Goldfields Primary Behaviour Centre guiding students on a better path

A new service in the Goldfields to help disruptive primary school students get back on track at school is making strong progress.

Education Minister Liz Constable today visited the Goldfields Primary Behaviour Centre in Richardson Street, Boulder to meet staff and officially open the facility, which is housed in a refurbished former kindergarten.

Dr Constable said she was pleased centre staff were making positive steps with the 33 students they had been working with since the centre opened in January.

"The priority here is to work with each student in their school and help them learn ways to manage anger, control their behaviour and reduce incidents in the very environment problems tend to erupt," she said.

"Centre staff provide specialist services to primary schools in Kalgoorlie, Boulder, Kambalda, Southern Cross, Coolgardie and outlying areas which need assistance to manage the behaviour of particular students.

"Students can be withdrawn from their schools for periods of intense assessment or support at the centre.

"Staff also provide expert advice to graduate and experienced teachers on how to manage difficult and extreme behaviour in their classrooms."

Students are referred by their schools to the Goldfields Primary Behaviour Centre for case management.  The new centre is in addition to the existing Goldfields Secondary Behaviour Centre.

The Minister said the centre was one of 15 across Western Australia which formed an integral part of the State Government's $46million strategy to improve student behaviour in public schools.

"Extreme examples of unacceptable student behaviour in the Goldfields, Esperance and Perth metropolitan area have been under an intense media spotlight in recent months," she said.

"I would like to send a clear message that disruptive, extreme and violent behaviour do not have a place in WA classrooms.

"Such behaviour can have detrimental effects on the wellbeing and educational opportunities of all involved, including the perpetrators.

"The behaviour centres give students - many whom have complex needs - individually tailored and case-managed programs and help them gain a better education."

Dr Constable said the Goldfields Primary Behaviour Centre had already put in place a range of programs to meet local needs.

"For example, the 'Cool It' program focuses on the four attributes of resilience, responsibility, remorse and resolution and helps students practice appropriate responses to various situations," she said.

"Improving student behaviour across the board involves many approaches, and the behaviour centres are one of these tools - as is a stronger emphasis on pastoral care and psychological services."

Minister's office - 9222 9699