With the aim to increase the wellbeing for our whole school community, all staff at Carey will be working with the team at Berry Street, led by Dr Tom Brunzell, as part of our targeted professional development during 2022 and 2023. This program is specifically designed for the Carey community and will continue to build on and support our approach to creating and maintaining a healthy, happy and engaged community. It will focus on trauma-informed practice, strengths, nurturing, healing, growth and learning, and is based on compelling research conducted through the University of Melbourne.
The whole-school, integrated approach that involves all school staff is essential to the success of the program. It ensures that we frame a shared language and develop an understanding of the health and wellbeing of our school community. The evidence strongly suggests that the engagement of all staff, including non-teaching personnel, is helpful in mobilising school culture and it is our belief that we should all be informed and play a role.
Throughout the pandemic, we have all experienced different layers of stress and trauma, and it is fair to say that every one of us has questioned their belief that the world is a safe place and that we have certainty in our lives. This has had some effect of changing behaviours and expectations in the community and at school. By integrating wellbeing principles that nurture growth and identify strengths in our students to build our psychological resources, we aim to respond to these uncertain times.
The two-year course includes:
- the importance of proactive, pre-emptive approaches
- the developmental domains of body, relationship, stamina, engagement, and character
- valued pathways for creating whole-school approaches, including developing a shared language and prioritising consistent expectations.
Dr Tom Brunzell is an experienced teacher, school leader, author, researcher and educational advisor. He is the Director of Berry Street and presents internationally on topics such as transforming school culture, student engagement, trauma-aware practice, wellbeing, positive psychology and effective school leadership. His research at the University of Melbourne investigates both the negative impacts of secondary traumatic stress and the positive impacts of wellbeing on teachers and leaders working towards educational equity in their communities.
Kate Croft
Deputy Principal – Learning
