Robert Howells – Yamanto Amberley Churchill LCC Chairperson
Being a part of something from its very inception is a unique position and Robert Howells, LCC Chair, knows just what this is like. Having spent a year involved with an LCC elsewhere in Ipswich, Robert was given the opportunity to come on board from the beginning with Yamanto Amberley Churchill LCC, which includes Amberley District State School, Churchill State School and Leichhardt State School.
Over the last 12 months, Robert and the team have taken the lead to install what he’s called “micro LCC’s” that he oversees from the LCC Chair role.
“We have been changing in the last 12 or so months. At the moment, I’m the only person on the committee outside of our principals for each school. But we started implementing ‘micro LCC’s’ for each school so we have a few people that help out an individual school in that area. We find it’s a smaller, more manageable commitment for volunteers too,” says Robert.
Even whilst rolling out these changes to their structure, Robert has been surprised at how his LCC role has remained manageable, juggling it with his full-time job as senior pastor at Leichhardt Baptist Church.
“I’ve also found working on the LCC doesn’t take as big a time commitment as you think it would. Being the only one on the committee and having to perform the function of the secretary and treasurer, along with the Chair role, you think it would take up a lot of time. But, because of the work and assistance that the Brisbane office provides, I just have to check there’s money there. From my perspective, my role is more about relationships than anything.”
When asked what his once piece of advice would be for someone who is new to their chaplaincy committee, Robert was quick to advise those, who are new to their team, to talk to the school’s principal. Something which Robert has found compelling is how his LCC role connects with his profession as a pastor, growing relationships quickly which would have previously taken years to develop.
“If I had one piece of advice, it would be to build relationship with the school, and particularly with the principal. The stronger the relationship that we build with them, the easier it is for the chaplains to do everything that they need to do.
“For my schools, it has been an easy thing to build that relationship partly because I am the pastor of the local Baptist church in Leichhardt so we’ve had previous contact with the school there but that’s taken time to develop over the years. Working alongside the chaplain allows you the opportunity to talk to the principals.”
And for Robert, meeting with the principals isn’t just a necessary part of the role. It is also very beneficial and rewarding.
“I find meeting with the chaplains and principals to be the most valuable part of my role and the best part of it all. Hearing the stories of what the chaplains are doing in the schools is amazing. If I did nothing else, that would definitely make it worth it.”
This time spent talking with chaplains and principals gives Robert the drive and passion to complete the LCC tasks as there’s proof that what he does has a tangible impact on how successful the chaplaincy service is in the school community.
“I don’t have the time or the ability to do what the chaplains do. I find that I can take the pressure off them by doing some of the administration work or going to P&C meetings when they can’t. Basically promoting them wherever I get the chance.”