14 December 2023

Our Lady Help of Christians School, Eltham (OLHC) this week hosted the launch of a suite of resources to help educate students that violence is never okay.

The wide-ranging classroom resources have been developed by prominent violence-prevention charity, the Pat Cronin Foundation.

Unveiling the Foundation’s ‘Act Kindly Activity Kit’, Director Matt Cronin said the program (piloted at a host of the city’s schools this year) recognised the importance of giving younger children tools to reduce physical incidents inside and outside the schoolyard.

OLHC principal, Mark Pinkerton, said the Activity Kit had become a vital part of the school’s Respectful Relationships studies.

‘I’d absolutely recommend it to other schools,’ said Mr Pinkerton.

‘Often young students can be exposed to violent material unknowingly via their phones and any education to assist students in raising their concerns is invaluable.

‘The Activity Kit, however, has been especially helpful in generating conversations around the fact that violence is never the answer. Students are also taking those conversations back into their homes and the community.’

Schools can find out more about the Act Kindly Activity Kit on the Pat Cronin Foundation website.