A Culture of Care

As an area often affected by floods, members of the Kurri Kurri Learning Community (KKLC) in NSW are no strangers to hardship and the stress that comes with it. Levi, a Year 12 student at Kurri Kurri High School, had been disengaged and suspended multiple times. His behaviour was a clear sign that he needed help.

Led by Kurri Kurri High School, a cluster of six schools in the KKLC has invested more in training teachers and staff to support children’s mental wellbeing. Using evidence-based ‘Coach 2 Cope’ resources from EquiEnergy Youth, 300 staff studied early signs of psychological distress and how to be a safe and effective responder. This includes using visual prompts and common language that help children explain their level of distress and strategies to build their emotional regulation toolkit. The schools have also reached over 100 parents and community members with Coach 2 Cope workshops.

Learning how to self-regulate through his own personalised toolkit has been lifechanging for Levi. He now finds it easier to communicate his feelings, feels empowered to take on difficult situations and understands that asking for help is a good thing.

With additional tools to help students like Levi, the number of negative behaviour incidents has declined and student attendance has improved.  The employment of a Community Engagement Officer has also enabled the KKLC to strengthen connections with families, community groups and neighbouring Cessnock schools.

School leaders from the five primary schools in the KKLC have successfully rolled out the Coach 2 Cope model school-wide, and future training sessions have been planned with EquiEnergy Youth to ensure the program continues to help children thrive.