Boarding in Catholic Schools in South Australia provides access to educational opportunities for students, many of whom are from rural, remote or Indigenous communities. A small contingent represented Catholic Education SA at the National Boarding Australia conference in Queensland recently. Representatives from Loreto College, Rostrevor College, St Joseph's School and Catholic Education Office were able to reflect on the many and varied capacities and capabilities that students bring to our Boarding communities. The conference theme entitled 'The other 18 Hours' included opportunities to hear from other best practice boarding providers. Clinton Schultz, Gamilaroi man and registered psychologist presented on trauma-informed social and emotional wellbeing practices that recognise how important identity and connectedness are to students' wellbeing. Many students travel great distances to attend Boarding Colleges and leaving their communities can lead to a disconnect between their two worlds. Students with a strong cultural connectedness to their home community can be left wondering where they belong. It is good practice for Boarding Colleges to implement a structured transition program for the students and families in addition to a communication strategy to keep families and communities informed. Families expressed their desire for the students to be 'strong in two worlds' and for this aspiration to continue into their post-school pathways.
Boarding schools and residences across Australia have been actively working to improve safety and wellbeing for students, as well as developing standards to guide the way they operate. This was also presented throughout the conference and provided an important professional learning opportunity. Boarding Colleges in the Catholic sector are in the process of implementing the new Boarding Standards for Australian Schools and Residences (AS5725:2015). The Standards enable schools to better identify and manage risks in relation to boarding and demonstrate that quality systems and practices are in place.
Written by Jacqui Asser - Senior Education Adviser, Vocational Education
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