Kids Matter

What are some of the goals of KidsMatter?

Mental health and wellbeing is vital for learning and life. Children who are mentally healthy learn better, benefit from life experiences and have stronger relationships with family members, school staff and peers. Good mental health in childhood also provides a solid foundation for:

  • managing the transition to adolescence and adulthood
  • engaging successfully in education
  • making a meaningful contribution to society.

School is the most significant developmental context, after family, for primary school-aged children. Schools play a crucial role in building children’s self esteem and sense of competence. They can also act as a safety net and assist in protecting children from circumstances that affect their learning, development and wellbeing. Schools, working closely with families and the community, are key environments for comprehensively supporting children’s mental health and wellbeing.

KidsMatter Primary is a mental health and wellbeing framework for primary schools and is proven to make a positive difference to the lives of Australian children. Here at St. Francis Xavier we are a Kids Matter School and the program provides the methods, tools and support to help us work with parents and carers, health services and the wider community, to nurture happy, balanced kids. For our SEL (Social and Emotional Learning) F-6 use Bounce Back, a Wellbeing and Resilience Program created by educators and psychologists Helen McGrath and Toni Noble.  The programs goal is to support children and adults to develop a stronger sense of wellbeing and to be more resilient, confident and successful.