South Australian Jennifer Ness-Ferry’s trauma-informed approach is helping to change lives

Jennifer Ness-Ferry has been teaching for 37 years and there is one thing she is certain of – understanding the individual needs of each student is key to helping them succeed.

Saint Francis de Sales famously said: “Nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength.”

It’s a fitting quote for St Francis de Sales College year 7-8 community leader Jennifer Ness-Ferry, nominated in News Corp’s Australia Best Teachers series for her compassionate approach to educating students.

Foster mother Beck Bolton said Ms Ness-Ferry had a “one-of-a-kind” ability to see “all her students and their needs”, especially those who are neurodiverse or processing trauma.

Teachers deserve the ‘highest training, support and respect’

Elizabeth Vale School principal Julie Murphy runs a trauma-informed school

“Ms Ness-Ferry is all about relational connection and making her students feel safe at school,” Ms Bolton said.

“She can read the body language and know [when students] need support without them saying.

“It’s not always easy for [some students] to ask for help or acknowledge the signs in themselves that they need support, she sees it and then takes the time to sit with them, acknowledging their feelings and how best they can get through it together.

“Then she’s able to get them to go back to class or just to give it their best shot.”

Ms Bolton said often children with special needs found it difficult to assimilate to many school structures.

“Ms Ness-Ferry always finds ways that work for them and if there’s no box for them to fit into, she’ll make a box that’s just for them,” she said.

St Francis de Sales College teacher Jennifer Ness-Ferry with students Leah Stewart, Jasmine Henderson and Shaun Gador. Picture: Supplied

Ms Ness-Ferry said since the beginning of her career in 1986, her philosophy centred on understanding the individual needs of each student.

“Find a job that you love what you’re doing and then it won’t feel like work,” she said.

“I’ve always felt privileged working with students. Listening to all [their] needs and understanding them, their background and their families, are all incredibly important in creating that relationship.

“The trauma training we’ve done and looking at how the brain works, the importance of regulation with all students, beginning lessons that are calm and … making them feel safe, I think that’s the most important thing.”

Ms Ness-Ferry’s commitment to her students was inspired by her own teacher, Mr Graham Coulter.

“I was inspired to become a teacher because of the positive impact Mr Coulter had on me,” she said.

“He was patient, kind, and caring. He made me feel valued and supported, and I want to do the same for my students.”

School principal Gavin McGlaughlin said the school had awarded 20 scholarships to young people under living in foster care in the past two years, making Ms Ness-Ferry’s trauma-informed approach invaluable.

“With that influx of young people, all of whom have got very different stories, but probably the one thing in common is having trauma somewhere in their history,” he said.

“So the focus on trauma informed practice is something we’re working on as a community, because what’s a good practice for kids with trauma backgrounds is generally good practice for all kids.

“It’s something Jen has gone off to do training in and then has helped with upskilling of other staff.”

Originally published as South Australian Jennifer Ness-Ferry’s trauma-informed approach is helping to change lives