Dear Parent/Guardian

Wellbeing and Engagement Collection

Students in our school have been invited to take part in a survey being conducted in Term 3 2020. This letter provides key information about the survey.

In Term 1 2020, some schools participated in the Wellbeing and Engagement Collection. However, not all students were able to participate in or complete the survey due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our school will participate in the Term 3 Wellbeing and Engagement Collection which will be open during Weeks 7 to 9 (Monday 31 August to Friday 18 September 2020).

Purpose of the collection

Young people’s sense of wellbeing is an important part of how they learn at school. The purpose of the survey is to seek students’ views about their wellbeing and their engagement with school. Students in year levels 4 to 12 across the State will be invited to participate in the Wellbeing and Engagement Collection. The information collected will help the education system and broader community to support young people’s health and wellbeing.

What is the survey about?

The survey asks students about their social and emotional wellbeing; school relationships and engagement and learning in school; and physical health and wellbeing and after school activities. Students’ answers will be kept confidential – no one (including school staff) will use the results to identify individual students.

What is involved in project participation?

Teachers will arrange for students to undertake the survey during class time. Students will be asked if they would like to participate and will be free to withdraw at any time. If you do not want your child to participate, please contact the school as soon as possible after receiving this letter.

Will students’ information be kept confidential?

The department takes measures to ensure students’ personal information and their identities remain anonymous when participating in the survey.

Participating schools with fewer than 5 students undertaking the survey will not receive a school report in order to protect the confidentiality of students.

What will happen if a student is distressed during or after the survey?

Whilst the survey questions are not expected to distress students, the survey includes questions that ask about topics such as students’ happiness and experiences of being bullied. Teachers will inform students that:

if they find the survey uncomfortable or distressing, they should leave the survey screen immediately
that it is not compulsory to take part in the survey as a whole, and
students may also skip individual survey questions if they wish.

Students who may want to speak to an adult about concerns or issues and will be supported to do so.

Where can I get more information?

Further information on the Wellbeing and Engagement Collection can be found at www.education.sa.gov.au (search:wec) or can be collected from the school. For questions or concerns, or to view the questions, please email Education.WECSA@sa.gov.au.

Yours sincerely

Amanda O’Shea, Victor Harbor High School Principal

19 August 2020