Bringing Restorative Practice into the Classroom and Home
Last week, Our Lady of Mercy College Australind welcomed Merrilee Wright from Real Schools for a day of professional learning with our teachers, followed by an evening session with families.
As a Real Schools partner, our College uses restorative practice to help build respectful relationships, strengthen connections and support students to take responsibility for their actions.
During the day, Merrilee joined teachers in the classroom to share practical strategies, including the use of learning circles. These circles create opportunities for students to listen to one another, share their perspectives and develop the skills needed to work through challenges together.
Restorative practice is about more than addressing behaviour when things go wrong. It encourages students to reflect on their choices, consider how their actions affect others and take steps to make things right, while maintaining clear boundaries and expectations.
Through these conversations, students develop empathy, communication skills and accountability. These are important skills that help young people build positive relationships and contribute to their communities.
In the evening, Merrilee met with families to explore the philosophy behind Real Schools and how restorative practice is used at the College. The discussion introduced the three domains of Language, Conduct and Mindset, with a focus on how families can apply a restorative approach at home. Practical strategies included responding rather than reacting when faced with challenging behaviour.
Families asked thoughtful questions about how the approach works in practice, creating an open discussion about the role parents and educators play in supporting young people.
At Mercy, we recognise that building respectful relationships is a shared responsibility. By working together, staff and families can help students develop the confidence and skills to navigate challenges and understand different perspectives.
Thank you to Merrilee, our staff and the families who took part in the sessions and contributed to the conversation.
If you would like to learn more about restorative practice, we encourage you to watch the below videos.