download "Solid peer support" review
Students are instrumental in any efforts to reduce bullying because they usually know about bullying long before adults do. Peer Support is based on the premise that young people, especially adolescents, seek out other young people for support and advice when they are experiencing some concern or worry. The establishment of peer-support systems in a school promotes pro-social values and discourages bullying and other anti-social behaviours. Peer support aims to reduce bullying by focussing on the social context in which it occurs, rather than on the bullying behaviours. Peers are also most likely to support initiatives to reduce bullying when they have been directly involved in determining the need for such a program. Due to complex family relationships, the peer support system needs to be carefully planned with the involvement of the AIEOs (ATA and AEW).
The reflection questions below link to the National Safe Schools Framework (NSSF) Key Element Five, ‘Providing support for students’ (DEST, 2003).
Reflection questions for solid peer support
- Are Aboriginal students involved and valued in student support activities at school?
- Do Aboriginal students get the opportunity to mix with children from other cultures in the peer support process?
- Is awareness raised to increase students understanding of the roles of the positive and negative bystander?
- Is empathy for students who are bullied encouraged and students’ sense of responsibility enhanced regarding the safety of others?
- Are there pathways for Aboriginal student leadership within your school’s ethos?
Peer support
A peer support program is an ideal way to help Aboriginal students demonstrate cultural pride and give positive input to their school community. When senior Aboriginal students are given leadership roles within a peer support program, it can help them meet their family responsibilities of caring for younger siblings. It is very important to take family and gender issues into consideration to ensure that such responsibilities take place within appropriate relationships. Discussions with AIEOs (ATAs or AEWs) and/or local Elders MUST take place prior to implementing this strategy.
- Peer supporters should never be asked to formally counsel others about their behaviour; they are young people who offer supervised support to other young people to help them interact with others.
The peer group needs to be educated and encouraged to provide support for students being bullied and to foster an environment that discourages bullying. Thus the emphasis is on the behaviour and social context in which the bullying occurs, rather than on the person bullying.
One of the most powerful types of social learning is peer modelling. Students learn much of their behaviour from social interactions with their peers. Peer support is based on the premise that young people, especially adolescents, seek out other young people for support and advice when they are concerned or worried.
How can peer supporters help?
Peer supporters may be involved in any of the following:
- helping younger or new students make the transition to a new school
- reaching out to lonely or troubled students
- modelling pro-social behaviour
- organising non-competitive activities for interested students
- helping shy or withdrawn students engage with others
- officiating games such as soccer or basketball
- being solid role models
- promoting a safe environment
- giving support to individual students or small group
Peer support initiatives help senior students and staff to address issues affecting all students in a positive and productive manner. A training and supervision program needs to be provided to build the capacity of senior students. Students can be peer supporters in two ways:
- Informal
- Informally, peer supporters may offer support to students who are obviously upset or in need of someone to talk to. They use whatever skills, strategies or opportunities they have to do this. It may be just a friendly comment to show the student that someone cares or notices them. They can help students to join in games or to find new friendship groups. They can help students to organise games and activities at recess or lunchtime so they are playing cooperatively.
- Formal
- Formally, peer supporters can be assigned to partner other students in a ‘buddy system’. The partnership may be only for the first few days of a new student’s arrival at the school or long-term, with a regularly scheduled visit for half of a lunch period each week. The latter arrangement might be used for a special-needs student or a student who is struggling socially and needs confidence to find friends. Matching needs to be done carefully and steps need to be taken to monitor it and to prevent dependency.
