Inclusion & Engagement 

Hello 😊

I hope everyone has had a wonderful start to the year, wowsers what a time we are living through hey!

I just wanted to introduce myself properly and give some context to my position at Miners Rest as the Chaplain. 

A bit about me; I am a Single Mum who has lived in Ballarat for forty two years YIKES, I attended Little Bendigo Primary school and East High Secondary that later amalgamated into Ballarat Secondary College. I have a teenage son who is nearly 15 and LOVES basketball, and of course not forgetting our little dog Howie who just turned twelve but acts like he is still a puppy, gah! 

My role as the Chaplain, is within the Wellbeing space, and is 100% relationally based engagement. I work alongside the Inclusion and Engagement Officer AKA Ms Bigmore to build, address and support the emotional needs of the students, teachers, and families within the school community of Miners Rest. 

As the name suggests this is a religious role, but actually this isn’t quite accurate, my role is to support the religious beliefs of any student, family or Teacher hold personally or within their family. Say for example there were Muslim students at the school, my role would be to support their religious beliefs if the need ever arose. I do not and am not legally allowed to bring up anything to do with religion unless the student or family want to discuss that, and of course I absolutely support everyone’s right to choose if and what they believe in any spiritual form. 

Any contact I have with any students is by legal consent from a Parent and/or guardian and is always in consultation with the teachers, parents and Ms Bigmore, to determine the best way to support the emotional needs of those students. 

I hope that this has given a little more context to what my role entails and please do not hesitate if you have any questions to give me a call at the School on the days that I work, being a Monday or Tuesday. 

I absolutely love the role here at Miners Rest and am looking forward to a continued great 2022 ahead.

Warmest regards, 

Laura 😊