National Safe Schools Framework for Parents
ResourcesResources for parents
This section provides you with a list of useful resources that you can access if you need more information or ideas.
Connecting with your child's school (2 resources)
You will find useful information on building a positive relationship with your child’s school here.
Let your child’s teacher(s) know what you perceive to be your child’s academic and character strengths. You can find out more about children’s character strengths at this website.
Your child's wellbeing (3 resources)
The World Health Organization coordinates health within the United Nations system. This web page provides facts on mental health.
This article examines the effects upon students who repeat a year of their schooling.
This article draws on recent research to assist you in making an informed decision about the best age for your child to begin school.
Communicating with your child (2 resource)
KidsMatter is a mental health and wellbeing framework for primary schools and early childhood education and care services. Useful information on managing feelings is provided here.
This article explores research indicating that giving children feedback for effort and persistence, rather than telling them how ‘clever’ they are, contributes to greater confidence and more successful outcomes.
Staying cybersafe (3 resources)
CyberSmart has ideas for schools, young children, teens and parents. Managed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority as part of the Australian Government’s commitment to cybersafety, it is ‘designed to support and encourage participation in the digital economy by providing information and education that empowers children to be safe online’.
An Internet safety programme, ThinkUKnow delivers interactive training to parents, carers and teachers. Created by the UK Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, the Australian site was developed by the Australian Federal Police and Microsoft Australia, supported by ninemsn and Datacom.
This website provides online safety and digital citizenship resources for parents, including research reports, articles and recommended websites.
Bullying (5 resources)
Australian Psychological Society
This website is a parent guide to helping children manage conflict, aggression and bullying.
This website provides information and resources for parents, young children, teens and teachers on dealing with bullying behaviours.
This website provides guidance for parents, students and teachers, including a definition of bullying, and what to do if your child is involved in a bullying situation.
This concise document provides guidance to parents on handling their child’s bullying behaviour.
This document provides parents with practical guidance on how to stop their child from bullying.
Encouraging self-respect and protective behaviours (2 resources)
This pack provides information for parents, carers and school staff, helping them develop the necessary knowledge and skills to meet the mental health needs of the children they care for, particularly those experiencing mental health difficulties.
‘This is a personal safety programme that aims to promote resilience in children, young people, and adults, using empowerment strategies, clear communication, and awareness of “safe” behaviours.’
Harassment and discrimination (6 resources)
ACON^
Established in 1986 by an act of the federal Parliament, the AHRC is an independent statutory organisation and reports to the Australian Parliament through the Attorney-General.
This website provides information and resources for parents, young children, teens and teachers on dealing with bullying behaviours.
This website examines current human rights issues from shared experiences. The website starts with the fact, digs deeper into current affairs and history and inspires action by bringing personal stories from typical people as subjects.
This site takes a public health approach, focused on improving the health of the whole population, across the whole lifespan, with tailored approaches when working with specific population groups. They work in a range of settings – including educational settings, workplaces, health services and online – in order to be accessible to as many people as possible.
An initiative of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, the website takes a novel approach to addressing and reporting issues of racism, homophobia and discrimination.
Anxiety and depression (8 resources)
This site takes a public health approach, focused on improving the health of the whole population, across the whole lifespan with tailored approaches when working with specific population groups. They work in a range of settings – including educational settings, workplaces, health services and online – in order to be accessible to as many people as possible.
This site takes a public health approach, focused on improving the health of the whole population, across the whole lifespan, with tailored approaches when working with specific population groups. They work in a range of settings – including educational settings, workplaces, health services and online – in order to be accessible to as many people as possible.
The Black Dog Institute is dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by mood disorders through research, clinical expertise and national education programmes.
KidsMatter is a mental health and wellbeing framework for primary schools and early childhood education and care services. The website provides information and practical suggestions for families.
This site aims to increase awareness of and access to reliable resources on anxiety. Go to the ‘Complete home toolkit’ for step-by-step instructions to help anxious children cope with specific issues.
This is a PDF tip sheet for parents who have teenagers experiencing depression.
headspace is a national youth mental health foundation. It has a parent section that includes information, resources and advice if further help is needed.
This website provides reliable and scientifically validated information and resources to support parents in the day-to-day work of raising children and looking after their own needs. This section deals specifically with teenage depression.
Special needs (4 resources)
Federal information on disability rights is available on this website.
You can find out about more support for students with disabilities through the fact sheets available on the federal Department of Education.
This webpage outlines research undertaken by the Human Rights Commission, looking at the experiences of students with disabilities in schools.
State and territory equal opportunity and human rights commissions
- Australian Capital Territory
- New South Wales
- Northern Territory
- Queensland
- South Australia
- Tasmania
- Victoria^
- Western Australia
Find the equal opportunity or human rights commission in your state or territory for information about discrimation laws or how you can make a complaint.
General resources (7 resources)
This website provides information for students, teachers and parents about digital citizenship and being safe, responsible and a positive contributor online.
Funded by the Australian government, the Family-School & Community Partnerships Bureau fosters greater parental engagement and community involvement in schools. It conducts research, and provides resources and practical support and advice to parents, principals, teachers and others about how to build and sustain partnerships.
Kids Helpline is a counselling service for Australian children and young people aged between 5 and 25 years.
This is a resource to help Catholic schools strengthen their ability to engage in partnerships with parents, families and communities to support student learning.
This is a resource for parenting newborns to teens. The website provides reliable and scientifically validated information and resources to support parents in the day-to-day work of raising children and looking after their own needs.
This website informs parents about the types of technologies their child could be using at school and at home. There is information on how gadgets work, their good points and what to be wary of.
This confidential telephone service offers counselling, education and support for parents.
Texts (3 resources)
McGrath, H and Noble, T 2005, Eight ways at once: Book 1: Multiple intelligences + Bloom’s revised taxonomy = 200 differentiated classroom strategies, Pearson Education, Sydney
McGrath, H and Noble, T 2013, Positive kids positive classrooms
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