What Participants Say About Our Training

‘The course exceeded my expectations. I am regularly surprised at how your cues for supporting others in ‘conflict’ are positively successful’ 

Primary School Teacher, ACT

‘Feel confidant that this process can provide another level in School Welfare Policy’.

High School Principal, NSW

‘I had expectations of learning something valuable and I have’

WA Community Member.

‘Way above my expectations – after discussion with my Principal (who had previously done the training), I thought I would develop skills for me.  Now I see this can go to the whole school.’ Teacher in Remote WA Community.

‘This course not only met my expectations, it exceeded. This is an innovative approach to rectifying problem situations’. High School Principal, WA.

‘It has been a very useful PD.  Reinforces my thinking of how we should work with kids to achieve improvement / changed behaviours’. School Principal

Excellent – the course has provided a framework for a set of loose ideas already worked on.’ WA School Principal

‘I was after a process that was restorative and maintained dignity and compassion – this process certainly does.   It sits so comfortably with my beliefs.  It’s achievable and desirable’.  Teacher

‘This was a superb in-service – I’m excited about the prospects of its initiation.’ WA Country Region, School.

‘It more than met my expectations.  It was fantastic – making connections with what we have begun at our school, affirming that we are heading in the right direction and giving me more skills to resolve situations and enhance learning.  Primary School Principal, WA.

‘It more than met my expectations as it has given me the necessary knowledge/skills to meet the need in the school.  I can see it being very effective in the whole school’.  Regional School Deputy Principal, WA.

‘I came wondering and went away having learnt more re the crucial nature of relationships / connectedness and restorative practices’. District Support Personnel, WA

‘Had no expectations because of prior knowledge.  Can see RJ as being significant in the District.  Can see how RJ with benefit Aboriginal Community and all school environments.  District Support Personnel.

‘It far exceeded my expectations as it engaged with my personal life as well as giving me deeper insight into the process and confidence to do it.’ WA Community Member.

‘Far exceeded my expectations.  It has provided a powerful tool to empower students to accept responsibility for their actions and to improve.’ WA School Principal.

‘Thanks so much for providing this opportunity to learn a better way of resolving conflict and reducing harm.’ Country School Psychologist, WA

‘This course met more that my expectations.  It definitely provided the knowledge and skills I was looking for and more.’ School Psychologist,WA.

‘Exceeded them.  I came knowing nothing and was impressed with hoe the practical / theoretical components were presented and integrated. School Psychologist, WA.

‘I feel confidant that the process works and feel I could go and try it and bring others on board’.  Executive Primary School Teacher, ACT.

‘I thought the structure and delivery of this course was excellent – the best I have experienced.  I sincerely hope that I can use this to reinforce relationships and to help my classroom teaching’.  Primary School, Executive teacher, ACT.

‘Far and away exceeded my expectations! I thought it would be practical and it was!  But it was surprisingly fascinating and I was taken by its power.’ ACT primary school teacher

‘It met my expectations to a high level.  I now feel much better prepared (content wise) and more confidant to move RP on in our school.  Deputy Principal, Primary School. ACT

‘This course went much further than my expectations in terms of informing my practice and giving a whole school approach’. Primary School teacher.

‘I believe these skills will make me a better teacher.’

‘I thought it met my expectations.  I have lots of practical ideas now – not just for the school – but also for myself specifically – I’m actually quite excited about the prospect of giving it a go.’ High School Principal.

‘Excellent in preparing is as thoroughly as possible and inspiring us into real action.  I feel/felt very supported’. Student Support Services

‘…this offers (eventually) a valuable alternative to the endless suspensions and over-punitive treatments in schools’ Student Support Services.

‘I can see that this process is very much in line with our school’s policy on Pastoral Care’. Catholic Primary School.

‘Thank you for the training of my 5 people. It went very well and the
corridor conferencing is going around the staff like wildfire’.

Primary School Principal, ACT.

’…I have just completed 2 official restorative justice conferences and I am SO proud of how well they went. One was for a truancy issue and the other for a violent incident. I am totally impressed (though not surprised) at how amazing the process is…’
Middle School Teacher, ACT

‘We had our first formal conference last week!  While I was a way the Principal suspended a student for leaving the unit and throwing a large bin at a 7 month pregnant teacher and the staff were refusing to have him back in the school this term.  Upon reentry we had a conference with him, both his parents, his teacher and the teacher who'd been hit and by the end of it the class teacher was happy to have him back in the class straight away and the parents had moved from being aggressive to siding with us.  They stopped saying we were over reacting and started telling their son it was not okay.  Success!

Executive Teacher, ACT

Circles and Classroom Managment Practices

We had a brilliant two days down at the coast last week where three of our classroom teachers shared Circles with the whole staff.  They were fantastic!  All the staff loved it and everyone has come back and introduced them to their classes straight away.  Its only Day 3 but those classes that didn't do it today had the kids whinging 'cos they didn't get their Circle time!  The staff really appreciated a concrete structure to build relationships; the practical to support the theory, that it is so pro active and that you can relate it to all areas of the curriculum.  They've already set up a folder on G:/ where people add different energisers and questions etc.

SRC Leadership Forums

On Wednesday 9th August, 2006, students from the high schools and colleges across the Belconnen area had the opportunity to participate in an SRC Leadership Forum.  The outcome of this event was a better appreciation and greater knowledge of how to serve and develop our individual schools and their communities more effectively.

We participated in team-building exercises and brain-storming activities designed to increase our awareness of the role of leadership in the school community.  We listened to insightful guest speakers, including 2006 Young Canberran of the Year, Liam Hunt, who demonstrated how much we can achieve, and offered us further direction.

The most engaging activity of the day was "concentric circles" where we got to know other participants of the forum.  The highlight of the day was seeing partly serious and partly humurous skits that all of the groups created in one activity.  We learnt how to co-operate and communicate with others, and how to get ourselves more invovlved in the school community, at an SRC level or not.  The whole interactive forum was run by Peta Blood who was an excellent facilitator ran the day with confidence and enthusiasm.  We all made great new friends and have learnt new skills.