Initiative of Australian Government Department of Health, Beyond Blue, Australian Psychological Society, Principals Australian Institute, Early Childhood Australia.

 

The Kids Matter program, an initiative that helps to ensure we permeate strategies and programs that will help children to develop strong mental, social and emotional health. Teachers have been trained in the Kids Matter initiative, implementing programs including Keeping Safe, PATHS, resiliency and drug education, anti-bullying. For staff it has become our common practice – how we respond to and deal with students.

 

As with all areas of the school, the Kids Matter initiative is outworked at Esperance Christian School from a Christian perspective, by supporting students with strategies that will assist them in fulfilling God’s plan for their lives.

 

We believe that every child needs to be strong mentally and emotionally to cope with whatever they will encounter in their life, leading them to develop well spiritually and academically. This initiative is a strong resource to reach these goals. At Esperance Christian School it is part of learning and every day interaction.

 

The Kids Matter initiative creates an environment across the whole school that involves:

 

• creating positive school and early childhood communities

• teaching children skills for good social and emotional development

• working together with families

• recognising and getting help for children with mental health problems

 

The initiative has become part of how we as a whole school and community seek to relate to children.