School Chaplains
The National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
This is a voluntary program that assists school communities to support the well-being of their students, including strengthening values, providing greater pastoral care and enhancing engagement with the broader community.
- Provide 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.
- Support students and staff to create an environment of cooperation and mutual respect, promoting an understanding of diversity and the range of cultures and their related traditions.
- Support 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.
- Conduct and/or organise weekly chapels and two weeks of spiritual emphasis each year.
- Mentor students with behavioural and/or emotional needs.
- Be available to students, staff and parents seeking advice for whatever reason.
Disclaimer: The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
Teachers can refer students directly to the chaplaincy service when they see fit. The Chaplain can offer referrals to counsellors and outside agencies when and if the need arises.
Students are able to contact the Chaplain directly for a meeting. It is necessary that the Chaplain contact the parent and let them know that such a request has been made and ask for permission to go ahead.
Parents may contact the Chaplain by phone and request that he or she meet with their child.
Parents and guardians can opt-out of any chaplaincy service provided by the school by contacting the Principal, who will pass this information on to the Chaplain.
As a Christian school, parents have sent their children to this school knowing of the religious content that is taught. Therefore, any programs run by the Chaplain that involve the whole school are compulsory. If the parent does not wish their child to be involved in any one-on-one or group activities with the chaplain, a letter requesting exemption from specific activities may be forwarded to the Principal.
If parents and carers have any complaints, they are welcome to discuss the matter with the Principal who will provide the complaints forms if required.
A report is prepared and presented to both the Home and School Committee and the Board of Management each year. Both bodies endorsed that the program will continue in 2016. Parents and students are also given the opportunity to have their say by completing a survey.
Child Safe Standards
Seventh-day Adventist Schools NSW has made child safety a priority in its response to the new Child Safe Standards.
There are six public facing documents on the linked website sharing the child safe responsibilities and expectations across our school and college communities.
There is an overarching Child Safe Policy driving the other processes and procedures in our schools and colleges.
Within these documents, you will find codes of conduct and professional boundaries for adults and staff as well as a code of conduct for students.
These documents provide the platform for any member of the school or college community to response to and report a child safe incident or concern. It also provides guidance on how to manage child safe complaints.
With these six public facing documents the school or college community will know what is appropriate and acceptable in relation to child safe matters.
Counselling
Counselling services are available for students who wish to discuss any issues of concern.
Examples of possible concerns may include:
- Learning, behavioural or physical difficulties
- Issues with family or friends
- Grief and loss
- Bullying
- Stress management
- Career decisions
- Suicide.
Please note: Detailed career's testing is available for students in Years 10 to Year 12.
Please make appointments at reception.
You may talk about anything that is worrying you such as problems with family and friends, learning difficulties, bullying, how to manage stress, grief and loss or your anger, how to deal with thoughts of suicide. You may also talk to your counsellor for career advice.
Anything told to a school counsellor is confidential and will not be reported to anyone else unless the counsellor feels you are in danger or may be planning to put someone else in danger.
Complaints Handling
Please contact Sam Lett, School Principal, for a complaints form if required.
