Birregurra Primary School is very fortunate to have a school chaplain. The chaplain’s role includes pastoral care for members of our school and wider community. Responding to issues and critical incidents as they arise, as well as facilitating proactive relationship building, small group delivery and programs to ensure improved wellbeing outcomes for young people and their communities.

The Chaplain’s role to provide the link needed between the physical, psychological and spiritual wellbeing of the students, parents/caregivers and teaching staff, ensuring that a holistic approach is undertaken as it seeks to produce resilient, resourceful, competent and successful individuals.  Duties include (but are not limited to):

• Building relationships and being present in the school community
• Pastorally caring for all members of the school community
• Implementation of preventative and proactive programs
• Promoting thinking about wellbeing
• Supporting classroom activities or individual students in class
• Assisting on school excursions or camps if required
• Accompanying child or parent to mediation and/or court appearances and to liaise with various service providers and local councils
• Home visits, if essential to the child’s wellbeing
• Understanding and developing appropriate boundaries
• Intervention and trauma support in crises and emergencies

Chaplains deal with a wide range of issues, including:

• social relationship issues such as anger, peer relationships, loneliness and bullying
• family relationship issues
• the development of the self - sense of purpose, self-esteem, and mental health
• the involvement of students in the community
• addressing issues of social inclusion and racism

Duties also include informal conversations that have a pastoral intent, or assisting with appointments or referrals for people seeking help. 

In 2022, our Chaplain Suzanne Bath, will continue to work alongside our students within the classroom and through the Respectful Relationships program incorporating  mindfulness strategies and group work specific to identified needs, e.g. Girls’ friendship building group and gardening/mentoring program.