Wellbeing
At Meadow Flat Public School, student wellbeing and learning go hand in hand. We want every student to feel safe, included and ready to learn. Whether your child needs help with their mental, emotional, social or physical wellbeing, we are here to help them thrive at school and in daily life.
How we support student wellbeing
Supporting each student’s mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing is part of everyday school life.
We do this through:
- teachers who help students feel welcome and included
- access to school counsellors, school psychologists and specialist staff
- programs that support health, social skills, attendance and positive behaviour
- help for students who are new or changing year levels
- clear expectations for behaviour and respectful relationships
- staff who get to know each child and work closely with families
- developing health care plans for students
- open communication about wellbeing and support.
Visit Our principal and staff to learn about our wellbeing and specialist support staff.
Student leadership
Student leadership helps young people find their voices, participate in decision-making, and understand their rights and responsibilities as active citizens. It helps students have a real impact on their learning and school environment and prepares them to participate meaningfully in their community.
Students can be leaders in the classroom, through their actions in the playground, through their support for others, or their involvement in academic, sporting, cultural or local community events or projects.
Meadow Flat Public School provides many opportunities for our students to develop leadership and representation skills, including as leaders in school PSSA events.
Formal student leadership and student representation programs provide important benefits for individual students and schools.
Student leaders have the potential to influence the school environment and the behaviour of their fellow students by becoming advocates for positive change in the school community.
Students feel listened to and valued, they feel respected and encouraged to make further contributions.
They have:
- increased communication skills
- improved academic performance for students involved
- greater commitment to the school from the wider student body
- positive influences on the climate of the school
- strengthened school spirit
- increased cooperation from students.
Students must:
- show an ability to make decisions for themselves
- demonstrate exemplary behaviour and always follow school rules and expectatioons
- have shown a willingness to be involved in extracurricular activities
- display initiative and a positive attitude to learning
- work well as a team member
- possess strong communication skills
- proudly wear school uniform on a daily basis
- always be punctual and have limited absenteeism from school
- work to their full potential in the classroom, completing set tasks to the best of their ability
It is expected our leader meet certain expectations:These include:
- Being a positive role model for the other students in our school.
- Wear our school uniform with pride.
- Display correct and appropriate behaviour at all times.
- Assist the Principal and other staff members in running assemblies, meetings and fundraising activities etc.
- Attend leadership workshops
- Attend all school activities e.g. excursions, sports days
Leadership opportunities at our school
At Meadow Flat Public School, students have a variety of ways to become leaders in the school setting.
Our school encourages leadership roles to be spread amongst the student body.
Students, who have been enrolled for a period of at least a six month period from Kindergarten to the end of Semester 1 in Year 5, can only take up one of the leadership roles within the year.
These roles include:
- Sports captain (Yr 6)
- School captains (Yr 6)
The principles which Meadow Flat Public School advocate are that:
- All students have the potential to develop leadership skills:
- Students will be encouraged to apply leadership skills to initiatives that strengthen the school community and the communities in which they live;
- Leadership programs can build students' confidence that their views are important to staff and that they can have an influence on what happens in the school.
Student leadership programs will be most effective when they:
- are planned and developmental;
- receive active support from teachers, parents, and peers;
- encourage a range of leadership styles inclusive of cultural differences;
- engage all groups in the school;
- provide fair access and participation for all students including equal participation for children;
- encourage more experienced student leaders to support those who are less experienced;
- draw on the expertise and resources of the wider community; and
- are perceived as relevant and valuable by the students and the school.
School and sports captains
Meadow Flat Public School endeavours to develop students’ leadership skills and to share decision making processes.
The procedures put in place at Meadow Flat Public School have been developed to be fair, unbiased, fair and inclusive for all students.
Timeline for school leaders
Term 1: Week 1
- Inform all Year 5 students of the criteria, which will enable them to be eligible for candidacy
Term 3: Week 10
- Student nominate themselves to stand as a Sports or a School Captain. Nominations close at the end of the week.
Term 4 Week: 1 and Week 2
- Candidates standing for election are announced at the school assembly.
- Students are asked to present a speech at a special school assembly. Each student is given a 3-minutes restriction.
- They must have their speech signed off by a teacher before they present it to the school assembly and use no props.
Term 4: Week 9
- Captains announced at the presentation day assembly.
Nomination of candidates
Students can be nominated if they fulfil the following criteria:
- Displays good leadership skills
- Always wears full school and sports uniform and worn appropriately
- Shows willingness to always assist
- Is a role model in the classroom and playground and when representing the school
- Displays exemplary behaviour
- Takes responsibility for their actions
- Shows no violence at anytime
- Always shows respect for all adults
- Upholds all classroom and school rules
- Participates in school events
Nomination process
- Students complete a nomination form and return it to the office
Lobbying of candidates
- Each candidate will be limited to a 3-minute speech with no props.
