Home Groups, Wellbeing

& Pastoral Care

Pastoral care is the structures, practices and approaches that support the wellbeing and development of young people. (Calvert, 2009).

Home Group is where pastoral care comes to life at Brunswick Secondary College. Student Home Groups meet every week, completing activities which range from hands-on guidance and support for students transitioning to life in their year level at BSC, right through to providing assistance with time-management, social issues and planning of learning pathways.

Home Group sessions provide an opportunity for promoting and maintaining a supportive environment and positive relationships for all members of the school community.

Through Home Group:

• Teachers can care for, monitor, support and advocate for students
• Students voice opinions and ideas, have input into their learning and are empowered to be active leaders in the class, the school and the community
• Teachers can support goal setting, progress reflection and goal review
• Teachers and students can promote social and emotional learning 
• Teachers and students can celebrate achievement

Every student in Year 7 to Year 12 participates in activities across the five areas of Community, Student Voice, Celebrate, Social and Emotional Learning and Achieving Goals. Local and international research describes these areas as being key to providing a rich and meaningful pastoral care program.

In some cases, the activities are the same or similar at each year level, for example the expectation that you have a year level Celebration Day at the end of the year. In other cases, activities differ markedly, and are developed to be suitable for different age groups and/or stages of development.

Seeking support:

Parents/carers and students can contact the relevant Year Level Coordinator regarding any specific concerns.