The social and emotional support chaplains give students is a big part of their role.
In fact, data collected in the first two terms of the year through the SU QLD Chaplaincy Effectiveness survey, found chaplains spend about 40% of their work time providing social and emotional support and Steve’s article ‘’Social and Emotional Support’ above, describes many ways chaplains do this.
As I mentioned last month, several studies have shown that a school-based resource that focuses on social and emotional support, has positive educational impacts, including significantly improved academic achievement [1]. Social and emotional support does make a difference.
The SU QLD Spring Camping season, from 20th September to 4th October, was another great time of positive connection between kids and chaplains/camping volunteers.
Over the two weeks, we ran 30 camps and two community events, involving about 600 leaders and 1,400 campers. One of those camps was Southern Splashout, where 25 students travelled from St George to Mount Tamborine, about a seven-hour car trip, to attend. It’s exciting to see kids from our rural Queensland communities also enjoying camps.
Camp Cobbold, a five-day event that supports families who live on remote Far North Queensland properties, ran again this year from 29th September to 3rd October. Now in its sixth year, the camp gives adults and children a much-needed opportunity to receive support, including life-skills training and mental and allied health services. It’s also a lot of fun and includes many activities like art, craft, drama and swimming instruction.
There is a massive need for the camp. As well as experiencing the struggles that come with isolation, many of these families are struggling to cope after the harsh effects of drought, cyclones and floods. The battle seems relentless, and we want to help.
This year, we had 119 kids and 53 adults attending, which is really exciting!
We had 28 SU QLD volunteers and 28 Toowong Uniting Church volunteers – and another 22 facilitators/service providers were also involved.
Camp Cobbold is only possible because of partnerships with different organisations and churches. We are so grateful to be able to work with these amazing groups!
Camps are a great way to get kids connected into positive environments during holidays – and to build their social, emotional and spiritual wellbeing.
This term will be hectic and exciting and as we move into it I thank you for your tireless efforts on behalf of our chaplains and, most importantly, the children and young people of Queensland.
God bless,
Peter James
CEO, SU QLD
[1] Durlak, Weissberg, Dymnicki, Taylor & Schellinger (2011), The impact of enhancing students’ social and emotional learning: A meta-analysis of school-based universal interventions, Child Development, 82(1), pp405–432