Frameworks which underpin our work
Restorative Justice
Restorative Justice is a whole school approach to developing and sustaining
relationships, a set of principles and practices that guide a school when
relationships break down and at its core are the values of respect and
responsibility. The fundamental principles are:
- It is important to respect each other.
- Misbehaviour hurts others and relationships.
- The focus for any response is on the behaviour, who has been hurt and what
needs to happen to rebuild relationships.
- Individuals have to be responsible if they have done the wrong thing and
look for ways to make things right.
- Mistakes and misbehaviour are opportunities to learn how to behave
differently.
It fits well with the National Safe Schools Framework which is committed to
ensuring that Australian schools are safe, supportive and respectful places for
students to learn and grow.
National Safe Schools Framework
The National Safe Schools Framework was developed by the Ministerial Council
on Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs in 2003 and revised in
2010. It incorporates existing good practice and provides an agreed national
approach to help schools and their communities address issues of bullying,
harassment, violence, and child abuse and neglect. It is a collaborative effort
by the Australian Government and State and Territory government and
non-government school authorities and other key stakeholders. It presents a way
of achieving a shared vision of physical and emotional safety and wellbeing for
all students in all Australian schools.
Health Promoting Schools
This is a framework developed in 1996-1997 by the Commonwealth Government
recognising the strong link between schools and health – in its broadest sense:
learning, physical health, mental health, and social and emotional wellbeing.
Its key points are:
- Schools shape the lives of the students who go there.
- Community involvement enhances the learning environment.
- Physical, mental, social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing impacts on what
people can achieve and how people develop in their lives.
- Schools are more than just classrooms and lessons.
As a
clear commitment to the principles of restorative justice St Monica’s College
became a fully accredited Restorative Practices school in 2014. Click
here
