We commit to providing safe and supportive environments which nurture the wellbeing of all students and staff in our community, and hold firmly to the belief that they have a right to be safe, respected and valued in an inclusive environment. We know that when students are happy, they are more engaged with their learning.

Schools benefit from wellbeing initiatives and pastoral care support through Sydney Catholic Schools – in areas such as anti-bullying, positive behaviour, student counselling, refugee support and child protection – which range from universal support for all students, to targeted interventions for students with complex social and emotional needs.

The school counsellor, two days each week, sees children individually and in small groups. The school also facilitates the Seasons for Growth program to support children dealing with grief and loss and the Proactive for Kids program to upskill children to deal with anxiety.

The Diverse Learning Needs team which includes the principal, the diverse learning needs coordinator, speech pathologist, occupational therapist and school counsellor meets with teachers in Term 1 and 4 to consider and plan intervention for any children experiencing difficulty.

Student leadership is important at Mater Dei Catholic Primary School Blakehurst and Year 6 students receive leadership training to become Peer Support leaders. Each year they are responsible for a small group of students from K–5 and coordinate the Peer Support program. Year 5 students are Kindergarten buddies and support the new Kindergarten children in their transition to school.

Anti-bullying policy

Sydney Catholic Schools rejects all forms of bullying behaviours, including online (or cyber) bullying, by maintaining a commitment to providing safe, inclusive and respectful learning communities that promote student wellbeing for learning. Staff at Sydney Catholic Schools are committed to employing wellbeing strategies that allow for a healthy school environment where bullying is less likely to occur.

If your child is experiencing bullying of any kind, or you have a wellbeing concern, we have a number of support services available for parents/carers and students, as listed below.

Support services: