Better Behaviour Centres are an early intervention education service for government students. They provide a service for students who are showing signs of disengagement from school. 

Students receive targeted small-group assistance in literacy, numeracy and social and emotional development. 

There are 2 groups of Better Behaviour Centres. The first is the 4 metropolitan primary centres. They provide 2 days a week in the program and 3 days back at school, with support given to schools during this time. Students are placed for around 3 and a half to 4 terms. 

The second group is the 2 regional secondary centres. Depending on student and school needs, they provide full-time and part-time programs for 2 terms. 
Students are not suspended or excluded from their home schools at the time of placement. 

Eligibility to be placed at a Better Behaviour Centre

Students must:

• be enrolled in a government school
• be from year 3 to age 16 (compulsory school age)
• have a record of appropriate school attendance.

How a referral is made

Placement in a Better Behaviour Centre is an early intervention option available to schools. Students’ home schools will make the referrals in consultation with parents or caregivers.

Better Behaviour Centre programs

Each student’s program is personalised based on their assessed educational and developmental needs.

Students from year 3 to 7 in the metropolitan area will attend 1 of the 4 centres. This is usually the centre closest to their home school.

Students will be placed in a class of 10 with a teacher and school services officer (SSO).

Better Behaviour Centres also have a family coordinator, who is either a social worker or psychologist, to provide a holistic program that supports both students and their families.

Better Behaviour Centres keep in constant contact with students’ home schools and families. This creates a strong link between the centres and schools and helps the schools understand the successful strategies that promote growth in educational and developmental areas.

Students attend the Better Behaviour Centre program during normal school hours. The program follows the normal school calendar.

Programs provide support for:

• literacy
• numeracy
• social and emotional wellbeing.