The National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program
Acknowledgement
This program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
Objectives of the Program
The objectives of the Program are to assist school communities to provide pastoral care and general spiritual, social and emotional comfort to all students, irrespective of their faith or beliefs. This can include support and guidance about ethics, values, relationships and spiritual issues; the provision of student welfare; and enhancing engagment with the broader community.
General Principles of the Program
- Participation in the Program by school communities is voluntary.
- It is not compulsory for students to participate.
- Participation in the Program can only occur with parent/guardian consent.
Chaplaincy / student welfare service
The Chaplaincy / student welfare is a service that complements the care offered by other helping disciplines and aims to assist school communitities through the provision of help and care to support the personal and social wellbeing of students and the school community.
Services and actions could include:
- Assisting school counsellors and wellbeing staff in the delivery of student welfare services.
- Providing students, their families and staff with support and or appropriate referrals, in difficult situations such as during times of grief or when students are facing personal or emotional challenges.
- Supporting students to explore their spirituality and providing guidance about spirituality, values and ethical matters or referring students to, or sourcing appropriate services to meet these needs; facilitating access to support agencies in the community , where applicable.
- Supporting students and staff to create an environment which promotes the physical, emotional, social and intellectual development and wellbeing of all students.
- Supporting students and staff to create an environment of cooperation and mutual respect, promoting an understanding of diversity and the range of culture and their related traditions.
- Being approachable to all students, staff and members of the school community.
- Supporting students, their families and staff of all beliefs and not seeking to impose any beliefs or persuade an individual toward a particular set of beliefs.
How to access activities
- Referral can be made to the School Chaplaincy / Student Welfare services by parents/guardians. Application by parent/guardian to access the service can be made at the School's Administration Office.
- Referral of students can be made to the School Chaplaincy / Student Welfare services by school staff but must have the consent of parent/guardian before the School Chaplaincy / Student Welfare Programs can be accessed.
- Referral can be made to the School Chaplaincy / Student Welfare services by the student but must have the consent of parent/ guardian before the School Chaplaincy / Student Welfare Programs can be accessed.
Complaints
- Complaints and concerns are to be directed to the designated Complaints Officer (Principal or the Principal's Executive nominee).