Sue Roffey

Sue Roffey writes because of students like Billy."I first met Billy when he was 13. He came from a chaotic family where alcohol and violence were everyday occurrences. He could barely read,had missed loads of schooling and was sometimes disrespectful to teachers. No-one really thought he was worth bothering about but underneath the bravado was a young man desperate for change in his life." Sue's main premise is that the most vulnerable students are often the most challenging in school and need connection, care and emotionally literate adults to break the cycle of disaffection, disadvantage and social exclusion. Teachers and schools who focus on positive relationships, resilience and participation have pupils who make better choices in their behaviour, increased teacher wellbeing and often improved academic outcomes. "All my books are based in sound evidence" says Sue, "but also supported by my experience of skilled and compassionate educators who have turned the lives of kids around".

Sue was a teacher for many years, working both in mainstream and specialist provision for students with behavioural difficulties. She was an educational psychologist in Essex and London prior to being an academic in Sydney and international consultant. She is currently Associate Professor at the University of Western Sydney and honorary lecturer at University College London. She is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and Director of Wellbeing Australia