Wellbeing
Wellbeing Team
Our wellbeing team works in collaboration with parents, staff, students, the Wellbeing Leader (Brenton Willson) and Pastoral Care Worker (Hayley Walker) to best support our students and the school community.
Values Education
All students are explicitly taught our school values of; Be Kind, Be Brave, Be Your Best.
These values are a result of extensive community consultation, with characters and expected actions under our motto of Hearts, Minds and Community developed by students. These are visible around the school and are the foundations of our Behaviour Support, and Restorative Justice processes.
Open Parachute
At Kilkenny, student wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do. To support our learners in building resilience, confidence and strong mental health, we use the Open Parachute program across our school.
What is Open Parachute?
Open Parachute is an evidence-based wellbeing program designed for schools. It provides age-appropriate lessons and resources that help children understand themselves and others, develop healthy coping strategies, and build positive relationships.
How it supports our students
Through class discussions, videos and activities, students learn how to:
- Recognise and manage their emotions.
- Develop resilience and problem-solving skills.
- Build empathy, kindness and respect for others.
- Strengthen their sense of identity and self-worth.
Why we use it
- It gives students practical tools they can use in everyday life.
- It encourages open conversations about mental health and wellbeing.
- It supports a safe, inclusive and caring school culture.
What's the Buzz?
What’s the Buzz? is also part of our wellbeing and social skills program. It is a highly engaging, evidence-based program that helps children learn the social and emotional skills they need to thrive at school and in everyday life. This is usually run in Semester 2, with a small group, once per week, with identified students needing additional support in their regulation and friendships.
About the program
What’s the Buzz? is designed to be practical and fun. Through stories, role-plays, games and group discussions, students explore real-life situations and practise how to respond in positive and respectful ways.
Skills students learn:
- Building and maintaining friendships.
- Understanding feelings and emotions (their own and others’).
- Communicating respectfully and listening to others.
- Managing worries, frustrations and challenges.
- Developing resilience, empathy and confidence.
Why we use it
- It gives students a safe space to practise important life skills.
- It builds stronger relationships and a positive classroom culture.
- It supports students in becoming kind, respectful and resilient learners.
Regulation
Our staff have worked over a number of years with the Department Inclusion Team, Occupational Therapy Team and Self-Regulation Team to ensure our physical environment, teaching adjustments and explicit teaching best supports student regulation and learning. This includes;
- Having spaces within each classroom and unit area, where students can go to have breaks when needed.
- A sensory room (blue room) that explicitly teaches interoception skills.
- Self-regulation spaces in our natural outdoor environment (Scrub, Garden, Orchid and Bali Hut)
- Goal setting processes to aid students in identifying potential obstacles, possibilities and outcomes.