Rural school makes wellbeing a big priority

Many large urban schools are taking important steps to better support the wellbeing of their students by turning to weekly check-ins to inform their strategies. But what about rural schools?

One small high school that has made wellbeing a big priority is Dorrigo High School, NSW.

As with many rural communities, access to mental health and wellbeing services can be limited. As such, schools play a pivotal role in supporting student wellbeing. Dorrigo High School implements many strategies that align with the Department of Education’s Wellbeing Framework, and is always looking at ways to best support their students.

Following months of droughts, bushfires, floods and the national pandemic, student wellbeing was thrown to the forefront of this small school.

The School wanted to explore different options that could provide their students with safe ways to make their voice heard and tell support staff how they are feeling. They needed a system that would complement their established system.

Ei Pulse was introduced to support their message that students are valued and cared for. It provided students with another opportunity to connect with their year advisors and support personnel in a way that enabled them to thrive, despite the obstacles they had faced.

“ei Pulse, in combination with our established wellbeing referral and support systems, helps us recognise students experiencing difficulty and connect them with the appropriate support services - either within the school or externally. Ei Pulse complements our existing systems and processes” Aimee Dawson Head Teacher Wellbeing said.

As well as helping Dorrigo High School to identify students who need immediate support, ei Pulse has also provided an additional mechanism to track student wellbeing over time to gauge the success of the wellbeing programs and support options.

Read the full story here.