Wellbeing

A Balanced and Holistic Approach

Christian College is committed to the supporting, enhancing and promoting holistic development through the fostering of personal wellbeing. As highlighted in our College philosophy, we seek to develop…an atmosphere of care and concern for each student’s character, growth and wellbeing within a value system and set of priorities derived from the Christian faith and we are collectively focused on creating an environment where staff, students and families can flourish.

The College Wellbeing Framework is designed to promote human flourishing within a Christian worldview and reflects a contemporary understanding of wellbeing as a complex interplay between internal and external factors and how individuals respond to these.

Through our framework, we aim to promote individual wellbeing by nurturing Faith, to encourage personal growth in connection with Christ. We strive to foster Leadership and Servanthood, to cultivate a sense of purpose and fulfillment through service. We seek to support all community members in Overcoming Challenges, encouraging perseverance and a growth mindset as essential tools for navigating life’s difficulties and Understanding of Purpose, to help individuals develop clear goals and a sense of direction that connects them to their values and aspirations. We prioritise Inclusion and Belonging, to foster a community where respect, courtesy, and connection are integral and our focus on Respectful Relationships seeks to cultivate trust, empathy, and mutual understanding. Social and Emotional Learning is to develop self and social awareness and the emphasis on Health – Physical, Mental, and Digital, is to encourage a balanced approach to caring for the body, mind, and our interactions in a digital world.

Our framework acknowledges the importance of external factors as contributing to individual wellbeing, recognising that wellbeing is a shared responsibility, requiring collective effort and intentional practices to support the whole community. Supportive Leadership practices are essential for fostering an environment of trust, safety, and wellbeing for both staff and students, Systems are the policies, structures, and processes that ensure wellbeing is consistently prioritised and sustained across the College and by exploring and harnessing the power of partnerships within and outside of the College, we strengthen our Community.

Our FLOURISH Wellbeing Program

The FLOURISH wellbeing program is designed to build the wellbeing capabilities of students, recognising that wellbeing is foundational to holistic development, positive student outcomes and success in learning. Our program takes a whole-college approach and provides developmentally age appropriate; evidence informed resources tailored to the unique needs of each year level.

Wellbeing in the Junior Years

In the Junior years, the FLOURISH Wellbeing Program emphasises the development of Social and Emotional Learning, equipping students with foundational skills to navigate their emotions, build positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. Through the implementation of Bounce Back! we aim to support student development in self and social awareness, the experience of positive emotions, and effective coping strategies.

Wellbeing in the Middle Years

The FLOURISH Wellbeing Program in the Middle Years builds on foundational skills by addressing the developmental needs of students as they navigate the complexities of adolescence, a pivotal stage of growth and change. In Year 5, a key focus is to promote Health including healthy attitudes and behaviours towards the body with initiatives such as the implementation of Body Bright and the focus in Year 6 is on developing Social and Emotional Learning, specifically emotional intelligence, fostering resilience, and building positive relationships to support students during this critical transitional phase. A significant focus in Year 7 is on Inclusion and Belonging, providing essential support as students adjust to the challenges of secondary school as well as prioritising Health – Digital and positive digital engagement, ensuring students use technology safely, responsibly, and respectfully, while understanding the legal implications of their online behaviour. The Year 8 Wellbeing Program centres on Leadership and Servanthood by developing leadership skills, fostering connection, and promoting responsibility and finally, the Year 9 Wellbeing Program focuses on Overcoming Challenges, specifically developing problem-solving skills, assertive communication. Recognising the complexities of adolescence, the program equips students with practical tools to navigate these challenges confidently and constructively by focusing on respectful relationships.

Wellbeing in the Senior Years

The Senior Years Wellbeing Program supports students in navigating the heightened responsibilities and challenges of their final school years. A central focus is on Overcoming Challenges, with students developing effective coping strategies and practical tools for stress management to handle the demands of senior studies, exams, and future planning. The program also emphasises the importance of Respectful Relationships particularly the development of strategies that can be used to communicate boundaries, seek safety and access support and help-seeking behaviours, encouraging students to prioritise and normalise accessing support, both for themselves and their peers.

Support for individual students

In addition to their role as educators, Homeroom Teachers and House Mentors are responsible for nurturing and guiding the academic, pastoral, and spiritual development of each individual student, serving as the first point of contact for parents and carers.

Our Year Level Coordinators and Heads of House play a key role in ensuring students experience a cohesive and well-rounded approach to their education, fostering connection and engagement across all aspects of school life.

For students requiring more specialised support, our Student Wellbeing Officers provide tailored guidance, resources, and strategies to help navigate personal challenges. With a deep understanding of the unique difficulties young people may face, they offer information and practical support to students dealing with issues that impact their mental health and overall wellbeing. Their role ensures that every student has access to the care and encouragement they need to flourish.

Fostering Positive Relationships

As one of the key guiding principles of the Wellbeing Framework, Christian College is committed to fostering positive and inclusive relationships within a respectful community. Taking a whole-school approach to the implementation of the Victorian Government’s Respectful Relationships initiative, we seek to promote and model respect and equality across our entire school community. We proudly partner with schools throughout the Geelong region, including Iona College, St Johns Lutheran College, St Therese Primary School, St Catherine of Sienna Primary School and Lisieux Primary School and we support and engage our staff with ongoing professional development. For our students, we deliver curricula designed to build knowledge and attitudes to respectful relationships, and we affirm the importance of our parents and families in achieving this. For more information on the respectful relationships initiative please visit this link.

Supporting Positive Digital Wellbeing With Linewize

At Christian College Geelong, we are proactively supporting the holistic wellbeing of all members of our community is paramount. This includes supporting our students’ digital wellbeing. In 2022, we launched our Cyber Safe Schools Program in partnership with Linewize by Family Zone. This program enables Christian College to implement proactive strategies for supporting students’ development of positive digital behaviours around learning, and other contexts. The program increases safety and support to students in their digital journey, both on our school network and on their college laptops, wherever they may use them. The technology and expertise provided by Linewize allows us to embrace ‘Digital Safeguarding’ – a proactive and preventative approach to supporting each student’s digital wellbeing. We value the benefit to students of this program and acknowledge the importance of all parents and families partnering with us in supporting the safety and wellbeing of their young people in their digital interactions.