Education Commons^™

Consideration is given about why children with additional needs are at a greater risk of mental health difficulties, and how schools can promote mental health and wellbeing in children who have additional needs. The session also considers how the KidsMatter framework guides schools through a whole-school approach that promotes a positive school community, develops children’s social and emotional skills, strengthens parents and carer engagement, and assists children experiencing difficulties, particularly those with special needs. Key principles for supporting children with disabilities to participate and be included at school are discussed, along with key findings from the Ministerial Advisory Committee: Students …

In this workshop, we present evidence and look at why children with additional needs are at a greater risk of mental health difficulties, and how schools can promote mental health and wellbeing in children who have additional needs. The session considers how the KidsMatter framework guides schools through a whole-school approach that promotes a positive school community, develops children’s social and emotional skills, strengthens parents and carer engagement, and assists children experiencing difficulties. Key principles for supporting children with disabilities to participate and be included at school are discussed, along with key findings from the Ministerial Advisory Committee: Students with …

KidsMatter and MindMatters are national initiatives that support student mental health promotion, prevention and early intervention in 4700+ primary and secondary schools across Australia. As part of a broad approach to reducing problem behaviour, such as bullying, KidsMatter and MindMatters offer resources and expertise. This paper presents evidence that these initiatives are making a difference to the lives of students with regard to reductions in bullying and harassment. Findings suggest that students feel safer in schools that have in place, opportunities to develop their skills to deal with bullying. Focus is given to strategies that support schools to reduce bullying …

This chapter draws key findings from a South Australian study, KidsMatter for Students with a Disability, in order to extend the discussion on whether whole-school mental health promotion initiatives are equally supportive of students with and without a disability. This discussion contributes to overcoming the lack of evidence-based research in this area and proposes new opportunities to better support all students with disabilities, whether identified or unrecognised.

Student wellbeing is of central concern for parents/caregivers and teachers and for state and national governments. In Australia in recent times several major initiatives have been undertaken to address the area of student mental health, including the KidsMatter Initiative. Across 2007-8 a trial of KidsMatter was carried out in 101 schools across Australia. Part of the roll-out of KidsMatter was a detailed evaluation of its implementation. Thus, in this paper we report on findings associated with the implementation of the KidsMatter Initiative. Underpinned by a framework of quality, fidelity and dosage we used Latent Class Analysis to create an Implementation …