Balaklava High School began its restorative journey in 2019.

Balaklava High School began its restorative journey in 2019. Sonia Pringle, principal from 2019-2023, recalls the daily fights and weekly visits from police officers in 2019. She says that students and staff did not feel safe.

After attending a workshop on RP, Sonia asked for help, recognising that something different needed to be done to address the school culture at the time. Over the next few years, Balaklava High School began to train all their staff, their students and families on restorative principles and practices. The culture did not change overnight, but by 2022 suspensions, expulsions and incidents of violence had reduced dramatically; students and staff were noticeably more relaxed; and student enrolments were increasing alongside the public perception of the school.

AI-Refined Transcript: 
When I arrived at Balaklava High School, it was a school in crisis. The turmoil had spread into the community, eroding respect and fostering a poor culture. Fights were common in the schoolyard. We implemented various strategies and reached out to the education department. Our system required us to record all incidents, which led us to the concept of restorative practices.
 
I attended a three-day training with Kerrie Sellen from Restorative Journeys. Those three days were transformational.
 
I was fortunate to be among the first to receive this training. We began by having teachers participate in circles to build connections with each other. We incorporated this practice into every staff meeting and encouraged teachers to use circles in their classrooms, at the start of the day or whenever needed. The positive impact was immediate; we felt we had a solution to some of the issues we were facing.
 
At the end of one of the training days, I approached Kerrie, feeling emotional, and told her, "I need your help."
 
Has anyone here heard of a place called Wagga Wagga? Great, has anyone been there? Well done.
 
Restorative practices, for me, are about building and sustaining healthy relationships and effectively dealing with conflict and harm when they occur. Conflict is a normal part of every human connection; it's always about the repair—the harm and the impact it's had on people.
 
Does that help, Kimberly? Does that make things better or worse? Spot on. Here's my real question: when you're the bystanders, picking sides, does that make you feel better or worse? We might see tears or hear harsh words, and we can sit with them, acknowledging that it's okay to feel this way. That's the first part of explaining things to parents. Then we go through the formal steps of finding a solution with restorative meetings and using those questions.
 
We held parent sessions, offering incentives to encourage attendance, because we know conflict is normal, but combat is optional. We provided them with alternative ways to resolve issues and repair harm when needed. In one-on-one support with students, we use various tools to engage and build trust, creating opportunities for real conversations.
 
Restorative practices have changed the way I teach, communicate with my husband, and parent. They've transformed me as a person, and I believe many staff members have experienced similar growth. While the impact on our town and community has been significant, I've also seen substantial personal growth through this structure.