Achievement award for school addressing student trauma

BALLINA Public School has been recognised with a secretary’s award for Outstanding School Achievement as part of the 2025 Public Education Awards in front of more than 700 people at Sydney Town Hall.

The school has reaped the benefits with high attendance rates and improved academic performance after implementing the Berry Street Education Model.

The model focuses on students who have experienced trauma and incorporates strategies to create a safe and supportive learning environment that addresses their needs.

It was part of a Department of Education grant principal Stacie Luppi secured two years ago which allowed for 100 staff across the Northern Rivers to be trained in the program.

Ms Luppi is now the relieving principal at Southern Cross Public School and was there to receive the award along with Ballina Public School Principal Angela Wraight.

“It’s nice to receive that recognition for a lot of hard work into the professional development of staff to provide the best learning environment for the kids,” Ms Luppi said.

“We identified the potential benefits of the program, particularly with students who were displaced from homes after the floods in 2022.”

The model has had a profound impact across the academic, social and wellbeing areas of the school.

Recently, it had above state average results in the National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy program with indigenous students in Year 3 and 5 doing particularly well among the schools 256 students.

“We have happy kids who are engaged, and you can see the difference it’s made in a short period of time,” Ms Wraight said.

“The students have a shared understanding of the program and they’re able to communicate what they need with the teachers.

“Our staff are incredible; we didn’t have a single person who didn’t see the value you in the program and they’ve done a lot of work to meet each student’s individual needs.”

In other awards, Kerren Kernaghan from Lennox Head Public School was the recipient of the Public School Parent and Volunteer of the Year Award.

Ms Kernaghan is a former student and as a parent has been a P&C member, volunteer, recruitment panel member, canteen volunteer, dance teacher and sports administrator.

Principal Deborah Langfield said Ms Kernaghan has dedicated 20 years of service to the school and community.

“Congratulations, Kerren, for your incredible dedication to our community through many years of volunteering, serving as a member and former president of our P&C, and keeping score at countless cricket games,” Ms Langfield said.

“Your contributions make a significant difference, and we are so grateful for all that you do.”