Principals' Report
We acknowledge the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Owners of the land on which we work, learn and play. We pay respect to Wurundjeri elders past, present and emerging and extend our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and families of Bimbadeen Heights Primary School.
Creating a safe, inclusive and supportive school where every child feels valued and that they belong is at the heart of everything we do at Bimbadeen Heights Primary School. This includes supporting our students to build positive relationships, make safe choices and seek help when something does not feel right, both at school and online.
In August each year schools across Australia recognise Bullying No Way Week, Australia’s leading bullying prevention initiative for schools. This year’s theme, Small Acts, Big Impact, reminds us that meaningful change often comes through small, deliberate actions.
Including someone, speaking up when something is not right, checking in on a friend, using kind words or simply offering a welcoming smile can make an enormous difference. At Bimbadeen, this reflects the culture we work together to foster every day, one that is safe, welcoming and inclusive, where everyone belongs and bullying is not accepted in any form.
As part of our preventative approach, we continue to embed whole school practices that promote safety, inclusion and positive behaviour. This includes our School Wide Positive Behaviour Support framework, our school values, the Respectful Relationships curriculum and Berry Street Educational Practices, which support emotional regulation and trauma informed approaches. These efforts are reflected in our recent Attitudes to School Survey results, with 80 percent of students in Years 4 to 6 reporting that bullying is managed positively at Bimbadeen and 89 percent indicating a strong sense of inclusion. These outcomes are supported by our Bullying Prevention and Inclusion and Diversity policies, which guide our shared expectations and commitment to a safe and respectful school environment.
These expectations also extend to our students’ online interactions. Digital technologies provide wonderful opportunities for children to learn, create, play and connect, but learning to navigate online spaces safely, respectfully and responsibly is an increasingly important part of growing up.
Last month our students participated in dedicated Cyber Safety Incursions, providing age-appropriate opportunities to explore safe and responsible online behaviours. Students considered the choices they make online, respectful communication, protecting personal information, recognising unsafe or inappropriate situations and, importantly, knowing when and how to seek help from a trusted adult.
Families also play an important role in helping children develop safe and healthy online habits. Regular conversations about the games, apps, websites and online spaces children use can help establish an environment where they feel comfortable speaking up if something online makes them worried, uncomfortable or unsafe.
The Australian Government’s eSafety Commissioner provides an excellent range of free resources for parents and carers, including practical advice, conversation starters, webinars and tools covering cyberbullying, gaming, screen time, parental controls, inappropriate content and other online risks. Families can also access resources such as the Family Tech Agreement, which can help establish shared expectations about how and when technology is used at home.
We encourage families to explore the eSafety Commissioner’s resources for parents and carers and continue these important conversations at home. Working together between school and home gives our children the strongest foundation for navigating their face to face and online worlds safely and confidently.
As we recognise Bullying No Way Week next week, we encourage everyone in our community to consider the small acts we can take each day to make a difference. Include someone. Speak kindly. Check in. Speak up. Ask for help.
Small acts really can have a big impact. Together, we can continue to build a community where every child feels safe, respected, included and supported to thrive.
Warm regards,
Adele Gregson, Sabrina George, Marty Gill, and Bree King
