Frame 1099

    Case study: Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Tumbi Umbi Campus Wellbeing Framework

    Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Tumbi Umbi Campus is a PESA Institutional Member committed to enhancing school culture through its "Make Tumbi Visible" wellbeing framework.

    Author/ source: PESA. We extend our sincere gratitude to staff of Tumbi, Principal, Ms. Elizabeth Bate and Head of Wellbeing, Mr. Russell Stefans for taking the time to share their framework and insights with the PESA community.

    Last updated: 15/11/2024

    Case study: Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Tumbi Umbi Campus Wellbeing Framework

    Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College Tumbi Umbi Campus is a PESA Institutional Member committed to enhancing school culture through its “Make Tumbi Visible” wellbeing framework.

    The overall aim is to ‘make visible’ the outstanding and positive initiatives being implemented. The initiative is rooted in sustainability, focusing on long-term impact beyond individual leaders, and is driven by the schools values of respect, responsibility, integrity, and fairness. It is built on the belief that wellbeing and teaching and learning must co-exist, like the two wings of a bird, to create a thriving school culture.

    Three Wheels of the Framework

    The framework is continuing to be developed via a phased approach. The three pillars/ wheels are ‘Visible Wellbeing’, ‘Visible Teaching and Learning’ and ‘Visible Leadership’.

    1. Visible Wellbeing (Complete and shown below): Focuses on creating a safe, authentic environment where the school community can connect, thrive, and learn.

    2. Visible Teaching and Learning (In Progress): Aims to integrate wellbeing practices into teaching and learning experiences and the curriculum.

    3. Visible Leadership (In Progress): Seeks to develop leadership practices that reflect and reinforce the school’s wellbeing focus.

    Visible Wellbeing Wheel

    The Visible Wellbeing Wheel demonstrates the why, what and how of the cultural outcomes of Tumbi Umbi.

    The Why – Valuing

    The school values of respect, integrity, fairness and responsibility are at the core of the framework. These values are primarily implemented through positive based learning (PBL), an evidence-based approach that fosters a positive and supportive school environment, enhancing students’ social, emotional, behavioural, and academic outcomes.

    The What – Deepening

    To enable the school community to flourish, Tumbi focuses on the six pillars of the PERMAH Wellbeing Theory i.e. Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, Accomplishment, and Health.

    The How – Amplifying

    To build wellbeing, Tumbi uses the SEARCH framework i.e. Strengths, Engagement, Attention and awareness, Relationships, Coping and Habits & goals.

    Tumbivisiblewellbeing

    Outcomes: An Embodied Culture

    Through these models, Tumbi Umbi fosters a culture grounded in connection, inclusion, and support:

    • “We before me”: Promotes a collective mindset, encouraging students and staff to prioritise the community over individual needs.

    • “You belong”: Cultivates a sense of inclusiveness where every member feels valued and accepted and can be their authentic self.

    • “I’ve got you”: Builds a foundation of trust, ensuring that each individual feels supported by others within the school.

    Through this collective approach to wellbeing, Tumbi Umbi fosters a lasting, positive impact on its entire community, enabling both individuals and the school as a whole to thrive.

    The Process: Establishing the Visible Wellbeing Wheel at Tumbi

    The development of Tumbi’s Visible Wellbeing Wheel involved a thorough and collaborative process designed to ensure alignment with the school’s core values and to gain strong buy-in from all stakeholders, particularly the staff. Tumbi already held a well-defined set of values and had been actively implementing the SEARCH framework as part of Lea Waters’ Visible Wellbeing model. This foundation set the stage for expanding wellbeing practices into a structured framework.

    Key Stakeholders Involved

    • Staff Involvement: A dedicated team of educators, driven by a shared passion for wellbeing, led the creation and rollout of the Visible Wellbeing Wheel. The roll out was divided into three key phases:

      1. Modelling wellbeing: Regular check-ins across faculty teams were introduced as a way to prioritise and normalise wellbeing in daily routines. Consistent language is used.

      2. Professional development: Staff received education on the PERMAH framework, enhancing their understanding of wellbeing concepts and equipping them with practical tools.

      3. Visioning and cultural statements: Staff worked collaboratively to articulate cultural statements that reinforce the school’s ethos, such as “We before me.” This exercise fostered a sense of ownership and connection to the wellbeing model.

    • Student Engagement: Students are central to the development of wellbeing initiatives. Student-led education and events empower students and promote peer-to-peer learning.

    • Parent/Carer Involvement: The Parent & Carer (P&C) community was kept informed throughout the development process, enhancing transparency and building support.

    • Community Awareness and Impact: Awareness of the school’s wellbeing focus has extended beyond the school itself, contributing to a positive reputation in the wider community. This has led to increased enrolments, with Tumbi retaining more students transitioning from primary and even attracting students from independent schools.

    This inclusive approach has cemented Tumbi’s commitment to a culture where every voice is valued and wellbeing is woven into the school’s identity.

    Alignment to Framework

    Tumbi ensures that all programs and professional learning are aligned with the framework, clearly communicating the underlying purpose to staff so they understand the rationale behind their actions and initiatives. The Visible Wellbeing wheel is consistently referenced to reinforce this alignment.

    Measurement

    Tumbi Umbi’s approach to measurement follows the philosophy, “measure what you treasure,” with a strong focus on tracking wellbeing and cultural shifts among staff and students.

    • Staff measurement: Tools within the SEARCH framework are used to assess and support staff wellbeing, including regular check ins.

    • Student outcomes: Key indicators include increased enrolment retention from primary to secondary, decreased aggressive behaviours, and high levels of belonging. Nearly 90% of students in Years 7 and 8 report a sense of belonging and trust in adults, while Year 10 students show strong adaptation to the school’s culture.

    • Surveys and focus groups: These methods offer additional data and will continue to be used for ongoing assessment e.g. PERMAH survey

    • Anecdotal data: Observations from student leadership meetings provide qualitative insights into honesty, cultural changes, and overall engagement over time.

    • Longitudinal data: Tumbi are aware that changes to wellbeing take time and assessing data over a length of time will be invaluable to demonstrate the benefits of the Visible Wellbeing framework.


    A Wellbeing Leader notes the personal impact of the initiative:
    “Being a part of this culture has not only changed me professionally, but it has changed my life.”

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