Providing pastoral support to staff, students and families

Port Augusta Secondary School is supported by a Pastoral Care Worker (PCW) whose role it is to:

• Work closely and in partnership with leadership and other well-being staff in the school to provide pastoral care and practical support to students, families and staff as requested.
• Provide our school with a unique dimension of social, emotional and spiritual support in line with the DFE well-being framework.
• Promote student well-being, engaging young people in activities that are preventative and which support early intervention and referral of mental health issues.
• Link families to community resources and services by providing information about support and services available through community groups, including church groups.

The Pastoral Care Worker does not promote or discriminate on the grounds of any particular ideology, but works to enable a supportive, inclusive and caring environment within the school for all students.

Contact and appointments can be made through the YES Centre on 8647 3320.

Background

For many years Pastoral Care Workers (previously referred to as School Chaplains) have worked in a number of South Australian Government Schools. The PSW at this school is employed by Schools Ministry Group (SMG).

The Pastoral Care Service is funded by the National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP), administered by the Department of Education (DFE) SA, with additional contribution from the local community.

Other facts about the SMG NSCP Service in SA Government Schools:

• The recruitment process for a Pastoral Care Worker is acknowledged by DFE, and meets the standards required for a religious based role such as a Pastoral Care Worker/Chaplain.

• The Pastoral Care Worker job description does not include provision of Religious Education, and proselytising is explicitly prohibited.

• Pastoral Care Workers appointed are required to have a minimum qualification of Cert IV in Youth Work (or equivalent), and to undertake relevant, ongoing Professional Development.

• All Pastoral Care Workers have a child related employment screening check and are DFE trained in ‘Responding to abuse and neglect’ (RAN) and are mandated notifiers.

• Access to the Pastoral Care Worker by students is voluntary and parents must give written approval for the Pastoral Care Worker to provide ongoing personal support.

The School community is consulted and makes the decision to proceed with an application for NSCP funding for a Chaplaincy Service. Please talk to our school principal for further details.

A grievance procedure for any formal complaint is available from the school principal.

For general enquiries please contact Ms Karen Wallace (Assistant Principal) on 8647 3300.