Student Wellbeing

Our schools play a vital role in promoting the wellbeing of all students. Schools share this responsibility with students, families, the community, and other education and training providers.

Our approach to wellbeing is strongly grounded in Catholic Christian beliefs and values. Wellbeing is defined as an ongoing experience of wholeness and hope that is integral to learning and ultimately, to overall health and life success. It relates to the interconnectedness of emotional, physical, cognitive, social and spiritual dimensions within the person. Wellbeing encompasses nurturing the self, giving to others, and building and celebrating community and fostering strong connections.

Educational settings are uniquely placed to positively influence wellbeing. They have a critical role to play in fostering positive and sustainable characteristics that enable students to achieve their full potential. Evidence supports the strong, mutual relationship between safety, wellbeing and learning. Identifying and reducing barriers to learning, including those linked to student safety and wellbeing, can help to maximise the educational and social outcomes for students.

The Australian Student Wellbeing Framework (2018) was developed to provide schools with a vision and set of guiding principles to support school communities to build positive learning environments and to address student wellbeing priorities. The five interconnected elements of leadership, inclusion, student voice, partnerships and support provide the foundation for enhanced student wellbeing and learning outcomes.

The Australian Professional Standards for Teachers also reflects an emphasis on student safety, inclusion and wellbeing. This is specifically articulated in Standard 4 Create and Maintain Supportive and Safe Learning Environments. Of the seven general capabilities that are addressed in the Australian Curriculum those that specifically relate to student wellbeing include personal and social competence, self-management, ethical behaviour, intercultural understanding, thinking skills and creativity.


The 8 Key Elements of Pastoral Care and Wellbeing in Brisbane Catholic Education schools are:

  1. Leadership commitment to sustainable pastoral care and wellbeing 
  2. Policies, structures and processes
  3. Engaged and positive school culture
  4. Safe and supportive environment for learning and teaching
  5. Focus on the student as a learner and a person
  6. Proactive and preventative approaches
  7. Early intervention and targeted support
  8. Partnerships with parish, families and communities.

At the heart of all our endeavors is the student. A range of role holders in schools and BCE offices support schools in creating optimal environments for student learning and wellbeing.

Brisbane Catholic Education Student Wellbeing Personnel

Guidance Counsellors: focus on the relations and interactions between students and their school environment to reduce the effects of environmental and institutional barriers that impede student academic and life success. Guidance counsellors foster educational equality, equity, access and academic success in a curriculum to assist in the development of students and to ensure that all students are happy, confident and faith-filled young people and successful learners who will use their knowledge and their gifts for the good of all.

In Brisbane Catholic Education Secondary schools and P-12 schools a Guidance Counsellor is provided on a fulltime basis when student numbers reach 400. Those under 400 are staffed according to a pro rata formula. In primary schools Guidance Counselling services are provided to a cluster of schools on a ratio of 1 full time position to 800 students.


School Pastoral Workers: are committed to a ministry which values the dignity and potential of individuals within the school community. School Pastoral Workers walk with students, particularly the marginalised and disadvantaged, through the course of their lives at school, as well as being supportive of parents and staff. School Pastoral Workers are provided to some schools on a need basis.

Education Officers - ​Student Wellbeing: provide supervision and professional advice, support and reporting in the areas of student wellbeing, guidance and counselling, behaviour education, social and emotional development and pastoral care. They support the Guidance Counsellors and School Pastoral Workers to carry out their role and to work with staff and communities to contribute to student wellbeing.

Education Officers - Student Wellbeing (Student Behaviour Support): provide consultancy and professional learning opportunities regarding Brisbane Catholic Education Student Behaviour Support Policy and procedures, and whole school approaches to behaviour support and wellbeing.

Lead Education Advisor - Student Wellbeing: provides leadership, advice and support in student wellbeing and liaises with multi-disciplinary teams working with schools to improve wellbeing, safety and educational outcomes for students. Key areas of responsibility include responsive support to schools, guidance and counselling services, student behaviour support and proactive approaches to wellbeing within schools.

Lead Education Advisor - Inclusive Education and Student Wellbeing: provides​ leadership, advice and support in policy development, strategic directions, resourcing and specialist professional support in the key areas of students with disability and student wellbeing..

Education Officer - Student Wellbeing and Professional Support​: provide professional support in the area of students with disability, specifically in the categories of Intellectual Disability and Social Emotional Disorders. A key focus of this role is co-management of the Caroline Chisholm Centre.

The Caroline Chisholm School - ​Students and Family Support Centre: is a partnership involving Brisbane Catholic Education and the Queensland University of Technology. It is an educational and developmental psychology clinic which provides a wide range of psychological services to students and their families.

The Nyunga Student and Family Support Centre: is a partnership between Brisbane Catholic Education and Griffith University - Gold Coast Campus. It is a clinical psychology clinic which provides a wide range of psychological services to students and their families.