About this resource
Friendships matter a lot. This reflection helps young people think about what healthy friendships look and feel like, warning signs of unhealthy ones, what they bring to friendships and what to do when a friendship is not working.
Purpose
To help young people recognise healthy and unhealthy friendship patterns.
Who it is for
Primary profession: Youth workers. Also relevant for educators and school support staff, counsellors and therapists.
Client or participant group: Young people aged about 12 to 18.
Practice setting: Youth services, schools and group programs.
Suggested uses
- One-to-one conversations
- Group programs
- After friendship conflict
- Wellbeing programs
Instructions for practitioners
- Keep it non-judgemental.
- Use examples young people relate to.
- Talk about online friendships too.
- Follow safety procedures if exploitation or abuse is disclosed.
Instructions for clients or participants
- Tick the signs you notice.
- Write what you bring.
- Write what you could do.
Accessibility considerations
Can be discussed rather than written.
Scope and limitations
A reflective activity.
Research basis
Primary prevention of violence focuses on respectful relationships, consent and challenging harmful attitudes. School-based social and emotional learning programs improve students' social skills, behaviour and academic results.
- Durlak, J. A., Weissberg, R. P., Dymnicki, A. B., Taylor, R. D., & Schellinger, K. B. (2011). The Impact of Enhancing Students’ Social and Emotional Learning: A Meta-Analysis of School-Based Universal Interventions. Child Development, 82(1), 405–432. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8624.2010.01564.x
- Our Watch. (2021). Change the story: A shared framework for the primary prevention of violence against women in Australia (2nd ed.). https://www.ourwatch.org.au/change-the-story
What is included
A 2-page printable A4 PDF, including a practitioner notes page with the research basis (version 1.0).
Originality
Original Practitioner Plus content: wording, activity structure, layout and icons were created for this resource. No third-party worksheets, illustrations or text were reproduced.
