We are a primary school community in an outer city suburb marked by social and economic disadvantage. Our school offers a supportive school environment based on responsibility, mutual respect and shared decision making. Our peer mediation program has been operating successfully since 1985.

Where It Began... Prior to 1986, our school was considered by many to be extremely difficult. In the playground, students were often involved in physical fights. Verbal abuse was frequent and bullying frightened many children. In the classroom, there were many undercurrents that made teaching the curriculum difficult.

Teachers were using an uncoordinated mixture of strategies to correct behaviour. There was conflict between the values held at school and at home, and students' achievement levels and life ambitions were low. Many children were aggressive, uncooperative and lacked the motivation to learn.

Getting Started... Our community began by identifying shared goals. These goals showed that we all wanted a program that would:

• teach about values
• provide the knowledge and skills for social problem solving and interpersonal skills
• be an integral and ongoing part of the curriculum
• focus on education and personal growth rather than strategies for behaviour management.

We knew that whole school involvement was essential to achieve these goals.

How We Went About It... All staff, pupils, parents and others in the community worked on developing the program. Our approach included:

• modifying the school environment to match the Supportive School Environment Policy
• undertaking intensive staff development
• providing education for parents about the program
• teaching pupils new knowledge, skills and attitudes
• developing preventative behaviour management strategies
• establishing a discipline strategy as a 'last resort' option.

To support these changes, we:

• developed extensive curriculum statements and resource materials
• pioneered a mediator program that trains teams of students in high level social problem solving and conflict resolution skills

What We Are Learning... Graduates of the mediator program intervene very successfully in conflict situations between students and assist with problem solving. These students have a significant effect on the incidence of conflict, particularly in the playground. Our student mediators have also developed powerful personal skills and maturity.

We measure change through the number of unhelpful and helpful behaviours in social situations and the development of personal skills, knowledge and attitudes. Our program evaluation indicates that students:

• have greater skills negotiation, trust and cooperative behaviour
• are able to identify and try to solve problems
• have a healthy self image and more self confidence
• respect the rights of others
• can articulate feeling in productive ways
• value peaceful 'win-win' solutions
• accept and understand natural consequences
• become active negotiators and have a sense of empowerment.

In addition, school staff believe that the benefits include:

• for the school, teaching and learning occurs in a secure environment without the intrusion of behaviour problems
• for the child, personal power and social skills increase
• for the society, social values, attitudes and behaviours are nurtured in ways that have the potential to develop healthy, cooperative, caring and productive members of society.

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