School Chaplain

**Position Description**

**Position Title **School Chaplain

**Location **Emerald Secondary College

**Position reports to **Principal Class

**Provider **ECHO Youth and Family Services

**National Student Wellbeing Program**

The National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP) provides:

- pastoral care services
- strategies that support the wellbeing of the broader school community.

The NSWP defines pastoral care as the practice of supporting the general wellbeing of students and the school community.

Chaplains must also abide by any requirements established by their NSWP provider.

**Provider**

ECHO Youth and Family Services Chaplaincy Program is a Christian service which exists to provide pastoral care in schools across the Eastern Dandenong Ranges via the National School Wellbeing Program (NSWP).

ECHO provides chaplains to six local schools providing a team of support in the local area. ECHO chaplains meet together once a term to share resources and discuss issues. There is also an online forum for the chaplains to connect quickly for support and sharing information. Each ECHO Chaplain receives a professional development budget to undertake their own choice of external supervision or training programs.

**School Environment**

Emerald Secondary College offers a quality secondary education. Our college is proud of the Strategic Direction which is driving forward the core mantra to provide ‘Access to Excellence’. Students are surrounded by a natural environment which enhances their educational experiences in purpose-built buildings and supported by a committed and passionate staff.

The College is currently going through a building upgrade. Upgrades include the Resource Centre, Administration Block, upgrades to the Science classrooms, Food Tech/Textiles and the Year 7 building.

The College offers a comprehensive curriculum from Year 7 through to Year 12 with a student focused pathway approach supporting each student’s interest, ability, and aspiration for the future. This is enhanced by an additional acceleration pathway that can allow students’ access to University Courses at school to complement their Year 12 program. Years 9 and 10 students enjoy their choice from a vast selection of
Middle Years Electives and all students 7-10 undertake our BEST (Build, Engage, Succeed, Thrive) pastoral/wellbeing/explicit teaching of values and character strengths as part of the College’s Positive Education focus.

Our college has a strong history of academic success with a high proportion of students being accepted into university or other tertiary institutions. We offer an extensive range of VCE courses in the Senior School complemented by vocational education opportunities including VET and the provision for the new Victorian
Certificate of Education (VCE) Vocational Major (VM) and Victorian Pathways Certificate (VPC) for Victorian government secondary schools from 2023.

We are also proud to be an accredited Select Entry Accelerated Learning Program (SEAL) school for academically talented students from Year 7 onwards.

Beyond the curriculum the College offers a range of opportunities for its students including: Student Voice and Leadership, Instrumental Music Program, Performing Arts Centre, Visual Arts Program, School Sports
Program and a Camps and Outdoor Education Program.

**School Values**

The College has just completed its School Review and will deliver a new Strategic Direction based on the findings. The College is also reviewing its Values in collaboration with its staff, students, and parent community.

**Role Purpose**

A chaplain engaged via the NSWP may:

- work as a member of the school’s wellbeing team in the delivery of student wellbeing services
- contribute to improving student engagement and connectedness
- contribute to providing a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment
- provide pastoral care and guidance to students
- operate within the school community and with external providers.

**Responsibilities**

The roles and responsibilities of NSWP chaplains could include:

- supporting student attendance, engagement, and mental health
- supporting students in difficult or challenging situations such as during times of grief
- providing students with referrals to specialist services when required
- providing pastoral care and guidance to students about values and ethical matters
- supporting physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development and wellbeing of all students
- supporting an environment of cooperation and respecting a diversity of cultures and traditions.

NSWP chaplains must not:

- proselytise, evangelise, or advocate for a particular religious view or belief
- enter compromising situations where confidentiality may be sought by the student
- behave in a way that impacts the delivery of their services under the program, including in a private capacity
- perform professional or other services for which they are not qualified
- visit students’ homes to