The High-Expectations Relationships Behavioural Index A relationship is anchored by high expectations when we have the compassion to be fair and the courage to be firm. Find out more

A High-Expectations Relationships is an authentic two-way relationship that is both supportive and challenging (Stronger Smarter Institute, 2014) Find our more

This is a fictitious story. However, the words are all those of educators in Australian schools. In the Introduction to Stronger Smarter online module, we ask participants to write in an online journal about whether they have heard deficit conversations in the staffroom. This story has been put together from a scan of responses from over 500 online participants. Download … Read More

Principal Claudine Dank, says the ideas that Stronger Smarter teaches are important to St Kieran’s Catholic School  with a 17% Indigenous student population and situated on the traditional lands of the Kalkadoon people at Mt Isa. Claudine says the Stronger Smarter Approach fits well with the school’s focus on embedding Indigenous culture. “We have already embedded lots of aspects of … Read More

“For me, it has made sure that I’m conscious, not only in my classroom, but within my stage that I’m setting high expectations for myself and staff and this filters down to the students, using the tools that Stronger Smarter provided.” (Kate Payne)  Kate Payne and Louise Groves, Assistant Principals  Yarning Circles in the classroom After undertaking the Stronger Smarter … Read More

When Warrnambool Primary School Principal, Peter Auchettl, and teacher Jacqui Gore undertook the Stronger Smarter Leadership Program in 2013, they sat down to think about how to integrate the Stronger Smarter culture and ethos across the school. “First we needed to gather information,” Peter says.  “We found out about the local mob and the history and then we made a … Read More

The kids today don’t know our culture.  So this is bringing their identity back and their tribes and where they fit in with people. Auntie Joan Marshall and Tina Butcher, Mount Isa Central State School Tina Butcher and Auntie Joan Marshall believe that making a difference for Aboriginal students in the Mount Isa area has to start from the ground … Read More

Stronger Smarter gave me a lot more focus and better tools in embarking on conversations and setting up processes between people. That was the power in it Mal McFarlane, Bowraville Central School Mal McFarlane says that at Bowraville Central School, they are seeing some great improvements for their Aboriginal students.  “We have had some wonderful HSC results and we are … Read More

We’re really proud to be a Stronger Smarter school… The community ask us ‘what’s that eagle shirt you wear? Tell us about that’…they all know the eagle. Wendy King, Assistant Principal, Casino Public School Wendy’s story is told in collaboration with University of Queensland Social Science researcher Madeleine McGovern This is an edited version of Madeleine’s interview. I spoke to … Read More

“You’ll be successful in any context if you can build strong relationships from the get go. For me Stronger Smarter has been all about being able to connect with a diverse range of people and building relationships with those people regardless of their cultural background” Dave Hartley, Deputy Principal, Coomera Springs State School Dave Hartley is a Barunggam man with … Read More