Our School Wellbeing Officer

WELLBEING OFFICER

St Francis School receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Education under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program (NSCSWP). The aim of this funding is to assist us to provide pastoral wellbeing services to support students, staff and the school community.

The NSCSWP Worker – our School Wellbeing Officer has three main roles:

A Pastoral Role

The NSCSWP Wellbeing Officer:

• participates in a wide range of school community activities, and support staff, to contribute to creating a caring and inclusive learning environment within the school.
• on request, provides initial support or information to students, staff and other school community members.
• with written, informed parental consent provides ongoing personal assistance with individual students, subject to duty of care, consent, confidentiality and disclosure requirements and the code of conduct.
• offers support or information with regard to critical situations, grief, family breakdown.
• is available to provide ongoing support to individuals and/or families.
• provides additional opportunities for families to feel supported.

A Referral Role

The NSCSWP Wellbeing Officer:

• provides factual and impartial information about, network with, and be a link to, the support and services provided through community groups, local council and government agencies.
• consults and liaises with other staff about student safety, wellbeing or learning while maintaining appropriate confidentiality, and referring students to other staff as required.
• Is a mandated notifier, and thus be required to report any suspected abuse or neglect as required by state legislation.

A Resource Role

The NSCSWP Wellbeing Officer:

• provides a reference point for addressing social issues
• provides access to resources from the broader community which are relevant to school programs.
• is available to give input into health and social education courses (e.g. in the areas of grief, self-esteem, values or relationships).
• is available to give assistance with excursions, and, where appropriate, initiate activities such as voluntary clubs or groups in the school.
• supports groups such as the Student Leadership team.

The service offered by the NSCSWP Wellbeing Officer is accessed by school community members on a voluntary basis.

The NSCSWP Wellbeing Officer is supported by school leaders and complements, enhances and collaborates with the school?pastoral wellbeing team and other school support staff.

Students are able to access the NSCSWP Wellbeing Officer through Student Services.

A Complaints Handling Procedure for any formal complaint is available from the School Principal.

Disclaimer

The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Australian Government Department of Education

Acknowledgement

This project was funded by the Australian Government Department of Education under the National School Chaplain Student Welfare Program (NSCSWP)