CELEBRATING RESTORATIVE PRACTICE IN AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS: PROFILES
CELEBRATING RESTORATIVE PRACTICE IN AUSTRALIAN SCHOOLS: PROFILES
In the past 25 years, Restorative Practice in Australian schools has evolved and deepened. As a context-specific approach, RP looks different from region to region and from school to school. A new project has been launched to profile diverse schools across Australia that are ‘doing’ Restorative Practice in unique, holistic and transformative ways. Schools where Restorative is not an add-on; it is who they are.
These profiles will provide a taste of what schools are doing, how they are doing it and why. We want to celebrate the significant work being done in schools, and learn from what they are doing.
This profile is the first of a series of planned profiles of Australian schools making Restorative Practice integral to their learning environment.
We learn best through example.
This page summarises Fairholme College's use of Restorative Practice. Click here for the full page on Fairholme College, including a 5-minute video highlighting the school’s practice, as well as information about the school’s philosophy, everday activities, and the College's brochure.
This profile was made possible by the NED Foundation which supports Dr. Kristin Reimer’s research at Monash University about Restorative Practice in Australian schools.
This profile was made possible by the NED Foundation which supports Monash University's Dr. Kristin Reimer’s research about Restorative Practice in Australian schools.
We learn best through example.
This page summarises Fairholme College's use of Restorative Practice. Click here for the full page on Fairholme College, including a 5-minute video highlighting the school’s practice, as well as information about the school’s philosophy, everday activities, and the College's brochure.
This profile is the first of a series of planned profiles of Australian schools making Restorative Practice integral to their learning environment.
Fairholme College, Toowoomba, Queensland
Restorative Practice is “simply the way that we do things here”
Core Ideas
Relationships are at the core of everything at Fairholme – how educators teach; how students interact in the boarding school; how staff conflict is dealt with; how school leaders talk with parents; how everyone deals with issues of harm
Restorative Practice is “simply the way that we do things here”
When harm occurs, there is a focus on honoring the dignity of every person. It is not about shame or blame, but about repairing relationships and supporting the girls to grow.
Restorative Practice is seen as flexible – it does not look or feel the same in all situations. But there is a coherency of practice across Fairholme that speaks to holding relationships at the centre of all policies and practices.
Video
“Restorative - It’s not a soft option."
School Information
Name & location: Fairholme College, Toowoomba, Queensland
Type of School: Independent, All-Girls, Presbyterian, Day and Boarding School, Prep-12
Demographics: Just under 700 students; 2% Indigenous Students; 7% Students from Language background other than English; School ICSEA value 1107
Length of Time Using Restorative Practice: 15 years
Training/Induction: All staff – teachers, boarding, administration, etc. – receive an induction into Restorative Practice. Most staff also have a 3-day training.
Video
“Restorative - It’s not a soft option."
School Information
Name & location: Fairholme College, Toowoomba, Queensland
Type of School: Independent, All-Girls, Presbyterian, Day and Boarding School, Prep-12
Demographics: Just under 700 students; 2% Indigenous Students; 7% Students from Language background other than English; School ICSEA value 1107
Length of Time Using Restorative Practice: 15 years
Training/Induction: All staff – teachers, boarding, administration, etc. – receive an induction into Restorative Practice. Most staff also have 3-day training.
The 2020 COVID pandemic has delayed the school profiles planned for 2020 & 2021.
The Fairholme College RP profile is the first of a series of planned profiles of Australian schools making Restorative Practice an integral part of their learning environment.