Learning and Teaching
Term 1 Inquiry Focus - Health, Wellbeing and Safety Inquiry Unit
As part of our Term One Inquiry on Health, Wellbeing, and Safety, students will learn the knowledge and skills they need to stay safe, make responsible choices, and treat others with dignity and respect.
As part of the Victorian curriculum, all Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) are required to promote child safety and protective behaviour strategies. The Health and Physical Education and Personal and Social Capability learning areas include learning protective behaviours, help-seeking and digital safety.
In Catholic education, we believe that showing respect for oneself and for others plays an important role in building safe, respectful, and caring relationships. At our school, we believe that helping children understand protective behaviours helps them develop confidence, empathy, resilience, and respect for others, all grounded in our Catholic values and in the belief in the inherent dignity of every person.
As Catholic educators, we have a strong moral and pastoral responsibility to ensure the well-being and safety of every child entrusted to our care.
In addition, MACS schools are Child Safe Organisations and must comply with Ministerial Order No. 1359, which outlines the Child Safe Standards for Victorian schools.
Through our Health, Wellbeing and Safety Inquiry Unit, students will engage in carefully selected, age-appropriate learning experiences that support their social, emotional, and personal development. These learning experiences will ensure that students feel safe, valued, respected, and confident in advocating for their own well-being.
Through these explicit, age-appropriate learning experiences, students will develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to recognise unsafe situations, seek support, and make informed, respectful choices.
As part of this learning, teachers will use selected, approved activities from the Respectful Relationships Curriculum, endorsed by Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS). These activities have been carefully selected to ensure schools are effectively addressing the Health and Physical Education and Personal and Social Capabilities areas of the Victorian Curriculum, while remaining developmentally appropriate, inclusive, and respectful of our Catholic ethos. Students will also participate in the Kids’ Helpline incursions.
Throughout this unit, students will explore key understandings, including:
- Recognising safe and unsafe feelings
- Understanding that everyone has the right to feel safe at all times
- Identifying early warning signs and knowing how to respond
- Knowing the difference between safe and unsafe secrets
- Identifying trusted adults they can talk to if they feel worried or unsafe.
- Knowing they can say “no” to any person, including adults, if they feel unsafe
- Persisting in seeking help until they feel safe again
- How to stay safe online
This unit aims to empower students with essential life skills, strengthen their ability to communicate concerns, and promote respectful relationships. Our goal is to ensure that all students feel safe, supported, and confident in advocating for their well-being within a caring, trusted learning environment.
Parent Curriculum Overviews
Last Friday, our level Term One Curriculum Overviews were shared with parents via our nForma. These overviews outline the key learning areas and topics students will focus on throughout the term.
Have a lovely week
Vira Pirrotta | Deputy Principal
Learning and Teaching /Learning Diversity Leader