Supporting Students Through Trauma-Informed Practice
As we continue to build safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments, our College is embracing trauma-informed practices that benefit all students — not just those who’ve experienced trauma.
These approaches help young people feel secure, connected, and ready to learn by recognising the impact of stress and adversity on development.
Parents and carers play a vital role in this journey. Here are five simple but powerful ways you can support trauma-informed practice at home and in partnership with our school:
Five Ways Parents Can Support Trauma-Informed Practice at School
1. Understand That Trauma-Informed Practice Benefits All Students
It’s not just for students who’ve experienced trauma. Trauma-informed approaches create safe, calm, and supportive environments that help all students manage stress, build resilience, and engage in learning.
2. Recognise the Power of Relationships
Safe, trusting relationships are essential for helping young people navigate adversity. Parents can support this by fostering strong, positive connections at home and encouraging respectful relationships at school.
3. Support Structure and Routine
Predictable routines and clear structures help students feel secure and reduce stress. Parents can reinforce this by maintaining consistent routines at home and supporting school efforts to create structured learning environments.
4. Model Emotional Regulation
Children learn to manage emotions by observing adults. Parents can help by modelling calm, responsive behaviour and supporting their child’s emotional development through open, empathetic communication.
5. Promote Consistency and Clear Expectations
Ambiguity can be stressful for students. Parents can support their child’s learning and wellbeing by helping them understand school expectations and encouraging consistent behaviour and routines.
Working Together for Student Wellbeing
Trauma-informed practice is most effective when schools and families work together. By creating consistent, supportive environments both at home and at school, we can help every student feel safe, valued, and ready to learn. Thank you for being a vital part of our school community and for supporting the wellbeing and growth of all our young people.
Understanding the Student Experience
Following on from the theme of Trauma Informed Practice, staff further explored the context of challenges for our adolescence and how we can support this through consistency, predictability, norms, and expectations.
Our staff had the privilege of hearing from Wayne Holdsworth, founder of the charity SmackTalk, in a deeply moving and impactful presentation that left a lasting impression on all who attended.
Wayne’s presentation, titled SmackTalk, is born from personal tragedy — the loss of his 17-year-old son Mac to suicide following a devastating sextortion incident. Rather than retreating from this pain, Wayne has channelled his grief into a mission to educate and empower others. Through SmackTalk, he travels across Australia sharing his story and raising awareness about suicide prevention, the dangers of online exploitation, and the importance of respectful communication.
His session with our staff was raw, honest, and courageous. Wayne spoke about the warning signs of suicide, the emotional toll of sextortion, and the urgent need for open conversations — especially with young people — about mental health and online safety. His message was clear: we must be proactive, compassionate, and informed to help prevent future tragedies.
Staff feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with many describing the presentation as one of the most powerful and important they’ve ever attended. Wayne’s vulnerability and strength inspired reflection, discussion, and a renewed commitment to student wellbeing.
We thank Wayne for his bravery and generosity in sharing his story. His work is a vital reminder of the role we all play in creating safe, supportive environments for our young people — both online and offline.
Join Us in Supporting Unplug24 – A Day to Disconnect and Reconnect
On Thursday 24 October, we invite you to join us in supporting Unplug24, a powerful initiative led by Wayne Holdsworth and the SmackTalk charity. This campaign honours the memory of Wayne’s son, Mac, who tragically took his own life after being sexually extorted online.
Unplug24 challenges us all—students, families, and staff—to step away from social media for 24 hours. It’s a symbolic and practical way to raise awareness about the dangers of online exploitation and the importance of mental health, respectful communication, and real-world connection.
By participating, you’ll be helping to:
- Raise awareness of sextortion and suicide prevention.
- Promote safer online habits for young people.
- Support SmackTalk’s educational programs that empower communities to have life-saving conversations.
Whether or not you choose to fundraise, your participation sends a strong message of support. We encourage families to take part together, reflect on the importance of digital wellbeing, and use the day to reconnect offline.
To learn more or sign up, visit Unplug24 – SmackTalk.
Let’s stand together to protect and support our young people.
Students Posting on Social Media
As we continue to embrace the digital age, it's important to reflect on how our online presence intersects with our responsibilities as members of the Padua College community. One area of growing concern is the creation and sharing of social media content—particularly videos and images—while wearing the school uniform or filming on school grounds.
While students may see this as harmless fun or a way to express themselves, there are several important considerations that highlight why this practice is inappropriate and potentially harmful.
1. Protecting Student Safety and Privacy
When students post content in school uniform, they inadvertently reveal their school affiliation. This can expose them to risks such as:
- Scams and fraud
- Sexual grooming
- Identity theft
- Deepfake misuse
Images and videos shared online can be harvested, altered, or redistributed far beyond their intended audience. Once posted, control over that content is lost, and it may be used in ways that compromise student safety.
2. Upholding the Student Code of Conduct
The Padua College Student Code of Conduct applies not only during school hours and on campus, but also whenever students are representing the College—including when wearing the school uniform. The Code requires students to:
- Behave in ways that uphold the College’s values
- Avoid actions that bring the College into disrepute
- Adhere to the ICT Acceptable Usage Policy
- Be respectful and considerate of others
Creating social media content that is inappropriate, disruptive, or misaligned with the College’s values while in uniform can violate these expectations and lead to disciplinary consequences.
