At St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, we are deeply committed to supporting the well-being of every student—spiritually, emotionally, socially, and academically. Our approach is built on strong relationships, Gospel values, and practical strategies that help children feel safe, connected, and supported.

Here are some of the ways we promote student well-being every day:

Positive Behaviour Support – The 4Rs
We explicitly teach and model our core school values:
Be Respectful, Be Responsible, Be Resilient, Be Ready to Learn. These values shape the Spirit of St Mary’s, creating a shared language and culture that empowers students to make positive choices and contribute to a caring school community. The Positive Behaviour Policy  clearly outlines behavioural expectations and procedures, ensuring consistency and clarity for students, staff and families.

Faith and Values Education
Through the Journey in Faith curriculum and Making Jesus Real philosophy, students are encouraged to live out the Gospel by showing kindness, compassion and respect for others.

Keeping Safe: Child Protection Curriculum
All students from Transition to Year 6 take part in this important program, which teaches them how to recognise unsafe situations, build respectful relationships, and know when and how to seek help.

School Counsellor and Play Therapy
Our school counsellor is available one day per week to provide individual support, play-based therapy, and guidance for families. We also connect families to services through Catholic Care NT when needed.

Spirit Cup Fun Days
Each term, we celebrate positive behaviour with whole-school activities that build teamwork, inclusion, and joy. These days foster a strong sense of belonging and community spirit.

Zones of Regulation
Students learn to recognise and manage their emotions using this engaging resource, helping them respond calmly to challenges and build self-awareness. View our Zones of Regulation Parent Guide. 

You Can Sit With Me & Buddy Program
Inclusion is a priority at St Mary’s. Our You Can Sit With Me initiative and Year 6 Buddy Program help all students—especially our youngest—feel supported and connected.

Digital Safety and Cyber-bullying Education
Children learn how to be safe, respectful and responsible online through age-appropriate digital technology lessons. We also promote awareness through national campaigns like Safer Internet Day and Bullying. No Way!

Safeguarding and Support Network
Trained Safeguarding Officers, school leaders, and our Pastoral Care Well-being team are always available to support students and families. Posters throughout the school help students know who they can go to for help.

Parent and Community Partnerships
We work closely with families to support student well-being through regular communication, classroom events, interviews, assemblies, liturgies, and more.

Listening to Student Feedback
Each year, students complete the Tell Them From Me survey so we can hear directly from them about their well-being, friendships, and safety at school.

All of these initiatives work together to ensure that every child at St Mary’s feels safe, included, and ready to flourish.

At St Mary’s, bullying in any form is not tolerated. We are committed to creating a safe, respectful and inclusive learning environment for all students. Our Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan aligns with Catholic Education Northern Territory’s policy and outlines clear prevention, early intervention, and response strategies.

Our full plan is shared with families to ensure transparency and a shared responsibility for student safety and wellbeing.

At our school, we address E-Safety with the utmost importance. We are committed to ensuring that all students learn, play, and connect safely in an online environment. We encourage families to explore resources and advice from the eSafety Commissioner to support safe online practices at home.