Wellbeing

At Wollongong West Public School, we recognise that student wellbeing and learning are interconnected. Our nurturing, secure, and supportive environment ensures that every child feels safe, included and ready to learn. If your child requires support with their mental, emotional, social, or physical wellbeing, we are dedicated to helping them flourish both at school and in their everyday lives.

Our Wellbeing Framework

Our school's localised wellbeing framework promotes a positive, therapeutic, and non-punitive approach to student wellbeing. This framework ensures that every child is known, valued, and cared for.

Our localised wellbeing framework is founded on the Berry Street Education Model, which focuses on creating a supportive and engaging learning environment by addressing students' social, emotional, sensory and academic needs. This model emphasises the importance of building strong relationships, fostering resilience, and promoting positive behaviour to enhance student outcomes.

The Zones of Regulation is a key component of our wellbeing framework, designed to assist students in recognising and managing their emotions by classifying them into four colour-coded zones, thereby enhancing self-awareness and self-regulation skills.

Embedded within our wellbeing framework are restorative practices, which focus on building and repairing relationships by encouraging open communication, understanding, and collaboration among students. These practices aim to address conflicts and promote accountability while fostering a supportive community.

How we support student wellbeing

Supporting each student’s mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing is part of everyday school life.

We do this through:

• compassionate staff members who ensure all students feel welcome and included
• access to our school psychologist and specialist staff, including interventionists, learning and support teachers, and educators who assist students learning English for the first time
• school support dogs that provide emotional comfort and companionship to students, helping to reduce anxiety and foster a positive learning environment
• sensory spaces and tools that provide calming environments and resources to help children regulate their sensory needs and improve their focus and emotional wellbeing
• programs that promote health, social skills, positive life choices, and strong values, including Life Education with Healthy Harold
• robust and supportive transition programs that facilitate the move from early childhood education to Kindergarten, as well as from primary school to high school
• clear expectations for behaviour and respectful relationships
• positive relationships and open communication with parents and carers to support the needs of each individual child and their family
• developing and implementing healthcare plans for students with medical conditions, including asthma, diabetes, and anaphylaxis

Visit Our principal and staff to learn about our wellbeing and specialist support staff.

Sensory spaces and tools

Our school's sensory spaces and tools are designed to create calming environments that support students' sensory needs, helping them to regulate their emotions and focus better on learning. These spaces often include a variety of sensory items, such as fidget toys, weighted toys and soft lighting, allowing students to engage their senses in a safe and nurturing way.

Our sensory spaces and tools include:

Our light room provides a calming sensory environment that supports children with sensory needs by promoting relaxation and reducing anxiety.

Our trampoline is an effective sensory tool to help students with sensory processing needs to improve balance, coordination, self-regulation and focus.

Our circuit room offers structured physical activity that helps children with sensory needs improve motor skills, self-regulation and sensory integration.

Sensory tools in every classroom support our children with sensory needs by providing accessible strategies to enhance focus, self-regulation and engagement throughout the school day.

Need support for your child's wellbeing?

Get in touch to talk about the right support for your child.

Contact us