latest news

THANK YOU to all schools who have assisted us with our survey!

Peer Support Australia, under the guidance of our researcher, has been conducting an audit of the Peer Support Program throughout NSW, ACT, Queensland and Tasmania. Surveys were sent to all school Principals or Peer Support Coordinators. As a thank you to the staff who responded, 6 schools were selected at random to receive a complimentary module. The successful schools were St Therese's Primary School, Padstow, (Keeping Friends), Goulburn High School,(Behaving with Integrity), James Erskine Public School,(Keeping Friends), St Patrick's College, Gympie,(Behaving with Integrity), St Michael's Primary School, Meadowbank (Keeping Friends)and St Bernard's Primary School Batehaven (Being Positive). Findings from this research are still in the preliminary stages and will be reported on this website SOON. The responses have contributed to the ongoing development of an evaluation tool for schools to use as a measure of the efficacy of the Peer Support Program for their students. The tools should be available to schools early in 2009.

Opportunity to participate in Peer Support Program pilot, Term 1, 2009!

Peer Support Australia has received funding from the Department of Health and Ageing to conduct Peer Support workshops in the Northern Territory, probably Darwin and the Kimberley. This follows the successful current expansion of the Peer Support Program into Queensland and Tasmania. We are seeking schools in these areas to take part in a free pilot. The tentative date is March, 2009.

If interested please click here to register your school

Welcome to our new website!

Our website is still developing and we will be adding additional functionality over the next 6 months, including access to a member’s section.

Other new or improved features include:

• A simpler registration process for upcoming workshops
• Ability to order Peer Support Program modules and other resources directly online
• Easier downloading of information about the Peer Support Program, various workshops and individual modules
• Membership and sponsorship links
• Opportunities to register your interest in trialling or reviewing new modules

We trust our new website will better meet the needs of staff in our schools.

Once you have explored the new website, you might like to provide some feedback.

Click here to leave feedback

WHAT’S NEW ABOUT THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAM?

COME TO A FREE 2 HOUR INFORMATION SESSION IN HOBART AND FIND OUT

Peer Support Australia invites you and/or a member of staff to a FREE information session on 2 July in Hobart. This 2 hour session will provide information for schools considering introducing, or updating, their Peer Support Program and provide the opportunity to ask questions and hear from schools currently implementing the Program. The Peer Support Program now operates in both primary and secondary schools and since 2007 over 40 Tasmanian schools have trained in this exciting new initiative.

Peer Support Australia has secured funding to support schools in Tasmania to implement the Peer Support Program. Many schools are currently running a version of Peer Support however no training has been available for many years and as a result schools may be using outdated materials.

Current modules are 8 sessions in length and focus on one of the following areas: relationships, optimism, resilience, values or anti-bullying.

Click here to make a booking

Keeping Friends is an 8 session module focusing on relationships. The module supports young people to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes necessary to maintain friendships and interact with one another in a friendly and positive way. Students learn how to play fairly, accept that friendships change, support each other and acknowledge they may have a variety of friends.

The cost of our Keeping Friends module is $70 + GST + postage for member schools.

Keeping Friends supersedes the previous relationship module, Building Connections.

Click here for more information, including how to order this module

Peer Support Australia is currently recruiting a new Training & Development Consultant.

As the Peer Support Program continues to grow we have the need of an additional Training & Development Consultant to join our dynamic team. Prospective applicants should have a minimum 5 years teaching experience in Primary or Secondary schooling.

A detailed position description can be obtained by emailing Sharlene Chadwick, our Training and Development Manager.