Australian high schools must look beyond academic performance and prioritise students’ sense of belonging to improve wellbeing, according to secondary educators.

Darren Stevens, principal of Birrong Boys High School, a comprehensive government school in Sydney, believes it’s the schools responsibility to concentrate on students’ social and emotional needs, and strengthen their support system.

“A school needs to know its students,” he said. “They need to make sure each student is known, valued and cared for.

“I hope each student has at least one adult in the school with whom they feel a deep connection.”

Stevens, who has worked in secondary education for 34 years, is responsible for 500 students, and said helping and encouraging students’ beyond the classroom is fundamental for their education.

“There is an inextricable link between academic achievement and wellbeing,” he said.

“Every school needs a strong, hard working and dedicated team to help these kids wellbeing. They also need to make student voices a focus.”

Research from the Black Dog Institute Australia shows the importance of school relationships, discovering that students’ who have a sense of connectedness to their school and community were more likely to report higher wellbeing two years later. 

The study was based on 1,548 students across 35 different Australian high schools. 

We should be paying close attention to the relationships young people have with their peers, teachers and the broader school community.

Sarah Stevens, education researcher

Lead author Sarah Stevens, a postdoctoral research fellow in adolescent mental health at the institution, has urged schools to pay greater attention to the connections developed by students with their teachers, peers and broader community.

“Schools are a major part of young people’s lives,” she said. “We should be paying close attention to the relationships young people have with their peers, teachers and the broader school community.”

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s 2026 key findings report, confirmed the rise of mental health related issues among young people.

A secondary school teacher and former year adviser in Sydney’s Sutherland Shire, who did not wish to be named, told Central News she had seen firsthand the consequences of poor student wellbeing. 

“Students I dealt with over the past year who were feeling disconnected from their friends or were dealing with bullying or other issues often suffered the consequences in their learning,” she said.

“They become distracted from their studies due to social issues, and in turn can suffer a lowered wellbeing as they then feel they are not even succeeding in their classes.”

And, data from the Australian Institute of Family Studies found teenagers with an adequate sense of belonging at schools from ages 16 to 17, were around 10 per cent less likely to report harmful mental thoughts or behaviours at 18 to 19.

“A student can spend six years in a classroom and still feel like they don’t belong,” Stevens said.

“If schools aren’t recognising that, we’re missing a key part of what education is supposed to achieve. Supporting the individual wellbeing needs of every student is a significant responsibility.”

Main image generated with AI, ChatGPT.