We are a small school of 95 students situated in an industrialised area ten kilometres from the city's centre.

Where It Began... The area that our school is located in is very multicultural and we draw students from diverse cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Getting Started... We wanted to make sure that our school has a positive approach to diversity and that an effective behaviour management plan is in place.

How We Went About It... At the beginning of each year students' and teachers' expectations of each other are discussed and class rules are developed that are consistent with these.

We see student wellbeing as a priority and programs, policies and management strategies reflect this assumption.

We encourage students to understand that no matter what country we are from, we are all more similar than we are different.

Students work in cooperative groups that are constantly re-organised to maximise every child's connections with other students. Projects often span more than one year level.

For misbehaviour in the classroom, students can be timed out in other classes. Positive incentives are used at an individual and whole-class level. The teaching of social skills is perceived to be inseparable from effective behaviour management.

What We Are Learning... Different year levels mix at school, on weekends and holidays. Peer support behaviours have become so established in practice that a formal buddy system is no longer in operation or deemed necessary. Students look after each other as a matter of course, and older students care for younger students.

What's Next... We will be continuing to monitor our results and looking for additional ways to support the good work of our diverse community.