Pastoral Care

Pastoral care is defined in the agreement with the Commonwealth as “the practice of looking after the personal needs of students, not just their academic needs, through the provision of general spiritual and personal advice.”

Our Pastoral Care Worker is here at StFrancis Xavier’s College two days per week, to help facilitate the emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing of students, staff and the college community.

This is done through offering extra guidance, support and comfort to the students and families within the college community. The role also involves working closely with teachers and staff to offer individual support sessions for students with social and emotional needs, or if they simply need someone to talk to. The Pastoral Care Worker also acts as a referral service to assist students and their families to access extra support within the college and wider community organisations.

Pastoral Care is based on respect and dignity of the human person. Pastoral Care at the College is built on the values that are ingrained in the Marist Charism- Presence, Simplicity, Family Spirit, In the way of Mary and Love of Work.

St Francis Xavier’s College responds with sensitivity to the social and cultural diversity of its Community. It is through Pastoral Care that much can be done to promote, respect and support such things as diverse family structures, different ways of giving expression to Christian faith, and awareness of cross-cultural issues.

The College’s Wellbeing Policy seeks to promote a respectful, secure and healthy learning environment in which students grow to be discerning, self-disciplined and contributing members of society.