Strong Secure Relationships and Culturally Safe Spaces

We aim to create safe learning environments, culturally safe spaces, strong and secure relationships, and attachments that are reliable and consistent. Building engagement and creating relationships is a fundamental part of developing safe spaces. Many children who experience custody have also experienced significant trauma. For children, the impact of trauma on the mind and body are huge. Children who have experienced trauma, have often learnt that the world is an unsafe place, and are constantly scanning the surrounding area for threats. Often, they are unable to form and maintain healthy emotional relationships or secure attachments.

The Parkville College Model places importance on recognising the effects of insecure attachment on our students’ capacity to develop and relate to others. As these skills are crucial in the school environment, we work to establish the school as a secure base for our students where they can begin to trust and easily predict the behaviour of educators, therefore beginning to feel safe in the environment and allowed the opportunity to learn.