Wellbeing

Introducing Compass, our bespoke wellbeing program

This year, Kinross Wolaroi School has taken an exciting step forward in the way we teach and embed wellbeing across the School. Compass, our new taught wellbeing program, provides a consistent, structured and evidence‑informed approach from Years K to 12, grounded in the Visible Wellbeing SEARCH Framework. The SEARCH pathways — Strengths, Emotional Management, Attention & Awareness, Relationships, Coping, Habits & Goals — guide each unit on Self, Belonging, Relationships and Growth, and ensure our students build the skills needed to thrive, both at school and beyond.

Importantly, every lesson across the School is intentionally designed to strengthen connection, self‑knowledge and resilience, while helping students develop and live out the School values – respect, commitment, resilience, courage, inclusion - and Graduate Attributes – adaptable, authentic, creative, collaborative, empathetic, independent. Our last Wellbeing Bulletin article gave insight into the lessons planned in Term 1. Below is a more detailed example of the activities taking place.

Junior School

The Junior School’s taught wellbeing is not only underpinned by the SEARCH framework but embeds resources from U R Strong and Grow Your Mind. As an example, Year 6 have been learning about healthy relationships and the role empathy plays by using role play and watching clips from the movie Inside Out (2015). Activities and programs such as these are aiming to build a kinder world by empowering students with friendship skills.

Stage 4 | Years 7 & 8

In Stage 4, we have begun the year by helping students understand Self — who they are, where they come from, and how their character strengths shape the way they move through the world. Classes have already participated in activities such as Two Truths and a Lie to build rapport and psychological safety, followed by personal reflection tasks like creating a family tree and a student profile to explore their emerging identity. These lessons encourage students to recognise their own qualities, values and interests, laying the foundation for self‑awareness and belonging. 

Stage 5 | Years 9 & 10

Year 9 have completed the VIA Character Strengths Survey and reflected on how their strengths can be used in and out of the classroom. Year 10 have started Term 1 with Belonging, where students are exploring the shared traits, experiences and influences that shape their peer relationships. In the lesson Where Do I Belong?, students took part in group connection challenges such as Finding Commonalities, On the Bus preference lines, and the Find Your Twin matching task. These activities build empathy and highlight the many similarities students discover when they look beneath the surface. Students will also examine the role of influencers in shaping identity, values and behaviour, developing awareness of both positive and negative impacts within youth culture.

Stage 6 | Years 11 & 12

In Building Mentor Relationships, Year 12 have learned practical communication strategies and developed a personalised Mentor Partnership Plan to use in supporting their academic journey. In addition, Mr Bruce Paine will speak to the cohort on careers, UAC and post-school opportunities later this term. Year 11 have been setting SMART goals and reflecting on how their character strengths and mentor relationships can support achieving these goals. Year 11 have also learned about the Habit Loop so they can better understand how to reinforce positive habits and change bad ones.

Compass ensures that regardless of year level or teacher, every student is receiving a high‑quality, consistent wellbeing experience backed by research — and grounded in our values as a Uniting Church school.

I want to take this opportunity to thank the Wellbeing Design Team that spent more than 18 months designing the Compass program and who will continue to help refine and improve it moving forward.

Junior School

• Mr Lachlan Barett
• Mrs Belle Hazelton
• Ms Sarah Hamblin
• Mr Mark Whitehead

Stage 4

• Mrs Erin Gibson
• Ms Madi Jones
• Mr Ben Ronald

Stage 5

• Mr Alex McLennan
• Mr Matt Smedley
• Mrs Amy Keir
• Mrs Rebecca Campey

Stage 6

• Ms Olivia Kite

Boarding and further support from

• Mr Rob Bell
• Mrs Nic Byrne
• Reverend Sally Yabsley-Bell
• Mrs Michelle Thompson