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Email: bmad@det.wa.edu.au

The Behaviour Management and Discipline (BM&D) strategy is an initiative of the Government and the Department of Education and Training and has been established through strong collaboration with the Australian Education Union, Western Australian branch. 

This is a major initiative that provides resources to enhance the system’s capacity to ensure that all students achieve significant learning and social outcomes.  

The strategy aims to improve outcomes in targeted schools through a focus on behaviour, discipline and attendance.

The BM&D strategy has four key areas to enhance safe and positive learning environments and to effectively address issues of challenging behaviour:

• Focus area 1- additional teacher full-time equivalent (FTE) for the reduction of class sizes in Years 4 to 7 for identified primary schools and Years 8 and 9 for identified high schools
• Focus area 2 - funding for identified schools to address behaviour issues in Years 4 – 9
• Focus area 3 - funding for intensive behaviour management training for teachers
• Focus area 4 - funding to district education offices to address challenging behaviour
  

Background

System level data has identified that student behaviour is most challenging in Years 8 and 9.  This finding determined the original BM&D funding in 2001 targeting secondary schools to enable them to establish programs and strategies to address behaviour issues in these year groups.

Prevention and early intervention are of key importance to the effective long-term management of behaviour issues.  To support this, the BM&D strategy was expanded in 2005 to include primary schools, Years 4 –7.

Classroom Management & Instructional Strategies (CM&IS) professional learning program

40 teachers from across all Districts have been trained as Teacher Consultants to deliver the Classroom Management & Instructional Strategies (CM&IS) Professional Learning program (Focus Area 3). 

This training focuses on developing teacher confidence and techniques to manage students, including those who may be alienated from mainstream education and engage in challenging and disruptive behaviour. 

Each district education office has developed a CM&IS  program based on needs within the district, with the program being delivered in 2006.  Schools that receive additional funding for behaviour management and discipline are given priority to become involved.