Provide support systems for students and whānau
Suggestion for implementing the strategy ‘Design inclusive school-wide systems and processes’
On this page:
On this page:
Current page section: Provide support systems
Go to top of current page: Provide support systems
Go to top of current page: Provide support systems
Go to top of current page: Provide support systems
Develop shared expectations
Develop shared expectations
Define together with students and whānau the building blocks of an inclusive culture.
Ask, what would we expect to see, feel, have access to?
- Develop comprehensive, safe-school policies that include the voice of whānau who identify as LGBTQIA+.
- Engage in a collaborative process with students, parents, and whānau to develop school policies and systems.
- Consult with parents and whānau in ways appropriate to each school community, such as surveys, hui, fono, or parent meetings.
- Have clear processes in place to ensure families receive assistance should issues of harassment or bullying occur.
- Create safe spaces and access to an informed, knowledgeable, and supportive person.
- Provide easy access to relevant materials, resources, and support services.
- Provide whānau with reassurances of confidentiality and respect for their privacy.
Consider the needs of students and whānau
Consider the needs of students and whānau
Consider how you can respectfully offer support, resources, and safe spaces for both students and whānau.
![10935 [Supporting-students-and-whanau.png]](https://inclusive-live-storagestack-assetstorages3bucket-3uty0hejzw6u.s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/public/inclusive-education/example-images/Supporting-students-and-whanau__ScaleMaxWidthWzEwODZd.png)
Strategies to support students
Strategies to support students
Adolescence is a time when identity, self-knowledge, social skills and independence are being developed.
It can be a challenging and painful time for students who lack access to information and support.
Key strategies to support students include:
- delivering school-wide, comprehensive sexuality education
- providing health education across all year levels
- integrating relevant content across curriculum areas
- providing easy access to appropriate and relevant information
- using supportive, gender-inclusive images in posters and advertising for school events
- providing access to adults who understand health and medical issues
- ensuring that all students are aware of key staff members they can approach for support
- reassuring students of confidentiality and respect for their privacy
- providing opportunities to ask questions anonymously
- working in partnership with transgender students to ensure their transition is supported, respected, and affirmed
- responding sensitively to time out of school for attending medical appointments
- developing supportive plans to ensure students are able catch up on assignments and learning missed due to outside-school appointments.
Support peer-to-peer groups
Support peer-to-peer groups
Students report less harassment and bullying based on sexual orientation or gender identity when support groups are in place.
Provide information on support agencies
Provide information on support agencies
- RainbowYOUTH – provide support for friends and family of queer and gender-diverse youth.
- InsideOUT – an organisation that provides support for young people of minority sexualities and genders.
- OUTLindeNZ – a helpline staffed by self-accepting LGBTQIA+ people who have trained to help others over the phone with issues related to sexual identity.
- Sexual Wellbeing Aotearoa (formerly Family Planning) – an organisation that provides sexual and reproductive health care to people of any gender or sexual orientation.
- Village Collective – an organisation that supports and equips Pacific youth, families, and communities with resources and information related to sexual health and wellbeing.
- The I’m Local Project (RainbowYOUTH) – a regional directory of queer and gender-diverse support groups throughout Aotearoa.
- Intersex Aotearoa – a New Zealand registered charitable trust that provides information, education and training for organisations and professionals who provide services to intersex people and their families.
Useful resources
Useful resources
Rainbow families: School support guide
Read time: 59 min
Booklet for teachers, parents and caregivers and schools about how they can best support LGBTQIA+ families. Developed by the Australian group, Rainbow Families.
Publisher: Rainbow Families
For families of young people who are queer, lesbian, gay, transgender, bisexual or questioning
Read time: 11 min
This brochure offers support for New Zealand families of gender- and sexuality-diverse young people. It includes parent voices, links to support groups, commonly asked questions, and tips for parents.
Publisher: Outline
Download PDF
Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) parents and their children: Support strategies for educators
Article outlining strategies for creating safe schools for children of LGBT parents. Published by the National Association of School Psychologists (US).
Publisher: National Association of School Psychologists
Next steps
More suggestions for implementing the strategy “Design inclusive school-wide systems and processes”:
Return to the guide “Supporting LGBTQIA+ students”
How to use this site
Guide to Index of the guide: LGBTQIA+ students
Understand:
Strategies for action:
-
Build knowledge of sex, gender, and sexuality diversityShow suggestions for Build knowledge of sex, gender, and sexuality diversity
-
Design inclusive school-wide systems and processesShow suggestions for Design inclusive school-wide systems and processes
-
Address immediate environmental, physical and social needsShow suggestions for Address immediate environmental, physical and social needs
-
Develop an inclusive classroom and curriculumShow suggestions for Develop an inclusive classroom and curriculum