3. Respecting the College’s Trademark and Reputation
The Padua College crest is a registered trademark. It represents our identity, values, and reputation. When students wear the uniform, they are ambassadors of the College. Social media content featuring the crest can influence public perception of our academic standards, culture, and community values.
Inappropriate or unauthorised use of the crest—especially in content that does not reflect the College’s ethos—can damage our reputation. Students must understand that the crest is school property, and misuse of it will be taken seriously.
A Shared Responsibility
We ask all students and families to support this message and help reinforce the importance of responsible online behaviour. Social media can be a powerful tool for connection and creativity, but it must be used with care, especially when representing Padua College.
If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the College leadership team.
Yr 10 Teen Mental Health First Aid/Level Up Program
Last week we facilitated the second half of the Yr 10 Level Up Program.
This is similar to the dates we ran the program for the 10s last year and in a similar format. While half the students will be doing the Teen Mental Health First Aid Program the rest of the Yr 10’s will be participating in workshops on Consent & Sex Education; Gendered Stereotypes and Cyberbully and Sexual Extortion. All extremely important, sensitive, yet valuable and challenging topics our students are faced with needing support in.
It is essential for a Catholic secondary school to run the Year 10 Program in alignment with the Teen Mental Health First Aid (tMHFA) Program, particularly as the rest of the Year 10 cohort engages in workshops focused on Consent and Sex Education, Gendered Stereotypes, and Cyberbullying and Sexual Extortion.
These are complex, sensitive, and deeply relevant issues that today’s young people face both online and offline. Equipping students with the tools to understand, process, and support themselves and others through these challenges is a vital aspect of their holistic development.
The tMHFA Program complements these workshops by building resilience, promoting empathy, and teaching practical mental health support strategies, all within a framework that aligns with our Catholic values of compassion, dignity, and care for the whole person.
We believe that empowering students with this knowledge not only enhances their personal wellbeing but also fosters a stronger, more supportive school community.
The College Uniform
As of Monday 1 September, we shift to the changeover period of winter to summer uniform, it is therefore an opportune time to contact you regarding the College Uniform Policy.
One way in which we encourage our high expectations at Padua, is in the way we present ourselves to the community through our uniform. The school uniform identifies members of Padua College. It assists in creating an atmosphere of pride, loyalty and equity. All students enter class as equals as far as image and dress are concerned; their individuality comes from their attitude, character, spirit, and involvement.
Common Issues
I draw your attention to the most common issues our staff have been dealing with so far this year and ask that your support in helping us maintain the high standard we expect as a college community.
- Blazers - Must be worn to and from school through the year – only if it is cold/wet the Padua softshell waterproof jacket is permitted to be worn over the blazer.
- Sport Uniform - Padua College navy blue track pants – no leggings, yoga pants or Lorna Jane trousers, no hooded or long sleeve tops under Sport T-Shirts.
- Hair - Hair is to be clean and tidy and one natural hair colour; Hair need only to be tied back in circumstances/classes as an OHS requirement.
- Facial Hair - All students must be clean shaven.
- Jewellery & Make Up - Two earrings per ear, in the ear lobe (small stud or sleeper). No other jewellery is permitted and clear plastic studs and band aids to cover piercings are not permitted. Excess jewellery will be confiscated. Make up is to be kept to a minimum and must be natural looking. Clear nail polish is permitted.
- School shoes - Black leather lace-up or T-bar school shoes. No soft or suede or boots. Skate shoes or black runners are not permitted.
Uniform Checks
Uniform checks are completed on a regular basis, and we simultaneously recognise and reward those students doing the right thing, whilst reverting to measures to maintain our standard with consequences for those students blatantly disregarding our rules and expectations. Your support in these areas allows for staff to spend time focussing on supporting the students both academically and pastorally.
School TV
Today’s parents face a multitude of modern-day challenges in raising happy, well and resilient young people. Whilst there is a great deal of information available, this can often be confusing and overwhelming for parents looking for guidance.
At Padua College we have subscribed to SchoolTV an online resource designed to empower you as parents with credible and sound information with realistic, practical ongoing support strategies. Here, you'll find a range of topics each published monthly with comprehensive videos from leading specialists and organisations.
The information can be accessed by visiting the College website:
PADUA COMMUNITY > Padua Parents > SchoolTV or following the below link
Link - School TV https://padua.catholic.schooltv.me/launch
Celebrating Father's Day
For many years now, the role of fathers has changed and evolved. During the industrial revolution, fathers were often considered detached and distant due to working long hours in factories. However, today things have changed dramatically with many dads being celebrated for being sensitive, caring and more hands-on.
Recent studies have shown that children benefit greatly from having fathers who are present and interacting in everyday activities. This has transformed the understanding of how fathers shape children’s lives from the start, challenging conventional ideas of parenthood and gender.
Research also suggests that fathers influence their sons and daughters in different ways, which is especially true during their transition to adolescence. Engaging in regular physical activities can play a key role in influencing children to learn self-control, face challenges, regulate emotions and take manageable risks.
In this Special Report, fathers will learn about the positive impact they can have on their child’s mental health and wellbeing, whilst also ensuring they indulge in a little self-care.
Here is the link to your Special Report https://padua.catholic.schooltv.me/wellbeing_news/celebrating-fathers-day
