Kate Barbat | Head of Positive Education
Ravenswood School for Girls

Kate Barbat is the Head of Positive Education P-12 at Ravenswood School for Girls. Kate generates innovative and strengths-based wellbeing interventions, experiences and curriculum resources based on the science of Positive Psychology and Visible Wellbeing. She embeds Positive Education concepts into everyday practice and focuses on the importance of activating the pillars of wellbeing in order to thrive both in learning and in life. She is passionate about creating opportunities for young people to be inspired, connect with themselves and others and to bolster a strong sense of agency in the pursuit of wellbeing through workshops, motivational speaking, events, programs, and interventions. Kate is a published Children’s Author, writing her first book in 2016, aimed at building self-belief in young people. Kate completed her Graduate Certificate of Positive Psychology at the University of Melbourne and is the current Chair of PESA NSW.

Appearances:

Day 2 @ 12:30

PANEL - Relationships matter: Growing student belonging to cultivate a connected school community

Research shows the pivotal role that belonging plays in overall wellbeing and academic outcomes. Cultivating a culture of empathy, support, and encouragement within the school community creates an environment where students feel valued, understood, and empowered to thrive across the many layers of their learning journey.

As educators, we recognise the profound impact that a strong sense of belonging can have on student application to learning and engagement in classroom practice, which has the capacity to significantly enhance academic performance. By exploring the intersection between resilience and student belonging, we recognise resilience as a key factor in navigating challenges and building strong connected communities. We also see belonging as a protective factor for things such as school absences, school refusal, and behaviours that are not compatible with successful academic outcomes. So, what can schools do to foster a greater sense of belonging?

This panel brings together thought leaders in the field of wellbeing education, who will discuss ways to cultivate belonging and connection in a school environment.

Audience takeaways:

The significance of fostering a sense of belonging in schools.
The consequences associated with a lack of school belonging.
Strategies for facilitating a stronger connection between students and their school.

Moderator: Kate Barbat, Head of Positive Education, Ravenswood School for Girls

Stephen Mason, CEO, Awards Victoria