Better Buddies in Powlett River

Better Buddies is a framework to introduce or enhance a buddy system in your school. Buddy systems are designed to support children in their first year of school through working with older students as role models.

The Better Buddies Framework has specifically designed buddy activities focusing on curriculum, social skills, values and benefits for the younger and older buddies.

Why is Better Buddies better?

Better Buddies is based on recent research
Better Buddies was developed and refined on the basis of research into buddy systems conducted by the Foundation. There had been virtually no Australian research into this until the Foundation's study.

Better Buddies fosters positive relationships
Better Buddies focuses directly on the systematic development of positive relationships between buddies.

Better Buddies aims to reduce bullying
Better Buddies aims to reduce bullying behaviour through the development of empathy, pro-social values and positive pro-social relationships between children of different ages. Strong positive connections between children discourage antisocial behaviour.

Better Buddies teaches 'pro-social' values and skills
Better Buddies directly teaches important 'pro-social' values and skills - that is, values and skills that help children to realise the effects that their behaviours can have on other people and to empathise with others. These values and skills contribute to friendships and other social relationships.

Better Buddies incorporates a wide and engaging range of buddy activities
Better Buddies contains a wide range of engaging buddy activities prepared by teachers for teachers. These cover different curriculum areas.