Wellbeing

Free Wellbeing Webinars

• 17 June, 12.30pm - Navigating screen time: tools for today’s families 
• 3 June, 12:30pm - How AI is influencing new online risks for children and young people
• 28 May, 12:30pm & 23 June, 5:30pm - The trust trap: navigating friendships, pressure and manipulation online

Supporting Respectful Relationships at Home: The Role of Thinking, Coping and Conversation

Following our recent staff learning in Respectful Relationships Education, an important next step is considering how this work continues beyond the classroom and into everyday family life. Research from organisations such as Our Watch highlights that respectful relationships are shaped not only by behaviour, but by the attitudes, beliefs and patterns of thinking young people develop over time. 

At Kinross Wolaroi, our 'Compass wellbeing program—grounded in the Visible Wellbeing SEARCH framework—places a strong emphasis on the pathways of Coping and Emotional Management. One practical way this is taught is through helping students recognise and respond to Automatic Negative Thoughts (ANTs). These are quick, often unconscious interpretations we make in social situations. For example, a missed message might become, “they’re ignoring me,” or a comment might be interpreted as, “they’re having a go at me.”

While these thoughts feel real in the moment, they are not always accurate. If left unchallenged, they can lead to conflict, withdrawal or heightened emotional responses. This is where respectful relationships and wellbeing intersect. Students are learning that how they think about a situation directly influences how they respond to others.

Within Compass lessons, students are taught simple, evidence-based strategies to pause, reflect and question their thinking. This might include reframing ANTs to PETs (positive encouraging thoughts) - instead of: 'I always mess up' → 'I’m still learning — I can improve’​​, or instead of: 'Everyone is judging me' → 'Most people are focused on themselves’. These small cognitive shifts can help young people move from reactive responses to more thoughtful, respectful interactions with others.

Families play a vital role in reinforcing these skills. Guidance from respect.gov.au highlights that young people learn through everyday conversations, modelling and shared experiences, not just formal lessons. Small moments—such as discussing a disagreement, unpacking something seen online, or gently challenging assumptions—can help young people develop perspective, empathy and emotional awareness. 

You might consider asking questions like:

• “What else could be going on there?”
• “How do you think the other person felt?”

• “Is there another way to look at that?”

   

These approaches align closely with the RISE conversation framework shared in our previous article, encouraging curiosity, reflection and learning rather than judgement.

Ultimately, respectful relationships are built over time through consistent messages, experiences and conversations. At Kinross Wolaroi, we are increasingly teaching students that respectful behaviour is not just about what we do—but about how we think, interpret and understand others. When schools and families work together in this space, we create the conditions for young people to develop empathy, resilience and positive relationships that will serve them well beyond their school years.