All NSW public school students have a right to an inclusive learning environment and to feel happy and safe at school.
Aboriginal student support
We are committed to closing the achievement gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. We know that we need to learn about, nurture and value the cultural identity of our Aboriginal students to help them be successful learners.
We welcome Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander family members, parents and carers, as well as community members to our school so that we can get to know each other, learn about the local Aboriginal community and develop shared goals and plans for Aboriginal students.
The Aboriginal Education Policy confirms the NSW Department of Education’s commitment to improvement in educational outcomes and wellbeing for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Assistance to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander includes a tutorial program to support mainstream classroom learning and the opportunity to access various opportunities delivered by a range of universities and education and training institutions.
We offer a tutoring program and develop individual plans for senior students as they move toward the HSC.
We work with the families of Aboriginal students to set goals and develop and implement individualised learning plans and this is key to supporting successful student learning.
Multicultural education
Our school welcomes students, families and community members from all cultural backgrounds. We appreciate difference and diversity and aim to provide a culturally inclusive and responsive environment that benefits all students.
Our teaching and learning programs develop intercultural understanding, promote positive relationships and enable all students to participate as active Australian and global citizens. Our school fosters student wellbeing and community harmony by implementing anti-racism and anti-discrimination strategies that encourage engagement by parents and carers from all backgrounds.
The Multicultural Education Policy outlines the NSW Department of Education’s commitment to providing opportunities that enable all students to achieve equitable education and social outcomes and participate successfully in our culturally diverse society.
The Anti-Racism Policy confirms the department’s commitment to rejecting all forms of racial discrimination in NSW public schools and eliminating expressions of racism in its learning and working environments.
For more information refer to:
Supporting English language learners
Learning English is essential for success at school and effective participation in Australian society. We can provide specialist support to help students learning English as an additional language or dialect (EAL/D).
For more information refer to: EAL/D education.
Supporting refugee students
Schools offer safety, support and security to help refugee students adjust to life in Australia and participate successfully in education. Targeted support strategies are provided to assist refugee students in NSW public schools.
For more information refer to: Supporting refugee students.
Learning support
The school’s learning and support team plays a key role in ensuring we meet the specific needs of students with additional learning and support needs, including disability.
The team:
- supports teachers in identifying and responding to the additional learning needs of students
- facilitates and coordinates a whole-school approach to improving the learning outcomes of every student
- coordinates planning processes and resourcing for students with additional learning and support needs
- designs and implements the support required to build teacher capacity so that all students access quality learning
- develops collaborative partnerships with the school, parents and carers, as well as other professionals and the wider school community.
For more information on programs and services to help students with additional learning and support needs visit Disability, learning and support.
Anti-bullying
Bullying of any kind is not acceptable in NSW schools.
The NSW anti-bullying website brings together information and resources for teachers, students, parents and carers. It helps to identify, prevent and respond effectively to student bullying, including online bullying. It provides information about online safety and what you can do if your child has been bullied, witnessed bullying or been involved in bullying.
For more information on anti-bullying strategies for NSW public schools refer to the department’s Bullying of Students – Prevention and Response Policy.
For information on racial bullying and anti-racism education for NSW public schools refer to:
Our teachers use a variety of strategies to assess student learning.
Student leadership
Student leadership helps young people find their voices, participate in decision-making, and understand their rights and responsibilities as active citizens. It helps students have a real impact on their learning and school environment and prepares them to participate meaningfully in their community.
Students can be leaders in the classroom, through their actions in the playground, through their support for others, or their involvement in academic, sporting, cultural or local community events or projects.
For more information about opportunities in NSW public schools visit Student voice and leadership.
Your son's safety is paramount to us, his wellbeing and his involvement in our school community where we promote positive relationships between the students is integral to our aims in helping him to become a:
- Good problem solver, communicator and decision maker.
- Encourage mutual respect, encouragement and assistance.
- Promote non-confrontational interaction between the student bodies.
- Facilitate a culture where self-discipline is actively practiced and pride in the schools name is developed into a quality that carries over into their local communities.
- Consideration is given to others feelings and property in a respectful manner.
Child protection
All staff and volunteers have been cleared by the Department of Education and have a current working with Children clearance to pursue their duty of responsibilities with your son.
All mandatory child protection policies and procedures are followed.
Anti-bullying and anti-discrimination
"Bullying" and all acts of violence are unacceptable and will be taken seriously by this school.
At ABHS our students and staff have a right to be free from the fear of bullying, harassment, discrimination and intimidation.
Bullying is defined as any intentional, repeated behaviour by an individual or group of individuals to cause distress, hurt or undue pressure to individuals or groups.
Students are encouraged to report all incidences of bullying to either their class teacher, team leader, year adviser or deputy Principal.
School representative council (SRC)
The leadership body is comprised of the executive body, school captains and the elected members of the student representative council (SRC). Each year group has the opportunity to elect their representative on the SRC.
The students in the SRC have the opportunity to express the views of the students and to effect change. Members have opportunities to lead school assemblies, attend youth and leadership conferences and interact with other school student bodies and to represent our school in many areas.
Through the SRC, students develop essential skills such as managing and mentoring others, working in a team and getting the most from that team through different creative idea generation skills, following through on responsibilities and coordination of people, resources and time to achieve goals.
Student leadership skills are developed through senior members taking responsibility for various roles and in them mentoring up-and-coming school leaders. These roles might include fundraising activities, educational programs or opportunities to represent our school. The responsibilities may include managing a team to achieve a task such as organising and arranging educational opportunities for the rest of the school or it might include working with younger students on resilience programs.
The SRC takes responsibility for the white ribbon campaign every year which is a whole school initiative. The SRC also holds regular formal assemblies that highlight important social or cultural issues and these assemblies provide opportunities for all members of the school community to become involved and have a platform to express their stories or showcase their skills. Through these assemblies, members of the SRC are supported in public speaking, agenda setting, resource management, presentation skills, use of technology and working in a team. The SRC leaders also take responsibility for developing the school community through quarterly food days, be it sausage sizzles, pizza days or snack pack days. The SRC also organises various fundraising activities for different charities throughout the year.
