activities aimed at familiarising them with their new school environment.

Peer Support

Selected Year 10 students will be trained as peer support leaders to welcome and support Year 7 students in their transition to high school. These sessions provide a supportive peer environment for Year 7 students and opportunity to build new connections, while developing the leadership skills of Year 10 students.

Mentoring Programs

Students in Year 7 and 8 can be matched with a Year 9 and 10 student as part of the peer mentoring/buddy program. This program is designed to enhance student belonging by providing links between year groups, while allowing students to set and pursue a personal goal with the support of their peer mentor.

Year 12 students will be matched with a teacher mentor, who they will meet with regularly throughout the school year. The purpose is to allow ongoing wellbeing check-ins, encouragement and support as students prepare for their HSC. It is an opportunity to debrief with peers and discuss and share various skills, including time-management, goal-setting and stress-management techniques.

Resilience in our Teens (RIOT)

The Resilience in Our Teens program is a whole school approach that aims to develop students’ coping skills, willingness to persevere through challenges and maintain positive relationships with their peers and teachers. By proactively teaching students stress-management techniques and problem-solving skills, the program aims to reduce anxious behaviours and habits in adolescents. Students are encouraged to challenge negative thought patterns by “thinking again”, use their favourite coping strategies to manage daily stressors and to ‘have a go’ when faced with new challenges at school and in life.

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Support Services

The following services provide support for young people and families:

● Kids Helpline (24/7 online and phone): https://kidshelpline.com.au/ (Phone: 1800 551 800)

● Youth Mental Health: https://headspace.org.au/ (Phone: 1800 650 890)

● Depression: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/ (Phone: 1300 224 636)

● Butterfly Foundation: https://butterfly.org.au/ (Phone: 1800 334 673)

● Rape Crisis: http://www.nswrapecrisis.com.au/ (Phone: 9819 6565)

● Domestic violence/sexual assault: https://www.1800respect.org.au/ (Phone: 1800 737 732)