Pastoral care is central to the ethos and identity of our school. There are many faces to pastoral care. It is both explicit and implicit in its expression, however, it is best defined in the expressions of care that bring to wholeness the physical, social, intellectual, emotional and spiritual development of all within the school community.

Above all, St Paul's is a community that creates a cooperative, enthusiastic and supportive environment where each person feels safe, accepted, valued and able to learn in order to reach their potential as persons created in the image of God.
 

Pastoral Care

Pastoral care at St Paul's is based on the ideals of a Christian community. 

Pastoral care is love in action and is founded upon:

• The loving concern God has always shown for his people throughout the history of salvation;
• The value and uniqueness of the individual person created in the image of God;
• The fact that ‘the Catholic School is committed to the development of the whole person, since in Christ, the Perfect Man, all human values find their fulfilment and unity’ (The Catholic School, 1977, n35);
• The recognition that the ministry of each member of the school community contributes to the development of the climate of the school;
• The understanding that, ‘the entire effort of the Catholic teacher is oriented towards an integral formation of each student’;
• Our Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) 'Path to Life Framework', which contains 10 pathways for schools to help focus on areas of need in pastoral care through their school review and improvement process; and
• Our Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong (CEDoW) Student Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Policy.
   

Student Wellbeing

Student wellbeing is of the utmost importance at St Paul's. We are eager to ensure that all our students enjoy a healthy mind, body and spirit, and we integrate a number of programs to support this, such as Bounce Back and Friendly Schools.

Counselling for students and their families is also available from CatholicCare. A school counsellor visits the school regularly for individual sessions as well as advising and supporting staff on appropriate programs for small groups and classes. Read more about the school counselling available to students.

If a staff member or parent feels that counselling may help a student, they need to discuss this with the principal who may discuss this with the counsellor and/or parent and arrange the appropriate permission forms and questionnaires to be completed by parents and staff.

We also have a CatholicCare school chaplain who facilitates wellbeing programs for targeted students.
 

Supporting Families

Living as an authentically Catholic community, we strive to be welcoming, inclusive and compassionate to all. In addition to the wellbeing of students at St Paul's, the pastoral care and wellbeing of our parents and families is important to us and gives witness to our Catholic faith in action.

When families are in need of extra assistance, whether financial, emotional or otherwise, the school is here to provide support to families in a variety of ways while maintaining confidentiality and dignity.

Families are encouraged to speak with the principal or a member of the school leadership team if they feel they need support of any kind.

Read more about our partnership with parents in the Parent-School Partnership Framework