- The speech presented at a whole school assembly and must be previewed by a teacher.
- Students will present their speeches in random order and as they appear on the ballot paper.
Polling day:
- Voting will take place by secret ballot.
- Each student and staff member voting will be marked off a class list.
- The electorate will consist of students in all years, plus all school staff members.
- A secret ballot will elect 2 school captains and 2 sports captains.
- The “1st past the post” voting system will be used. Electors will indicate 4 votes with the 2 highest students will be the school captains, and the next 2 to be offered the sports captains
Counting of votes:
- They will be counted by the School Administration Manager and the P&C President. This will occur at a suitable time on the day of voting.
- All ballot papers will be kept by the principal for a period of 3 months
Weighting of votes:
- 1:1 ratio for students voting
- 1:1 ratio for staff members voting for school captains
Captains announcements:
- The announcement of the school captains will be made at the annual presentation assembly.
- Parents are invited to the presentation day assembly.
- Students will read the captains pledge at this assembly and receive their badges.
The students in Years 3 to 6 also are rotated through student led monitor roles that have a variety of responsibilities:
- Library monitor
- Environmental specialist team
- Aboriginal cultural leader
- Technology monitor
- Farm monitor
- Canteen monitor
Individual health support
Sometimes it is necessary for medications to be administered to a child at school. Parents are required to complete the 'Medications and health conditions' form available in the School Bytes parent portal app before we can administer medications in the form of tablets or creams.
Please ensure that the medication is in the original packaging and is clearly labelled with the medication type, student’s name and dosage.
If it is an ongoing arrangement please see your local pharmacy to have the medication put into a blister pack.
All students with asthma must provide the school with an up-to-date Asthma Management Plan available from your family doctor.
Parents or carers are responsible for ensuring their children have an adequate supply of appropriate asthma medication (including a spacer) with them at school at all times.
Live life well at school
At Meadow Flat Public school, we encourage students to make responsible choices when eating. Providing your child with nutritious and healthy foods during the day will ensure that their energy levels will remain high and assist them with concentration in class.
Please ensure that your child has enough food for both recess and lunch, although please do not overload your child’s lunch box.
We encourage your child to have a clearly labelled plastic drink bottle containing water in the classroom. This encourages healthy drinking habits and enables your child to keep their fluids up!
Your child may leave their bottle on their table or in a designated spot inside throughout the day.
Students have healthy eating breaks during the morning session. We ask that you pack your child some cut up fresh fruit or vegetables to eat at our morning fruit break.
Need support for your child's wellbeing?
Get in touch to talk about the right support for your child.
Counselling for families
As a parent or carer, you are an important part of our school community. We offer a range of services to support you and your family.
The school counsellor can assist when families undergo a trauma or big change. Contact us to make an appointment. For information in community languages, see school counselling service.
Outside of the education system, free telephone counselling services are available to support families who may be going through a difficult time.
- Lifeline – 24-hour telephone counselling service. 13 11 14.
- Mensline Australia – 24-hour telephone counselling service for men. 1300 789 978.
- Parent line – an advice and information service. 1300 1300 52.
Interpreting and translations
We will help you communicate with our school. If you’d like an interpreter for a school meeting, let us know and we will arrange one, if available.
If you don’t speak or understand English well and want to contact us, call TIS National on 131 450 and ask for an interpreter in your language. The operator will call the school and get an interpreter to help. This service is free.
For more information, listen in your language.
Visit the department’s translated documents section for important information that’s relevant for your child’s education in many languages.
Support for parents, carers, and the community
Accomodation
149 Russell Street, Bathurst
Contact: 02 6332 6835
- Provides overnight and short term accommodation for men who are homeless.
Contact: 1800 738 303
Emergency accommodation for women and children escaping from assault and domestic violence. An outreach service is also provided.
Contact: 1800 422 322
Phone service for tenants, maintenance contractors and members of the public. Requests for accommodation assistance can be made here
Contact: 1800 152 152
A statewide service that provides information on homelessness and a referral telephone service for 24/7 assistance for crisis accommodation.
Contact: 02 6331 1675
Email: youthrefuge@veritashouse.org.au
Provides refuge accommodation and outreach support for young people.
Contact: 1800 851 858
Case management assistance for customers experiencing homelessness and caters to families, single men, women and children.
Domestic violence support
Female counsellors
Contact: 1800 656 463
Contact: 1800 55 1800
or online https://kidshelpline.com.au/
If it is urgent, call 000;
or
telephone or attend your Local Police Station and speak to a police officer at the station. Ask for the Domestic Violence Liaison Officer (DVLO).
