At Ashwood School, the wellbeing of students is prioritised to ensure that all students have the best opportunity to be engaged learners. We believe that students thrive when they feel safe, supported and connected. A dedicated wellbeing team led by our Wellbeing Leader works closely with students, teachers, families and external professionals aligning supports and interventions for students’ social and emotional, physical and individual needs.
Wellbeing is embedded across the school through a range of proactive and preventative programs that promote positive mental health, respectful relationships and personal growth. These include the Resilience, Rights and Respectful Relationships curriculum and the Cyber Safety Project. Together, these partnerships empower students with the skills and knowledge to care for their own wellbeing and support others. The Mental Health and Wellbeing Leaders at Ashwood implement the Mental Health in Primary Schools initiative to facilitate preventative mental health activities for the whole Primary school. The Children’s Wellbeing Continuum is an evidenced based tool that assists the identification of mental health concerns and guides the strategies involved to support children and families.
Ashwood proudly maintains a culturally safe environment, respecting and celebrating the cultural identity of First Nations learners. We provide respectful and inclusive support for our First Nations students and families, connecting with the Koorie Education Officer and Victorian Aboriginal Child Care Agency (VACCA).
Families can access a range of specialist services through the school. A Specialist Disability Practitioner from Uniting visits the school fortnightly to provide confidential support and guidance to families navigating parenting and the complexities of supporting young people with a disability. Our School Nurse responds to students' health and medical needs. The NDIS Navigator is available to assist families work with their NDIS plans and service providers. Adding to the warm and welcoming atmosphere at Ashwood is Pixie, our much-loved therapy dog. During her visits each Friday, Pixie brings a calming presence to our school.
