CHAPLAINCY

“[In 2024], Chaplains participated in 7,709 meetings each week with school-based support professionals including guidance officers, counsellors, special needs coordinators, and many others.” - National School Chaplaincy Association.

Chaplaincy & Wellbeing at KTHS.

When grief and loss strike our close community, the impacts are noticeable and widespread. Rural communities, such as Kerang, are usually noted for a silent resilience as people often attempt to adjust to significant losses by privately coping or living in avoidance of challenging memories. Here at KTHS we aim to change the narrative of suffering in silence to one of hope as we encourage students to reach out for support and connect meaningfully to the trusted members of their community. Whether by encouraging our students to engage with our art therapist, counsellor, chaplain, or an external service we strive to ensure that those struggling through grief and loss have the option to choose to grieve and adjust in the safety and support of community. 

If you or your student would like support through a challenging loss of a loved one, a relationship/friendship, security or stability, a home, or are finding it challenging to adjust to a major life change, then feel free to reach out our staff and we can set your students up with necessary support, or direct you to community services that can help. 

“Everyone experiences grief and loss differently. You might feel teary, sad, angry, frustrated, confused, anxious or resentful. These can all be expressions and symptoms of grief and loss. Your feelings of grief and loss might be so complicated and deeply rooted that you and others around you do not recognise them... Seek out support - This could include old and new friends, relatives, doctors, a community health centre, a grief support group or a professional counsellor. However, it is also okay if you feel like being alone.”

 https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/site-5/health/servicesandsupport/dealing-with-loss-and-grief