Pastoral Care & Wellbeing

Thank you

As we approach the final stretch of the first term I would like to thank our wellbeing leaders for the work they do here at St Pat's. Our staff continue to offer students support and programs that help to develop their confidence, character, compassion to help others and their place in community. Specifically, I would like to place a focus on our Director of Students, Jarrett Giampaolo. Jarrett supports our entire Wellbeing team, from year level coordinators and heads of house to counsellors and student services. Jarrett is a great asset to our team, making strong connections with staff and students, allowing relationships to stay strong even when there may be difficult conversations to be had. I know personally as the Assistant Principal of Pastoral Care and Wellbeing, I am grateful for his insight and advice around all things wellbeing.

International Women’s Day

Thank you to Carol Roberts, Tanya Drake, and Katie Spurgo for all their efforts to organise our inaugural International Women’s Day afternoon tea which took place last Friday, 9 March. It was wonderful to have an afternoon tea and conversations with our guests and to listen to our keynote speaker, Kristi Davidson, speak on her work with the Offspring Project and empowering women. Through the sales on the day a significance amount of money has been raised towards her charity and efforts to continue to her work.   

Wellbeing Leadership Network Meeting

Next week, St Patrick’s College is proud to host the DOBCEL Wellbeing Leaders Network meeting in our OCA Pavilion. On Thursday, 21 March, about 25 wellbeing leaders from Catholic secondary schools across our diocese will gather in our Pavilion for a day of shared conversation. 

It is a chance for the sharing of programs, frameworks, and student support strategies amongst the schools involved. We will be highlighting our indigenous education program, with Clontarf Academy staff offering insight into how the Academy works. Guests from Ballarat Community Health Centre and Berry Street will also be providing advice on how we can share resources to promote healthier schools and improve our child safeguarding practices. I look forward to welcoming staff from other schools and the shared conversation on the day.

Headspace Parents Webinar

Headspace National is hosting a free mental health education webinar for parents and carers of children and young people from the Ballarat region on Thursday, 21 March, from 5pm-6pm. This session aims to provide information regarding children and young people’s mental health, increase awareness of strategies to support children and young people impacted by loss and change, introduce some skills and strategies to encourage self care and support help-seeking, and building awareness of local, state and national support services available.  For further information and to register, please see the flyer below.

SchoolTV: Mobile Phone Separation Anxiety

As mentioned in the previous edition of The Crest, we now have access to SchoolTV — a national resource supporting the parenting of young people. Our goal is to educate not only our students but their families on wellbeing challenges we all face. This week I’d like to focus on the use of mobile phones amongst our young people. 

There is evidence to suggest many young people are addicted to their device. This is evident by their reaction when parents try to remove the phone as a consequence. The Victorian government has banned phones in schools across the state to address youths decreased social skills and isolation from being on a phone instead of interacting with others at school. 

Dr Michael Carr-Gregg states: “ Critics argue that there is no evidence that a mobile phone ban is effective. However, this is a mischaracterisation of evidence. Peer review literature shows that there would be a number of positive impacts for students relating to such bans at school”. 

At St Patrick's College, if a staff member sees a student with a phone, they are instructed to take the phone, hand it into reception and parents are called to collect the device. Our consistent approach to this has created a culture where, at least visibly, phones are not often seen. We thank you for your understanding and cooperation in this space. If you would like to read more and watch a video around Mobile Phone Separation Anxiety as a parent please click on the link below.

SPECIAL REPORT: Mobile Phone Separation Anxiety | St Patrick's College - Ballarat (schooltv.me)