Students from year 4-12 should have brought home the below letter regarding the Wellbeing Survey. If you DO NOT wish for your child to participate in the survey please complete the form and return to the school office by August 21.

The wellbeing of all students at Penguin District School is important to us.

Students in our school have been invited to take part in a wellbeing survey being conducted in Term 3 2020.  We are doing this as part of the Department of Education’s 2018 – 2021 Child and Student Wellbeing Strategy. This letter provides key information about the survey. 

In Term 1 2020, some students participated in the Student Wellbeing Survey. At this same time, the COVID-19 pandemic was starting to affect daily lives of all people in Australia. As a result, not all students were able to participate in the survey as school lessons were disrupted and many students transitioned to learning at home.   

Purpose of the survey

Young people’s sense of wellbeing is an important part of how they learn at school. The purpose of the survey is to seek students’ views about their wellbeing and their engagement with school.  Students in Years 4 to 12 will be invited to participate in the Student Wellbeing Survey. The information collected will help our school, the Department of Education and our school community to support young people’s wellbeing.

What is the survey about?

The survey asks students about their social and emotional wellbeing; school relationships and engagement and learning in school; physical health and wellbeing; and after school activities. Students’ answers will be kept confidential – no one (including school staff) will use the results to identify individual students.

What is involved?

Teachers will arrange for students to undertake the survey during class time. Students will be asked if they would like to participate and are able to withdraw at any time. If you do not want your child to participate, please complete the form at the end of this letter.

Will students’ information be kept confidential?

The Department takes measures to ensure students’ personal information and their identities remain anonymous when participating in the survey. Participating schools with fewer than five (5) students undertaking the survey will not receive a school report in order to protect the confidentiality of students.

What will happen if a student is distressed during or after the survey?

Whilst the survey questions are not expected to distress students, the survey includes questions that ask about topics such as students’ happiness and experiences of being bullied. Teachers will inform students that:

• if they find the survey uncomfortable or distressing, they should leave the survey screen immediately
• that it is not compulsory to take part in the survey as a whole, and
• students may also skip individual survey questions if they wish.

Students may want to speak to an adult about concerns or issues raised and will be supported to do so.

What do I have to do?

If you agree for your child to participate in the wellbeing survey, you do not need to do anything. If you do not agree for your child to participate in the wellbeing survey, please complete the form attached and return it to the school by August 21.

STUDENT_WELLBEING_SURVEY_Form.pdf

Where can I get more information?

More information about the survey, including examples of the survey questions and Frequently Asked Questions can be found by clicking the link below. SWS_FAQs_for_parents_and_carers_Term_3_2020.pdf

If you would like further information on the Student Wellbeing Survey, this can be found at https://www.education.tas.gov.au/about-us/projects/child-student-wellbeing/student-wellbeing-survey-2/  or can be collected from the school. 

For questions or concerns, or to view the questions, please email schoolsurveys@education.tas.gov.au or contact our school office on 6434 2222