The role of Pastoral Care Worker

I have been the Pastoral Care Worker (also known as Wellbeing Officer) at St Benedict’s for 5 and a half years, working on Mondays and Wednesdays. The role varies between schools and the needs that may be present. At St Benedict’s I have been able to:

• Facilitate small group programs based on things like friendships, building resilience, emotional regulation and learning social skills.
• Run “Calm Club” at recess for those children who want to sit quietly and not be on the playground at recess. We do things like meditations and mindfulness colouring. The students appreciate having a quiet space to escape the noise and busy-ness where they also have support.
• Support teachers and students in the classroom when it’s a busy day and a student/s need an extra person to help with stress, anxiety, overwhelm, lack of confidence etc.
• Assist with Mini Vinnies by running weekly meetings, educating students on social justice, organising Mission Days to raise funds and awareness, supporting community organisations like St Vincent de Paul and Mums’ Cottage.
• Support the school and individual students with school events like the swimming carnival, sports carnival, and public speaking. Some students just need to be reminded that they are good enough, and just to take a deep breath.
• Support families when they are facing challenges be that by linking to organisations for professional support, giving advice on parenting issues (I am a registered facilitator of 1,2,3 Magic, Engaging Adolescents, Circle of Security and No Scaredy Cats) or just giving a shoulder to cry on with a listening ear. Sometimes I reach out to parents and sometimes it’s them contacting me.
• From next week I’ll be running “Lunch Club” for students whom for whatever reason, don’t want to play on the playground, supporting them whilst encouraging their development of social skills and resilience. This will only be on Mondays and Wednesdays.
• Scheduled or impromptu “check-ins” with students who need support, advice, strategies on self- regulation, friendships, a sick family member……
• Finally, I run one of my favourite courses, Seasons for Growth, for which I’m an accredited “Companion” or facilitator. This small, age-appropriate group is to support those students who have experienced grief or loss. This could be due to the death of a loved one, a loved one or themselves suffering from a severe illness, moving from another area where they have lost their support networks, parents going through separation or divorce etc. If you feel that Seasons for Growth might be appropriate for your child/ren, please reach out to either myself at march@mn.catholic.edu.au or your child’s teacher. I’m looking at starting new groups soon.

 If you or your child is needing some support around the areas that I have listed above, needs someone to talk to, or aren’t sure where to go for assistance with a problem please feel free to contact me at school on a Monday or Wednesday. My skills and experiences are wide and varied, and we are here to help wherever we can.