School Chaplain – Lucca Cameron
The Chaplain assists in the monitoring and identification of students who might need extra support in a variety of areas. Lucca also assists students and families in accessing community resources for everything from financial challenges to mental health.
The role of the Chaplain is wide and varied. The following are some of the activities the Chaplain may become involved in:
- Participation in school camps, excursions, sports days, form meetings, assemblies, school committees.
- Facilitation of groups, events and activities with voluntary student participation, including lunchtime groups, and breakfast clubs.
- Visiting students who are absent from school (including school refusals, hospital visitation, bereavement).
- Public prayer at formal school functions as appropriate.
- Coaching sporting teams.
- Assisting with special needs and behaviour management programs.
- Participation in and developing adventure-based learning/outdoor education programs.
- Providing resource support for teachers.
- Facilitating parenting programs.
- Providing pastoral care and personal support for students, staff and parents of the school community within a Christian framework in cooperation with the school’s Guidance Officer and other support staff.
- Providing pastoral care and support following critical incidents.
- Assisting in the development and support of the school’s care program.
- Liaison between the school and local churches.
- Network with support services, local churches and other agencies and organizations in the local community to provide a broad range of support services to the school community.
- Networking with and coordinating involvement in the school by external Christian programs and organisations (e.g. AusLife; Cool Choices - 96.5; Youth Alive).
The information provided to the Chaplain by students and staff is confidential unless the student is at serious risk of harm.
Balmoral has a five day a week Chaplain. The Chaplain is funded through community support for three days per week and through the National School Chaplaincy Programme funded by the Australian Government Department of Education, Science and Training two days per week.