Western Australia – news – 14/07/08

Western Australia – Values Education forums in Western Australia

Following are some brief summaries of values education forums in Western Australia that provide a taste of the diversity of approaches being used by schools to incorporate values education.


Balingup Primary School The values forum at Balingup Primary School was run as a series of activity stations representing different values and with activities conducted in cooperation with the local community and service groups. For example, activity stations included: Creativity/Arts activities; Service – Country Fire Brigade; Caring – St. John Ambulance, Unity – Indigenous activities, Responsibility/Respect – Western Australia Police; Caring/Cooperation – cooking/craft activities, Country Women’s Association. The school is engaged in a virtues program and this was also incorporated into the forum.

Cloverdale Primary School
At Cloverdale Primary School a school assembly launched a new project for values education to consolidate existing practice. The project, called TOD (Treat Others Decently) is represented by a tangible symbol, a toy bear. TOD arrived on a motorbike and introduced himself to the school. The approach at Cloverdale is aimed at reinforcing school ethos and direction, integrating values into policy and practice and promoting values based behaviour across the school community.

Deanmore Primary School
At Deanmore Primary School the merit certificates now reflect the school’s five values, which include respect, tolerance and bravery. Deanmore also promotes inclusivity through intergenerational visits with Moline House, an aged care facility. Other school programs that support values education include Blue Earth Day, school volunteer program, Friendly Schools, NAIDOC week activities, Aboriginal Plan – Aboriginal games day. The school values are also displayed in the school office and are included in assemblies.

Esperance Senior High School Education Support Centre
All the students at Esperance SHS Ed Support Centre, who all have an intellectual disability, took part in an activity identifying why they are lucky. They looked at their health, their homes, and being an Australian. They also looked at people who are not so lucky and decided to collect donations to provide hampers of Christmas treats to local families that are struggling financially. The hampers were given to the Under the Gum Tree church for distribution at Christmas time. 

Glen Huon Primary School
Glen Huon Primary School held a whole school expo for values education which included re-writing the school song to reflect the school values and painting a mural in the assembly area promoting these values.

Lansdale Primary School
A school wide NAIDOC Week celebration was held for the first time since the school was opened in 1999. Activities included an Aboriginal flag raising ceremony, and a Welcome to Country. Students designed and printed t-shirts with themes of reconciliation and local Indigenous community members and parents were invited as positive role model guest speakers and to assist in art and craft activities. A reconciliation banner was also created by the students for permanent display at the school and a bush tucker lunch with all the community invited culminated NAIDOC week celebrations.

Mount Claremont Primary School
As a result of activities combining values education with environmental sustainability, Mount Claremont Primary School was one of two schools highly commended as a Waterwise school in 2007. 

Midwestern schools
Schools in the Mid West District are introducing the Quest4Values program as part of a district initiative. Staff members attended a professional development day and then on return to school, shared information with other staff, students and parents. Values education will be further incorporated into schools through parent forums, further staff development and integration of values education into the curriculum.

Newton Moore Senior High School
Newton Moore Senior High School conducted various activities for both staff and students at their school forum, including a group energiser, group introductions, immersion activities (group completion of how people see the future for the school, what is a value and identification of a ‘values hand’ - the five most important values) and sharing of the outcomes. The ideas and results from the forum were disseminated to parents via surveys, parent forums and P & C meetings. 

South Thornlie Primary School
South Thornlie Primary School used their school values forum to introduce ‘The Friendship Group Values Program’. There are 20 friendship groups with 15 children in each. Each month a focus on one of the nine Values for Australian Schooling will be implemented, both across the school and in the friendship group.