From the Director of Wellbeing, Matt Porter
Sixty delegates from thirty EREA schools from across Australia descended on Sydney for the third biannual EREA Pastoral Care and Wellbeing Conference.
Waverley College was one of four host schools who conducted tours for 15 delegates to showcase our new facilities and the implementation of our Wellbeing model. The above video was part of the College’s presentation to the conference.
Delegates to Wellbeing Conference visiting Waverley College
The College Captain Tyler Von Der Heyden, and Vice Captains Ben Donaldson, Alfie Killigrew and Finn O’Sullivan all spoke beautifully about their experiences and received glowing praise from our visiting delegates.
Waverley College Heads of House visited the other host schools to examine their Wellbeing programs and practices.
- Head of Green House Scott Coleman – St Patrick’s Strathfield
- Head of Lacey House Damien Thompson – St Pius X Chatswood
- Head of Quinn House Olivia Kite – St Pius X Chatswood
Olivia Kite, Scott Coleman, Matt Porter and Damien Thompson at Wellbeing Conference
This provided a unique opportunity for staff to share ideas, experiences and resources in providing Wellbeing programs for our students.
Regardless of the various contextual influences of size, geographic location, student and staff demographics the importance of the caring and respectful relationships in student Wellbeing applied equally to all schools.
Keynote speakers and special guests included Dr Wayne Tinsey, Br Peter Hancock, B. Damien Price, Br Michael Walsh and Mr Brian Roberts.
Dr Wayne Tinsey, the Director of EREA, spoke to us on Wednesday evening and outlined his favourite quote about the focus of wellbeing, “Student’s don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
Br Damien Price said of the Blessed Edmund Rice that “he stood at the gates and would call and know each student by name. He knew their families and their story…. Every student needs at least two adults within their school life who knows them well, they should never be a number…”
We look forward to continuing to work with all of our staff and each of our Waverley families in order to support our boys and young men on their individual learning journey.
