Student Voice of a Wellbeing-Responsive Educational Community

Introducing the Research

Capturing Student Voice Across An Alternative Educational Setting

Gemma Elms, Central Queensland University

Ass. Prof. Karena Burke, Central Queensland University

Dr Tessa Benveniste, Central Queensland University

In 2024, Masters Thesis Student, Gemma Elms, under the supervision of Associate Professor Karena Burke and Dr Tessa Benveniste, conducted a qualitative study of how students experienced the wellbeing culture at Compass Catholic Community.

This research aimed to explore how students at Compass Catholic Community experienced the wellbeing and teaching culture, including its impact on emotional wellbeing, academic engagement and overall sense of agency. Interviews were conducted with 15 students (9 female, 6 male), aged 18 to 23 years.

The study identified several themes related to student wellbeing. These included:

1. BELONGING – Students described feeling a strong emotional connection to Compass Catholic Community, supported by relationships with staff and peers and a shared sense of purpose and values. This sense of belonging contributed significantly to their wellbeing.
2. REMOVAL OF BARRIERS – Students identified various physical, pedagogical and attitudinal obstacles that Compass Catholic Community helped remove, enhancing their access to learning and wellbeing support.
3. STRATEGIES TO SUPPORT WELLBEING – Students developed strategies to enhance their emotional regulation, mindset and self-awareness, which were fostered through Compass Catholic Community’s supportive environment.

For a copy of the research summary, please click here.

Key Messages

Significance of the Research

This research represents the first time that ‘student voice’ has been captured through the delivery of the IMPACT Program.
The research demonstrates that school communities who are committed to implementing the IMPACT Program well, as embedded within a wrap-around and integrated wellbeing strategy, deliver a wellbeing culture that is positively experienced by students.
The findings highlight that Compass Catholic Community is building a wellbeing-responsive community. The 3-year implementation strategy (wellbeing framework, IMPACT Program and embedding strategies) has left a positive influence on student wellbeing at Compass Catholic Community, reinforcing its role as a supportive community for students facing diverse challenges.