Step 1

Job Specification

1. Role of the Pastoral Care Worker

SMG Pastoral Care Workers provide chaplaincy services to government schools.

SMG has established a ‘Dimensions of Chaplaincy’ framework to describe the various ways in which Pastoral Care Workers deliver an effective chaplaincy service to their school community. The six dimensions are: School Engagement, Community Engagement, Extra- Curricular Contribution, Role Modelling and Mentoring, Social and Emotional Support and Spiritual Support.

Operating within the Dimensions of Chaplaincy framework, and subject to the appropriate consent, duty of care, confidentiality and disclosure requirements, Pastoral Care Workers:
(a) Support the school in its aim to be a safe and supportive learning environment
(b) Support the wellbeing of students, staff and families
(c) Link families to community resources and services.

This is achieved by:

  • Working with site leadership to determine priorities, areas of focus and ways of working which support the overall aims of the school
  • Developing trustful relationships with staff, students, families and the community
  • Consulting and liaising with student counsellors, wellbeing practitioners and other staff to ensure student wellbeing and safety is prioritised and managed appropriately
  • Initiating, developing and delivering voluntary group activities which meet the needs of students and support their learning and wellbeing
  • Providing short term and ongoing tailored support for individual students and families
  • Providing practical and emotional support in response to critical incidents which affect the school community
  • Referring students and families to appropriate staff, support services and external agencies which best meet their needs
  • Participating in a wide range of school community activities, both on and off site, to support both students and staff
  • Providing factual and impartial information about local support services, including community groups, church groups, local council and government agencies
  • Networking with and being a link between school and local support services, including community groups, church groups, local council and government agencies
  • Providing access to a range of resources from the broader community which complement the school’s focus on wellbeing
  • Being available to offer input into health, social skills and values courses (e.g. in the areas of grief, self-confidence or relationships)
  • Being available, if requested, to assist site leadership to liaise with the local church community and explore the provision of optional ‘Religious Education Seminars’ delivered in school time
  • Providing a reference point for addressing social, religious or spiritual issues
  • Fulfilling the requirements of a mandated notifier, being required to report any suspected abuse or neglect

2. Conditions

 2.1 The Pastoral Care Worker will be employed for an agreed, regular number of hours per week, providing a consistent, optimal presence at the school, as negotiated with the school and SMG Regional Manager. The Pastoral Care Worker will also ideally have the flexibility to be able to attend special school functions such as assemblies, excursions and camps, as negotiated with the school. The Pastoral Care Worker’s hours include attendance at any required meetings as described in 4.2 and 4.3. It is possible additional hours may be offered from time to time by the local Support Group and/or Community as funds become available.

 2.2 The Pastoral Care Worker is appointed by the Selection Panel, consisting of representation by the Principal (or nominee), Governing Council, a local church or Support Group member, and the Schools Ministry Group (SMG) Regional Manager. 

 2.3
The Pastoral Care Worker will be directly responsible to the Principal or their delegate for all school related activities and will adhere to all school policies.

 2.4 The Pastoral Care Worker will be employed on an ongoing casual basis by Schools Ministry Group. Standard employment is for a total of 42 weeks per year, made up of the 41 week school year including ‘week 0’, PLUS one additional week of training and development (see 2.9 below).

 2.5 Ongoing appointment is subject to the availability of funding.

 2.6 Ongoing appointment is also subject to successful performance reviews, which are held at the end of the first year of appointment, and then every two years thereafter.

 2.7 In addition to the standard review schedule, the school and SMG together, may initiate a performance review at any time. Reviews involve the key stakeholders, that is, the Pastoral Care Worker, the school, SMG and the Support Group. 

 2.8 Two weeks’ notice of resignation should be given in writing to SMG.

 2.9 Training and Development:
  a) The Pastoral Care Worker must attend all compulsory training events facilitated by SMG, including Orientation Part 1 and Part 2, the annual SMG conference, and fulfil any other minimum qualification and/or individual Professional Development Plan requirements
  b) In addition, Pastoral Care Workers are required each year to undertake the equivalent of one week’s worth of training and development relevant to their position, as identified through their “Work and Professional DevelopmentPlan”
  c) The Pastoral Care Worker is required to participate in SMG District Groups a minimum of once per term.
 2.10 The Pastoral Care Worker will exercise the appropriate level of duty of care, adhere to the SMG Code of Conduct, and act consistently with consent, confidentiality and disclosure requirements. 

3. Access to the Pastoral Care Worker by Students

Access to the chaplaincy service provided by the Pastoral Care Worker shall be voluntary, preferably outside of lesson time

The Pastoral Care Worker will be expected to be accessible at set times and places as negotiated with the Principal / Line Manager.

The school will make the necessary arrangements to facilitate student access and communication with the Pastoral Care Worker, within the requirements of duty of care and consent. Where appointments with the Pastoral Care Worker are requested by students, or recommended by staff or parents, the appropriate school-approved process including required consent, will be followed in order to ensure student accountability and the provision of a safe environment.

4. Relationships within the Chaplaincy Services partnership

Chaplaincy Services are provided to a school through a partnership between the school, SMG, the local combined Christian community and the Pastoral Care Worker. Therefore, Pastoral Care Workers represent the local Christian Community and SMG in their work and life.


The following defines the roles, responsibilities, and communication requirements between the Pastoral Care Worker and members of the chaplaincy service partnership:

 4.1 Rel
ationship with Members of the School Community
The Pastoral Care Worker’s role is complementary to other roles within the school.

 The Pastoral Care Worker will:
  • be regarded as a member of the school community and therefore will be welcome to participate in a range of school activities with staff, students and the wider community
  • be accessible to staff on staff initiative
  • report to their Line Manager/Principal and/or Governing Council as required
  • communicate regularly about chaplaincy with staff, students and the wider school community


 4.2 Relationship with Local Church Chaplaincy Support Group

 The Support Group will:
  • facilitate pastoral care to the Pastoral Care Worker by the local church, through an individual or small group
  • facilitate through local churches practical support, volunteers, and resources to enhance the work of the Pastoral Care Worker
  • organise Pastoral Care Workers to attend required Support Group meetings
  • organise Pastoral Care Workers to speak at churches to promote their role
  • promote and profile to the church community the value of the chaplaincy service provided by the Pastoral Care Worker.


 The Pastoral Care W
orker will


  • attend Support Group meetings as negotiated
  • attend services of supporting churches as nominated by Support Group (no more than 1 per term)
  • provide a written report to the Support Group at least twice a year provide items/articles for local church newsletters
  • attend Commissioning Services attend events as required that profile/fundraise for schools ministry in the local community
  • communicate regularly with the supporting churches about his/her work

 4.3 Relationship with Schools Ministry Group (SMG)
 SMG will:
  • facilitate the initiation, provision, coordination and support of chaplaincy services through the Pastoral Care Worker to government schools in South Australia
  • provide pastoral support to the Pastoral Care Worker from their Regional Manager, and by the provision and coordination of regular District Group meetings
  • ensure employment compliance and provide a Payroll function for all PCWs – includes contract, super, pay slips
  • offer support and advocacy for Pastoral Care Workers where necessary


The Pastoral Care Worker will:
  • attend training and meetings as required by employment agreement
  • In conjunction with their school Line Manager, develop and implement a Work & Professional Development Plan
  • operate within the Job and Person Specification for their school context and the Pastoral Care Worker Code of Conduct
  • provide a written report to SMG as required
  • communicate regularly with their SMG Regional Manager

Please Note
: By clicking through to Step 2 you acknowledge that you have read & understood the Job Specification