Childers State School Chaplain
Chaplaincy Services provide spiritual, ethical, and personal support to school communities. SU Qld Chaplains provide positive adult role models for students. Chaplains are present in schools at the invitation of the Principal, in consultation with the local community, and with the support of the P&C Association.
What does a School Chaplain do?
A School Chaplain is a safe person for young people to connect with at school and provides a listening ear, caring presence, and a message of hope. Chaplains run positive, fun activities for students and assist in fostering supportive, caring school communities.
Working with other members of the school’s support team, the Chaplain cares for students struggling with issues such as difficult relationships with other children or family members, poor self-esteem, family breakdown, and depression.
The partnership between the school and the Chaplaincy Service, supported by local churches, businesses and community organisations, provides a network of local support and assistance. These positive relationships help young people to face difficult issues, and provide hope, connection, meaning, and purpose.
The Chaplaincy Service is available to everyone in the school community regardless of their religious beliefs.
Who is the Childers State School Chaplain?
Shane Turner is the Chaplain at Childers and has been with us since 2010.
Shane is a qualified mechanic and has worked in irrigation and engineering in the Childers area for 25 years. He particularly enjoys using this knowledge and experience to run programs in the school with a hands-on focus, such as rebuilding mower engines, designing and building pushcarts and science lessons from a mechanical point of view such as friction, force, temperature and levers.
What will Chaplaincy look like at Childers State School?
Shane assists with sporting and cultural programs, attends school camps, assists in classrooms when invited and runs programmes that help students develop social and life skills as needed. These include the “My Life Rulz” program which develops a positive self image; “Fun Friends” which develops social skills and connections and the “V.I.T.A.L. Program” (Values Integrated Through Action-based Learning).
Students may request to see Shane on an individual basis for support in personal matters. Parents are also invited to phone to speak to Shane in regards to any concerns they may have for their children. Parents will need to sign a parental consent form if students are to spend time with Shane on an ongoing basis. If students are part of any program run by Shane a parental consent form will need to be signed by parents and caregivers.
Will my child be involved?
Involvement with the Chaplain is entirely voluntary and students choose whether or not they want to be a part of the activities that are offered. Parents will be consulted if their child wishes to be involved in ongoing one-to-one meetings with the Chaplain or in any programme or group involving spiritual or ethical content. Parents have the right to refuse permission for their child to be involved in any Chaplaincy activity or event.
How can I contact the Chaplain?
Shane can be contacted by leaving a message at the school office with your details. Shane attends Childers State School on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday each week with occasional other days if needed for a school camp or activity.