Our School Wellbeing Officer...
Funded with financial support from the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program.
(funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations).
Statement of Aims:
The School Wellbeing Officer role within the St. Luke's Catholic Primary School Community (within the St. Brendan's Parish community) is broadly based on enhancing connections between the home, school, parish and wider community and assisting children, staff and families in both spiritual and wellbeing needs, in conjunction with existing provisions.
Role of our Wellbeing Officer:
* providing guidance to children where required / requested about ethics, values, relationships and spirituality;
* supporting the school Principal, Leadership Team in response to crisis where required / requested;
* visiting / contacting new school families, making themselves known to them and available;
* serving children who require support / intervention in relation to a range of needs (social/behavioural/spiritual, etc...);
* supporting the furtherance of links between the school, families and outside support agencies (e.g. Catholic Education Office, Parish, Family Care, CentaCare, etc...);
* attending diocesan Professional Development, Training and Network Days and provide information to our staff and school community;
* ensuring members of our school community in need are connected with internal and/or external support;
* being a visible, accessible and available presence in our community for children, parents and staff;
* delivering welfare / wellbeing programs to students as requested / referred e.g. Seasons for Growth (grief support), Seeing Red (anger management), Peer Leadership, Resilience Building & Anti-Bullying Programs, etc...;
* Participating in school camps, excursions, community events, etc...;
* supporting children who express a desire to explore their spirituality;
* organising community gatherings to connect parents & families with others;
* facilitating staff spiritual reflections and experiences;
* facilitating Faith Formation evenings for parents and staff (in conjunction with School Religious Education Coordinator);
* Home Visitiation ~ new families, where specific needs are evident;
* visiting Parish Sacramental Groups ~ visitation and support of Parish program;
* supporting and enhancing the parish / school link in practical ways e.g. promotion of programs, opportunities, etc...
* responding to "in need" members of the community;
* facilitating Focus Groups ~ e.g. new families (their experiences of school to date), etc...
* membership of the School Crisis Response Team;
* attendance at Staff Meetings and other parent, parish and community meetings;
* supporting the Principal, Religious Education Coordinator and Pastoral Wellbeing Coordinator in policy development;
* liaising with local parish-based and secular support agencies and networks;
* maitaining documentation / Case Notes;
* engaging in appropriate Professional Learning;
* attending School and Diocsean Pastoral Wellbeing and Catholic Identity network meetings where appropriate;
* other duties as requested by the Principal.
Nature of the Service:
Involvement with the School Wellbeing Officer at St. Luke's Catholic Primary School is VOLUNTARY.
As a member of the Staff Team of St. Luke's Catholic PS, the School Wellbeing Officer is available to meet the needs of children, parents, families and staff members by request, according to their role within the school.
Our Wellbeing Officer is known to all members of the school community and available to all members of the school community.
Where children are involved in specific individual, or group programs offered within this service provision written permission is required.
Links to School Support Services & Community:
Our School Wellbeing Officer is a member of the St. Luke's Catholic Primary School Staff Team.
Our School Wellbeing Officer is a member of the St. Luke's Catholic Primary School Crisis Response Team.
Our School Wellbeing Officer is supported in the role by our School Principal, Catholic Identity and Religious Education Coordinator, School Wellbeing Coordinator and School Leadership Team.
Our School Wellbeing Officer is a member of the Sandhurst Diocese School Chaplaincy and Student Wellbeing Network.
Consent:
Participation and involvement with the School Wellbeing Officer is voluntary.
The existence of our School Wellbeing Officer position in our school community has the full endorsement of the St. Luke's Catholic Primary School Board and our Parish Priest, support from our Community Group (P&F Organisation), School Leadership Team and School Staff Team.
General school wellbeing support does not require mandatory opt-in arrangements for a Wellbeing Officer presence in and around the school community, attendance at school coordinated events, discussions with students, parents and staff who have approached the Wellbeing Officer during a moment of urgency and general playground interactions.
The staff of St. Luke's Catholic Primary School will offer support to enrolled children during their enrolment at the school according to their general roles and responsibilities, as directed by the Principal (or Acting Principal).
Permission / consent forms may be used where specific tailored programs or interventions are incorporated following discussion with parents, teachers and the Principal (or Acting Principal).
Access to Programs / Interventions / Initiatives / One to One Support:
Children, parents, family members and staff members may access the School Wellbeing Officer and/or programs by:
* Contacting the School Principal (or Acting Principal);
* Contacting the School Wellbeing Officer in person, by the Wellbeing Phone Number, by emailing the Wellbeing Officerl;
* Completing relevent forms contained in the School Newsletter or available at the School Office;
* Contacting the School Wellbeing Coordinator;
* Contacting the School Catholic Identity and Religious Education Coordinator.
Complaints Handling:
Every attempt should be made to resolve complaints at the local level.
Children, parents and /or staff members with a complaint in relation to the School Wellbeing Officer and/or provision are to address the concern to:
1. Our School Wellbeing Officer directly;
2. To the Principal or Acting Principal: 5822 1834;
3. To the Deputy Principal or Acting Deputy Principal: 5822 1834;
4. To the relevent Learning Group Teacher: 5822 1834;
5. To our Parish Priest: 5821 2633;
6. To the Catholic Education Office Pastoral Wellbeing Staff Leader, Bendigo: 5443 2377;
7. To the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program hotline: 1300 363 079.
School Community Consultation:
The provision of a School Wellbeing Officer at St. Luke's Catholic Primary School is annually reviewed throiugh consultation with:
* Our Parish Priest;
* The St. Luke's Catholic School Board;
* The St. Luke's Catholic Primary School Community Group (Parents and Friends Organisation);
* School Parents via survey and newsletters;
* The St. Luke's Catholic Primary School Staff Team;
* The Senior Learning Community at St. Luke's Catholic PS (Year 5/6 children).
Recognition and Acknowledgement:
The provision of School Wellbeing Officer at St. Luke's Catholic Primary School, Shepparton North is funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program.
The views expressed in this website do not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
