Pastoral Support Workers operate in Catholic primary schools and high schools to support the emotional and social wellbeing of students. They deliver creative programs to help students understand their emotions and the world around them, with a spiritual context.

Stella Maris Catholic Primary School is one of the 18 schools across Illawarra, Macarthur and Shoalhaven which currently receive chaplaincy support.

Acting Principal of Stella Maris Catholic Primary School, Ange Crandell, shared that the help of their Pastoral Support Worker has been incredibly important in building the children's self-awareness skills. "We're setting them up for the best possible future of going out into the world and doing good for others", she said. 

In the past 12 months, Pastoral Support Workers have delivered 49,642 occasions of service across 18 schools.

The help provided by Pastoral Support Workers is important as there is a burgeoning need for greater mental health support and programs to help students manage complex emotions and situations.

"Kids who might not have opened up before have started expressing themselves", said Grant, the Pastoral Support Worker of Stella Maris Catholic Primary School. "I've had kids come back to me and say, 'I feel like I belong just because you heard me [and] you listened'", he said.

This year, and every year, we salute our Pastoral Support Workers and their vital work with students and the school community.