Support Sisters

Support SistersBy Liz Spurling, School Counsellor

In 2021, staff in Years 3-6 and the wellbeing team worked together to develop a peer support system that would operate at lunchtime in the Junior School playground. The result of this work was the creation of the Support Sisters, a program where our Year 6 students support our younger students.

All Year 6 students participated in a series of training sessions to develop the skills needed to support their peers. In these sessions they participated in activities that focused on: • Building empathy for the experience of an early years student • Effective communication and working together in pairs • Active listening • Understanding the responsibilities of a Support Sister, and when to ask for help • Problem solving steps; what is the problem, what are my options, select the best option for me, if that has not worked try again with the next option.

Interested students then completed an application to be a Support Sister. Those selected participated in additional training where they role played scenarios they may encounter in the playground and practised their problem-solving skills. The students will now work in pairs as Support Sisters, with regular opportunities to get together as a group to reflect and build on their skills.

This program connects the students across the Junior School. It is a leadership opportunity for our Year 6 students and our younger students love having an older student around that they can talk to.