1. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND

2. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND
“Peer culture.. has a significant influence on presence, engagement and achievement at school ….. Schools.. have a critical role in helping students to positively support each other and their decision-making.”
Ka Hikitia 2008 Ministry of Education, page 23

3. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND
Introduced into NZ 1982
A not-for-profit trust.
Six district committees
The focus of the programme is on training teachers to run the programme in their schools – 100 to 150 teachers trained each year

4. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND
The programme is based on two manuals:
A manual for student leaders outlining the various sessions which make up the programme
A teachers’ manual

5. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND
Survey 2005
90% of Years 7 to 13 and Years 9 to 13 secondary schools surveyed
63% of Years 7 to 13 schools replied. Of these 72% operated the programme.
58% of Years 9 to 13 schools replied. Of these 66% operated the programme.
Hynes, Kathriona (2006) 20 years on… Evaluation of the Peer Support Programme in New Zealand Secondary Schools. Research prepared for the NZ Peer Support Trust, Biennial Conference July 2006

6. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND
The Programme trains senior students (usually Year 12) to become peer support leaders.
In their final year at school (Year 12 and/or Year 13) these peer support leaders then take responsibility for a group of new students arriving in the school as Year 9s.

7. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND
Student leaders usually work in threes or fours, taking their group of Year 9 students through a programme during the first term.
The programme is designed to build the self confidence of junior students and introduce them into the secondary school environment equipped with the necessary skills to make a confident start to their secondary schooling.

8. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND
Getting to Know You
Orientation to the School
Building the group
Communication
Co-operation
Self Awareness
Cultural Awareness
Values
Expressing Feelings
Friendship and Trust
Peer Pressure
Bullying
Family relationships

9. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND
Benefits for senior students:
Leadership training
The opportunity to put leadership skills into practice
Group facilitation skills
Communication skills
Increased self awareness
Increased confidence
The opportunity to give service to the school
Benefits for junior students
The transition to a new school is eased
Skills and experience in relating to others
Increased understanding of themselves
Skills which may help make friends
A senior friend who can help bridge the gap between a junior student and teachers

10. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND
Of the 32% of schools not offering peer support, the reasons given included:
Lack of time
Intrusion into the timetable
Lack of motivated staff to run it
Logistics of working with large numbers of students
Hynes, Kathriona (2006) 20 years on… Evaluation of the Peer Support Programme in New Zealand Secondary Schools. Research prepared for the NZ Peer Support Trust, Biennial Conference July 2006

11. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND
The Peer Support programme supports the vision of the NZC
It links directly with the key competencies.
The programme components link strongly with;
Thinking
Managing self
Relating to others
Participating and contributing

12. THE PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMME NEW ZEALAND