At Wallarano we believe that building, maintaining, and restoring positive relationships is central to a safe and supportive school community. Grounded in the Victorian Department of Education’s wellbeing guidance, our school uses Restorative Practices as an empathetic, educative approach to managing behaviour and resolving conflict.
Restorative Practices shift the focus from blaming and punishing to understanding the impact of actions, repairing harm, and restoring relationships.
Why Restorative Practices?
When conflict or misbehaviour occurs, a traditional approach asks: “What rule was broken, who broke it, and what punishment do they deserve?”
A restorative approach asks:
- What happened?
- Who has been affected, and how?
- What needs to happen to make things right?
This framework teaches students accountability, empathy, and social literacy, helping them understand that their choices and attitudes create a “ripple effect” on those around them.
How Restorative Practices Work in Our School
- Restorative Conversations: When minor incidents or yard duty conflicts occur, staff use structured, supportive questioning to guide students through reflection, helping them identify what went wrong and how to fix it constructively.
- Circle Time & Class Check-Ins: Teachers use proactive classroom circles to build community, establish shared group expectations, and explicitly discuss social-emotional concepts.
- Restorative Conferences: For more complex situations, trained staff facilitate formal restorative meetings involving the impacted parties. These conferences provide a structured, safe space for everyone to speak, feel heard, and agree on actionable steps to repair harm.
- Focus on Skill-Building: Rather than relying solely on consequences, restorative processes treat mistakes as learning opportunities—equipping students with problem-solving and emotional regulation strategies for the future.