Wellbeing

At Paradise Primary School, student wellbeing is at the heart of everything we do and is a key focus of our everyday practice. We are committed to creating a learning environment where all students feel safe, valued and have a strong sense of belonging. Supporting students’ physical, emotional and social wellbeing enables them to feel ready to learn, take positive risks and engage confidently in school life. Staff participate in ongoing professional learning to strengthen their understanding of the Berry Street Education Model and to consistently apply trauma-informed, evidence-based practices that support safety, belonging and connection across the school.

Paradise Primary School implements the Berry Street Education Model as a whole school approach to wellbeing and learning. This model focuses on five domains which are; Body, relationship, Character, Stamina and Engagement Students are explicitly taught evidence based strategies that build self-awareness, regulation and engagement, supporting their overall wellbeing and readiness to learn. This approach assists students who may experience challenges connecting with the learning environment or forming positive relationships.

The Berry Street curriculum is particularly beneficial for students who require additional support to regulate emotions, manage anxiety, meet behavioural expectations or respond to everyday challenges. It is purposefully designed to support the sequential development of students’ physical, social and emotional wellbeing.

We believe that this whole school commitment to wellbeing strengthens student engagement and has a positive impact on both social development and academic success.

-Nicollette De Leonardis (Wellbeing Coordinator)

Breakfast Club

Paradise Primary School offers a free breakfast club service to all students attending our school. Breakfast club is staffed by social work students and our Pastoral Care Worker. They provide cereal, toast, juice and Milo. Breakfast Club opens at 8am-8:30 and supports students to transition into school in the morning. No need to book, just turn up and meet the staff.

Pastoral Care Worker

Tammy is our Pastoral Care Worker. She works Mon-Wed and has been a terrific support for students, staff and community members.

A pastoral care worker in a public primary school supports students’ social, emotional, behavioural, and wellbeing needs so they are ready and able to engage in learning. The role sits alongside teaching, leadership, and wellbeing services, and focuses on early intervention, relationship-based support, and school connectedness.

The pastoral care worker’s primary role is to:

  • Promote student wellbeing and resilience

  • Support emotional regulation and social skills

  • Reduce barriers to learning linked to wellbeing

  • Strengthen student–school–family connections

  • Provide preventative and early support, rather than clinical intervention

They are non-teaching wellbeing staff, not counsellors or psychologists.

Pastoral care workers commonly:

  • Build trusting relationships with students

  • Provide check-ins for vulnerable or disengaged students

  • Support students experiencing:

    • anxiety

    • friendship conflict

    • behavioural dysregulation

    • family stress or change

  • Assist students to regulate emotions using structured strategies

  • Support transitions (e.g., new students, class changes, return after absence)

Activities include:

  •  support programs (wellbeing and breakfast clubs)

  • small social skills groups

  • regulation sessions (Kimochis)

  • mentoring conversations

Mentors

The role of a student mentor in public schools is to provide social, emotional, behavioural, and engagement support to students who require additional guidance beyond standard classroom teaching.

Their work includes:

  • Establish regular check-ins with identified students

  • Provide a safe, predictable adult connection

  • Model respectful communication and emotional regulation

  • Build trust with students disengaged from learning

If you would like to look into accessing a Mentor for your child, please reach out to Tammy through our site’s email.

Social Work Students

Paradise Primary School has 2 social work students supporting its learners. They work as part of the wellbeing team alongside Nicollette (wellbeing leader and teacher) and Tammy (Pastoral Care worker) to help students build:

  • Emotional literacy

  • Coping strategies

  • Perspective-taking

  • Self-advocacy

They do this through a number of mechanisms including:

  • 1:1 check ins
  • Small group interventions (social skills groups etc.)
  • Transition Support (getting into class in the morning, moving to specialist lessons etc.)
  • Family engagement support (referrals to support agencies)