Advocating For Your Child

Childhood and adolescence is an exciting and challenging time for our young people. As parents it is important that we support students to be empowered and advocate for themselves, but also to know when they need an adult advocate to help them navigate challenging issues. Here are some signs that your child might be struggling with an issue at school: 

• they have a noticeable change in attitude about school, or refuse to discuss school
• they are displaying increased physical symptoms such as headache, stomach ache or trouble sleeping
• they are falling behind in their work, or are misbehaving frequently

Advocacy means speaking up for your child’s needs, rights and interests when they aren’t able to. You know your child best, so you can help the school make decisions for them that are in their best interest. If you have concerns for your child, your first step is to contact their teacher or Learning Community Leader. They can organise a meeting with you and your student to better understand the issue and collaborate on supportive solutions.

Collaboration between school and home is vital, so we encourage families to reach out to us so we can work together for your child’s success.