Pastoral wellbeing

Student Services

NSCSWP - National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare

Program

Our school receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Education under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program (NSCSWP). The aim of this funding is to assist schools to provide pastoral wellbeing services to support students, staff and the school community. At St Therese’s the funding is used to employ a Student & Family Welfare Worker (previously known as the Chaplain)

  1. The Student & Family Welfare Worker has three main roles:

A Pastoral Role

The S&FW Worker:

  • participates in a wide range of school community activities, and supports staff, to contribute to creating a caring and inclusive learning environment within the school.
  • with written, informed parental consent provides ongoing personal assistance with individual students, subject to duty of care, consent, confidentiality and disclosure requirements and the code of conduct.
  • is available to provide ongoing support to individuals and/or families.
  • provides additional opportunities for families to feel supported.
  • provides factual and impartial information about, network with, and be a link to, the support and services provided through community groups, local council and government agencies.
  • consults and liaises with student counsellors and other staff about student safety, wellbeing or learning while maintaining appropriate confidentiality, and referring students to other staff as required.
  • is a mandated notifier, and thus is required to report any suspected abuse or neglect as required by state legislation.
  • provides a reference point for addressing social issues
  • provides access to resources from the broader community which are relevant to school programs.
  • is available to give input into health and social education courses (e.g. in the areas of grief, self-esteem, values or relationships).
  • is available to give assistance with camps and excursions, and, where appropriate, initiate activities such as voluntary clubs or groups in the school.
  • supports groups such as the Student Representative Council and the Peer Support Program

A Referral Role

The S&FW Worker:

  • provides factual and impartial information about, network with, and be a link to, the support and services provided through community groups, local council and government agencies.
  • consults and liaises with student counsellors and other staff about student safety, wellbeing or learning while maintaining appropriate confidentiality, and referring students to other staff as required.
  • is a mandated notifier, and thus is required to report any suspected abuse or neglect as required by state legislation.

A Resource Role

The S&FW Worker:

  • provides a reference point for addressing social issues
  • provides access to resources from the broader community which are relevant to school programs.
  • is available to give input into health and social education courses (e.g. in the areas of grief, self-esteem, values or relationships).
  • is available to give assistance with camps and excursions, and, where appropriate, initiate activities such as voluntary clubs or groups in the school.
  • supports groups such as the Student Representative Council and the Peer Support Program
  1. 2. This service offered by the S&FW Worker is accessed by school community members on a voluntary basis.
  2. 3. The S&FW Worker is managed by the principal and complements, enhances and collaborates with the school’s Pastoral Wellbeing Team, School Counsellor, and other school support staff, etc.
  3. 4. Students are able to access the S&FW worker through the Pastoral Wellbeing Team.
  4. 5. A Grievance Procedure for any formal complaint is available from the School Principal.

Disclaimer

The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government Department of Education

Acknowledgement

This project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Education under the National School Chaplain Student Welfare Program (NSCSWP)

Outreach

St Therese's community reaches out to all those who need support in many different ways.

St Therese's School community is committed to being of active service to all who are in need of support and comfort.

The following structures are in place to provide an outreach service:

  • Casserole Bank
  • Pastoral Wellbeing Team
  • Links to Centacare and other agencies
  • Home visitation and phone calls
  • "Open Door" policy
  • Children with special needs camp at Harrietville
  • Children’s counsellor

If you have any queries please contact our office staff.