WELLBEING

Friendship, Belonging and Being a Good Friend 

One of the most important protective factors for young people throughout secondary school is a strong sense of belonging. Feeling connected to peers, valued by others and accepted for who they are can have a significant impact on a student's wellbeing, engagement and confidence.

As parents, we often focus on whether our child has friends, but it is equally important to consider how they are contributing to their friendships. Healthy friendships are built on trust, kindness, respect and genuine care for one another.

Learning how to be a good friend is a skill that develops over time and is something we can continue to encourage at home. 

Some simple ways young people can be a good friend include: 

• Listening with empathy and trying to understand another person's perspective. 
• Taking the time to check in with friends, particularly if they seem withdrawn or upset. 
• Celebrating the successes of others and showing appreciation for the people in their lives. 
• Using technology positively to stay connected and maintain relationships. 
• Showing kindness through small gestures such as a smile, encouraging words or simply being present when someone needs support. 

An important part of friendship is also recognising when a friend may need more help than we can provide ourselves. Encouraging young people to seek support from a trusted adult when they are worried about a friend is not "telling on" someone; it is an act of care and responsibility. 

Secondary school can be a time of changing friendship groups, new social experiences and occasional challenges. By continuing conversations at home about kindness, respect and inclusion, we can help young people develop the skills needed to create meaningful connections and contribute positively to our school community. 

A strong sense of belonging starts with everyday actions. Sometimes the smallest acts of friendship can make the biggest difference in helping someone feel seen, valued and connected. 

For more information on this, and a range of other issues that might be impacting your child, please view the range of topics available on SchoolTV.  

Here is the link to the special report about friendship and belonging: https://smmc.vic.schooltv.me/newsletter/friendship-belonging  

If you do have any concerns about the wellbeing of your child, please feel free to reach out to the Wellbeing Team at 03 5032 9771. 

Jorgen Leschke

Director of Wellbeing