Click here for more information.
Bathurst and Lithgow area
Contact: 1300 384 357
Contact: 1800 938 227
- A free service for women experiencing domestic and family violence.
Contact: 1800 737 732
Website: 1800respect.org.au
- National domestic, family and sexual violence counselling and support service, Contact can be made via calling, texting or via website.
Contact: 02 9635 8022
Website: speakout.org.au
- A domestic violence phone line for migrant and refugee women to speak with someone confidentially.
Food and other relief
Contact: 02 6324 1199
Mon, Wed 8 Fri - 10am to 12pm
- Provides essential food and everyday items to individuals and families experiencing hardship.
Hope Church, Corner of Gilmour and Hereford St @ Trinity shops roundabout
Contact: 02 6332 5883
Email: welfare@hopecare.org.au
- Services include emergency food parcels, community pantry, community café, financial counselling, budgeting support and Energy Bill Assistance (EPA).
- Community Pantry - Wednesday (10am-12pm)
- Community Cafe - Monday to Friday (11am-1pm
C3 Bathurst Building, Rear 217 Howick St, Bathurst
Contact: 02 6332 5771
Wed - 6pm to 6:30pm
- Providing food support and social gathering through a free weekly dinner.
29 William St, Bathurst (opposite Red Rooster)
Contact: 02 6331 3187
Thurs - 11am to 1pm, 3pm to 4pm
- Various packaged boxes for set prices containing a number of food items including bread, fruit and vegetables. Open to all members of the community with no need for referral or concession.
Contact: 1300 371 288
Mon-Fri - 9am to 3:30pm
- Can help with food vouchers, parcels and various utilities.
140a William St, Bathurst
Contact: 0455 328 966
Sat & Sun - 12pm to 2pm
- Free hot food, warm clothes, sleeping bags and hot shower if needed. Some other services provided Mon, Wed & Fri.
Macquerie River Bicentennial Parl (Peace Park)
Sat-Sun - 4pm to 6pm OR 5pm to 7pm (daylight savings)
- Provides free meal and drinks, dignity bags and other items available.
Contact: 02 6331 4094
- Assistance for food, clothing, linen and furniture. All assistance done by appointment only. ID is required and relevant documents (eg. Centrelink reference number, pension card other supporting documents).
Where else can my family, friends and I go for help?
www.headspace.org.au
www.mentalhealth.asn.au
www.kidshelpline.com.au
www.beyondblue.org.au
www.sane.org
ccwf.org.au
A telephone hotline for anyone in Australia who is impacted directly or indirectly by overseas conflicts.
Witness to War Multilingual Hotline | STARTTS
1800 648 911
Mental health support for NSW residents from linguistically diverse backgrounds.
Transcultural Mental Health Line
Contact the Manager, Allied Health, Wellbeing, Children and Family on 4734 3178, as they may be able to suggest other ways of dealing with your concerns.
606 High Street, Penrith NSW 2750
Telephone: 4725 9800 Fax: 4731 4561
Email: NBMLHD-CYMHS@health.nsw.gov.au
For urgent matters after hours contact the Access Team via the Mental Health Line
Mental Health Line 1800 011 511
24 Hours a Day 7 Days a Week
This is not a crisis service. If you need immediate help or are at risk of harm to yourself or others call 000 now.
This service will put you in contact with your local mental health provider by putting in your postcode
Telephone: 1800 595 212
The StandBy program is delivered by Youturn Limited in the Nepean Blue Mountains region.
We are focused on supporting anyone who has been bereaved or impacted by suicide at any stage in their life, including:
- Individuals, families and friends
- Witnesses
- First Responders
- Service Providers
Phone 1300 727 247
Lithgow council area: postsuicidesupport@standbysupport.com.au
Bathurst council area: standby.westernnsw@socialfutures.org.au
ReachOut offers free one on one support to parents who
want to build their skills in supporting their 12-18 year olds
with issues such as:
- School refusal
- Anxiety and depression
- Communication problems
- Alcohol and drug use
- Self-harm
- Aggressive behaviour
- Gender and identity
- Bullying
- ...and more
Parent Line NSW receives calls from parents, carers and professionals who have questions or concerns about a child or young person. Qualified and caring counsellors can help you whether you are caring for a baby, child or teenager.
Phone: 1300 1300 52
All care has been taken to ensure all services are current and up to date. If there are errors or omissions, please contact our office so this list can be kept up to date.
Additional learning support
Find out how we support students with disability or additional learning needs.
Our principal and staff
Get to know our principal and staff, who work together to create a positive school culture.