East Doncaster Secondary College Newsletter

Respectful Relationships News

Everyone in our community deserves to be respected, valued and treated equally. We know that changes in attitudes and behaviours can be achieved when positive attitudes, behaviours and equality are embedded in our education settings.

 

Respectful Relationships is about embedding a culture of respect and equality across our entire community, from our classrooms to staffrooms, sporting fields, fetes and social events. This approach leads to positive impacts on student’s academic outcomes, their mental health, classroom behaviour, and relationships between teachers and students.

 

Together, we can lead the way in saying yes to respect and equality, and creating genuine and lasting change so that every child has the opportunity to achieve their full potential.​

The EDSC Respectful Relationships Pledge:

"All members of our school community have a responsibility to stand up against family violence and the misuse of gender power and control. We foster relationships that are respectful, caring and fair."

 

If you or anyone you know is experiencing domestic violence the following services are available

 

A reminder that during lockdown you can leave your home and travel beyond 5km to seek help if you're trying to escape harm or the risk of harm. You will NOT be fined for this.

 

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger call 000 and ask for the police. 

For non-urgent help, please contact:

• 1800RESPECT: The national sexual assault, domestic and family violence counselling service. Phone and online services available 24/7. 

• Doncare: (03) 9856 1500

• Eastern Domestic Violence Service (EDVOS): (03) 9259 4200

• Safe Steps Family Violence Response Centre: 1800 015 188

• Thorne Harbour Health support for the LGBTIQA+ community: (03) 9865 6700

• Migrant Information Centre support for people from diverse cultural backgrounds: (03) 9285 4888

• inTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence at (03) 9413 6500

• Men's Referral Service: 1300 766 491

• Eastern Community Legal Centre: 1300 325 200

 

More resources/agencies can be found on our Wellbeing, Engagement and Positive Futures page of the East Doncaster Secondary College website

 

https://www.eastdonsc.vic.edu.au/wellbeing-engagement-positive-futures

Maintaining Respectful Relationships during Lockdown

During this challenging time, it’s important to look after our mental health and wellbeing as well as our relationships with others. 

 

Mental Health Tips:

  1. Move your body to support your wellbeing
  2. Take some quiet time to read, meditate and breathe.
  3. Follow the facts and disconnect when you need a break.
  4. Nourish your body with a variety of foods that make you feel good.
  5. Catch up online with friends and family that make you smile.”

It is important to remember that at the moment ‘It's ok not to be okay’. It's also important to remember that acting in violent or abusive ways towards yourself and the people you love is not the answer. 

 

Now is a good time to choose to act in ways of kindness and respect to yourself and those around you. 

 

Can you reach out to a friend or family member and check in to see how they are doing?

If you or someone you know would like some more support please reach out to the following services. They are here to help during this difficult period.

 

Men’s Line: 1300 78 99 78

Beyond Blue: 1300 22 46 36

RRRR Book of the Week

In a novel-in-verse that brims with grief and love, National Book Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Elizabeth Acevedo writes about the devastation of loss, the difficulty of forgiveness, and the bittersweet bonds that shape our lives.

 

Camino Rios lives for the summers when her father visits her in the Dominican Republic. But this time, on the day when his plane is supposed to land, Camino arrives at the airport to see crowds of crying people…

 

In New York City, Yahaira Rios is called to the principal’s office, where her mother is waiting to tell her that her father, her hero, has died in a plane crash.

 

Separated by distance—and Papi’s secrets—the two girls are forced to face a new reality in which their father is dead and their lives are forever altered.

 

Then, when it seems like they’ve lost everything of their father, they learn of each other. 

 

Rebecca James

Respectful Relationships Coordinator