Wish Kids Program

In 1999 Dianella Primary College, then known as Mirrabooka Primary School, introduced the Wish Kids program. The program designed in partnership with Edith Cowen University and the Western Australian Health Department is designed to support students with the transition to Secondary School. Students who are identified by school staff, are provided with opportunities to develop their confidence, leadership capabilities and their emotional intelligence.

The focus group, usually about 15 students, meet weekly with a coordinator to work on both group and individual goals. The group goals focus on giving back to the school or community, often the group goal is a project, with students focusing on a project to enhance the school. These projects can be seen around the school in the form of; murals, paintings, garden features or mosaics. The students also focus on giving back to the school by working with younger students in their classrooms, developing the focus group students confidence and emotional understanding.

Each student in the focus group also works on individual goals. Individual goals focus on personal improvement and could include focusing on confidence, communication skills, positive relationships or leadership. Students work with the coordinator to establish opportunities to develop these skills or work on strategies to implement in their personal or school life.

As well as the individual and group goal, the students in the focus group are also instrumental in organising and running the school health expo day. The Expo Day, for all students from Yr 3-6, is a one day program of activities that promotes healthy eating, awareness of the health issues around smoking, drugs and alcohol and the importance of regular exercise.

At the end of the year, the focus group students hold a dinner, inviting important figures in their lives to come in and join them for a meal (prepared by the students) and to listen to students make a speech about how they worked towards to achieving their goals through put the year.

The highly popular and sort after program has been highly successful, supporting students to make the transition to Secondary School less daunting.