Quality relationships are key to student and teacher wellbeing

By Nikki Davies
Community contribution / November 14, 2017

Over the last few decades, research has firmly established that the teacher/student relationship is a significant factor in student social functioning, behaviour, engagement, academic success and emotional development, with these relationships being particularly important for at-risk students.

Yet there are practical issues at play that compromise our ability to build these relationships including the dichotomy between building ...

School Science Technician - temporary

Veritas Leeds

Teaching - Early childhood / Apr 30, 2026

Term time only - School Attendance Officer

Veritas Wakefield

Teaching - Secondary / Apr 30, 2026

Autism Support Assistant

Veritas Wakefield

Teaching Aides & Special Needs / Apr 30, 2026

By Nikki Davies

Community

Nikki has worked as a primary school teacher in NSW across ESL, EI, gifted and talented and general teaching classes. She has a background in psychology and is currently completing a Masters of Education in wellbeing and positive mental health.

Latest comments

For some Autistic kids, it is their only form of being in contact with others.

— Peter Langdale on A Balanced Approach To Social Media Might Not Be So Bad: New Research

Top events

Research indicates that as teachers we respond differently to our students but are often not aware of the differential behaviours we exhibit in our classrooms.

— Nikki Davies

School news / This isn’t a game: platforms not doing enough to prevent grooming and radicalisation

Gaming platforms Roblox, Minecraft, Fortnite and Steam have been asked by Australian authorities to explain how they are protecting children from sexual predators and radicalisation.

School news / ‘This ain’t it chief’: Vic teachers blast Govt over incoming 28 per cent pay offer

Two Victorian Government sources have reportedly revealed the state’s teachers will be offered a 28 per cent pay rise over four years, but some educators have slammed the proposal, declaring it ‘garbage’ and ‘a joke’.

School news / National respectful relationships plan will fail without extra teacher PD: experts

While high hopes accompany the Federal Government’s recent release of its National Respectful Relationships Education Framework, experts say extra teacher training is a must if the program is to have any hope of success.

Opinion / Reclaiming the human purpose of your school

Schools aren’t struggling from lack of effort, but lack of alignment. As programs and pressures stack up, many have drifted into busy-ness without real impact. This article argues the issue is design, not people, and calls leaders to refocus on th...

School news / Iran conflict effects: call to target girls’ funding in gender equality push

It may be on the other side of the globe, but the Federal Government is being warned the Middle East crisis has ramped the need for direct aid funding for adolescent girls at risk of cascading crises across the Asia Pacific.

School news / Presenters are unlawfully posting student photos to boost their business: expert

A dangerously lax approach to student photo permissions by some schools is seeing external presenters unlawfully posting photos of children to help promote their business online, and the risks are huge, Australia’s leading cybersafety expert has w...

School news / Tasmania’s teachers accept hard earned pay deal after ‘generational’ strike

Tasmania’s public teachers have voted to accept a "fair and affordable" new pay deal after a bitter industrial dispute with the Rockliff Government.

School news / Young e-bike riders have never been properly taught how to ride them: new platform

A 15-year-old boy died after being thrown from an e-bike in Melbourne’s north-east last week, the latest casualty in what has become a major national issue.

Opinion / Dismantling bizarre logic: Explicit teaching is NOT classroom coercion

For someone who doesn’t particularly care for conflict, I have a real soft spot for dismantling arguments that entrench inequity, including, but not limited to, those that misrepresent evidence-informed practice.

School news / ‘We haven’t been inclusive enough (on gender equality) it’s about a better future for all’: ex-PM

A concerted, organised and strategic pushback by the “manosphere” against gender equality can’t be swept under the rug, Australia’s only female prime minister says.

Quality relationships are key to student and teacher wellbeing

Comments

EducationID

Our services

Ad centre