When nine-year-old Hung Van Nong was flown to Townsville from Vietnam last year for urgent medical attention he didn't expect to find a welcoming committee of local school children ready to offer him help and friendship.
But that's exactly what happened when students from Townsville Central State School became involved with a Rotary Club of Townsville project to assist Hung as he recuperated after a leg amputation.
Hung, pictured centre with mates Angus, Cory, Tye and Jake, spent 12 months in Townsville and attended Townsville Central State School until he was well enough to return home.
His new Aussie friends welcomed him into the school community, helped him learn English and lent a helping hand whenever he needed one.
Townsville Central State School is one of hundreds of state, Catholic and independent schools throughout Queensland involved in values-based programs designed to have a positive impact on student attitudes and social behaviour.
Townsville Central State School students from all year levels took part in the Peer Leaders - Catch the Spirit program, which develops young people who are personally responsible for their own wellbeing, able to manage their lives positively and involved in and supported by their community.
Principal Anthony Ryan says the project focused on relationships developed in the school community and taught values both implicitly and explicitly.
As well as supporting Hung, the students also worked on a project for El Arish State School, north of Tully, which was badly damaged during Cyclone Larry last year.
"They collected hundreds of books from the community and raised $800 for El Arish's library," Mr Ryan says.
Education Queensland integrates the key values of care and compassion, doing your best, a fair go, freedom, honesty and trustworthiness, integrity, respect, responsibility and understanding, tolerance and inclusion into the state school curriculum.
Effective values education:
promotes Australia's democratic way of life and values the diversity in Queensland schools
articulates the values of a school community and applies these consistently in the practices of the school
occurs in partnerships with students, staff, families and school community as part of a whole-school approach to educating students, enabling them to exercise responsibility and strengthening their resilience
is presented in a safe and supportive learning environment in which students are encouraged to explore their own, their school's and their community's values
The Executive Director of Independent Schools Queensland, Dr John Roulston, says values are an integral part of the majority of independent schools and are based on a refl ection of community and parental values.
Queensland Catholic Education Commission Executive Director, Mike Byrne, says faith and values education are integral to Catholic schooling.
"Many Catholic schools have established frameworks to deliver values education throughout the curriculum, including in religious education and personal development programs."
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© The State of Queensland (Department of Education, Training and Employment) 2008.