Student Wellbeing

At St Patrick’s, student wellbeing is built around the model of Restorative Practice. The restorative approach is based on the belief that the people best placed to resolve a conflict or a problem are the people directly involved, and that imposed solutions are less effective, less educative and possibly less likely to be honoured.
A Restorative approach...
We believe that the advantages of a restorative approach at our school include:
A Restorative approach...
- encourages students to appreciate the consequences of their actions for others
- enables students to make amends where their actions have harmed others
- requires students to be accountable for their actions
- encourages respect for all concerned
We believe that the advantages of a restorative approach at our school include:
- A safer, more caring environment and therefore a more effective teaching and learning environment
- A greater commitment by everyone to taking the time to listen to one another
- A reduction in bullying and other interpersonal conflicts
- A greater sense of belonging and feeling valued by peers and significant adults
- An increased belief in the ability of young people to take responsibility for their choices, and more people giving them opportunities to do so
Student Leaders

At the end of each year students in year 5 present a speech to students and staff members explaining why they think they would be a great student leader for St. Patrick's. Following this, senior students and staff vote for the people they think would best represent our school.
Captains are announced at our Awards Night.
Throughout the year these students will represent our school at local community events, organise school sports events, attend meetings to help decide how to improve our school, run fundraisers and special school days and help organise and run assembly.
Captains are announced at our Awards Night.
Throughout the year these students will represent our school at local community events, organise school sports events, attend meetings to help decide how to improve our school, run fundraisers and special school days and help organise and run assembly.
Mini Vinnies
St Patrick's Mini Vinnies Group is made up of students from Years 3-6. They get together to help those in need in our school and local community. They are involved in:
- Visiting the elderly in nursing homes
- Washing the elderly's scooters, walkers and cars
- Promoting the St Vincent De Paul Christmas Appeal
- Hosting used clothes drive
- Baking cakes and selling them to raise money for flood relief
Family Support Officer
Melissa Lesu is our Family School Support Worker. Melissa is at school every Tuesday 9.30am-2..30pm and
Wednesday 9.30am - 12.30pm and can be contacted for appointments as required.
Melissa is employed by Centacare and her position is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program.
The Family School Support Program aims to:
Individual appointments with Jasmine may be made by emailing:
Principal, Peter Sanderson principal@spportfairy.catholic.edu.au
Student Wellbeing Coordinator, Antonia Balmer abalmer@spportfairy.catholic.edu.au
Melissa Lesu mlesu@centacarewarrnambool.org.au
or by contacting Peter or Antonia at the school on 55681371
Participation in the services Melissa provides are entirely voluntary and individuals/families may opt out at any time.
Wednesday 9.30am - 12.30pm and can be contacted for appointments as required.
Melissa is employed by Centacare and her position is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program.
The Family School Support Program aims to:
- Liaise and strengthen partnerships between teachers, families and the broader community regarding student and family wellbeing;
- Promote positive mental health strategies;
- Support transition programs from Kinder to Prep & Year 6 to Year 7;
- Provide referrals as necessary to specialist services;
- Access other support agencies and referral sources as required;
- Provide intervention based support as required e.g. counselling support to families in crisis
- Provide pastoral care to the school community;
- Provide support to our KidsMatter Core Team;
- Provide support to teachers and students for the implementation of KidsMatter modules and the Bounce Back program within the school;
- Promote the development of social skills, resilience, tolerance and self-esteem for students and assist staff to develop programs to support this;
- Provide confidential support to families;
- Provide parent education sessions;
- Provide proactive services that are flexible and responsive to individual and school identified needs;
- Respond to crises and provide leadership and assistance to families and individuals experiencing grief and loss
Individual appointments with Jasmine may be made by emailing:
Principal, Peter Sanderson principal@spportfairy.catholic.edu.au
Student Wellbeing Coordinator, Antonia Balmer abalmer@spportfairy.catholic.edu.au
Melissa Lesu mlesu@centacarewarrnambool.org.au
or by contacting Peter or Antonia at the school on 55681371
Participation in the services Melissa provides are entirely voluntary and individuals/families may opt out at any time.

School Programs
KidsMatter
At Patrick's is an accredited KidsMatter school. KidsMatter Primary is a mental health and wellbeing framework for primary schools and is proven to make a positive difference to the lives of Australian children.
KidsMatter Primary provides the proven methods, tools and support to help schools work with parents and carers, health services and the wider community, to nurture happy, balanced kids.
Bounceback!
To support the KidsMatter framework each class implements the Bounce Back! program.
What is the Bounce Back! program? Bounce Back! is an award-winning wellbeing and resilience class-based program for children and young people from Prep to Middle School.
Bounce Back! offers practical strategies to help children and young people function well at school and in life.
Bounce Back! is a whole school social and emotional learning curriculum program.
Bounce Back! promotes positive mental health, wellbeing and resilience for students and teachers plus safe and supportive class and school learning environments.
KidsMatter
At Patrick's is an accredited KidsMatter school. KidsMatter Primary is a mental health and wellbeing framework for primary schools and is proven to make a positive difference to the lives of Australian children.
KidsMatter Primary provides the proven methods, tools and support to help schools work with parents and carers, health services and the wider community, to nurture happy, balanced kids.
Bounceback!
To support the KidsMatter framework each class implements the Bounce Back! program.
What is the Bounce Back! program? Bounce Back! is an award-winning wellbeing and resilience class-based program for children and young people from Prep to Middle School.
Bounce Back! offers practical strategies to help children and young people function well at school and in life.
Bounce Back! is a whole school social and emotional learning curriculum program.
Bounce Back! promotes positive mental health, wellbeing and resilience for students and teachers plus safe and supportive class and school learning environments.