The Effectiveness of Peer Support Leadership Training in a South Australian School

This study investigated the relationship between a Peer Support leadership training program and the development of peer leaders' social skills. The effectiveness of training was assessed by a questionnaire, case studies and analysis of students' written work. Quantitative and qualitative analyses demonstrated that the intervention had some positive short term impact on peer leaders' cooperation, communication, empathy, belonging to school, relationships at home, friendship, decision making, conflict resolution and self esteem/confidence skills and attitudes. Less impact was made on peer leaders' sense of belonging to the community. Improvements in social skills and attitudes were more significant when considered in their entirety, suggesting that, in evaluating the effectiveness of Peer Support training, the cumulative effect may be somewhat more important than the effect on specific social skills.