Family Support Services

The value of a strong parent group is in the support and encouragement parents can provide to each other. The students at St Edmund's have many different challenges, and the experiences of parents are often similar. Forums such as the parent group provide an opportunity for parents to listen to each other, share challenges, and learn from others’ experiences.

Parent Group objectives:

• To promote the aims and principles of the College.
• To provide an informal forum in which parents can express opinions and obtain feedback on matters relating to the spiritual, educational and social welfare of the College community.
• To assist in raising funds for the provision of equipment and teaching aids for the College.

 The parent group aims to:

• Confer with the Principal, Deputy Principal, and teaching staff on matters of educational need.
• Give public expression to matters concerning Catholic education and Special Needs.
• Strive to build community within the College between parents, students, staff and provide ongoing education for parents.

 These aims are achieved by:

• Parent group meetings held once per term.
• Providing regular guest speakers on topics of interest.
• Provide opportunities for social interaction and activities.
• Assisting with and supporting programmed fundraising events.

All parents and carers are welcome to attend the Parent Group. Parents meet in the college staff room or Library. Year 11 parent Mary Mamootil is our Parent Group Leader, a role that advocates for the parent community. The Parent Group is run by the parents for the parents, to support each other and to gather information by sharing their own experiences. The Class Parent Leader facilitates the parent group, encouraging parents to support  one another whilst providing informative and engaging speakers on topics that are of relevant interest to parents. Mary describes;

The role of Parent Group Leader is to provide a significant support network that helps guide each family from the commencement of Year 5-12 in a new and foreign setting, all the way to navigating post school options. Having a compassionate touch point with someone on the same page helps alleviate unnecessary anxiety. Of course in between these two periods is all the fun, celebrations and information sharing that the parent community can gain from the support of the Parent Group Leader. 

Each class also has a nominated Class Parent Representative. Their role is to; 

• Encourage parents and students to get involved with the College community;
• Encourage friendships, get-togethers (in the holidays, weekends, etc);
• Support College events e.g Eddie’s Big Night Out, Eddie’s Golf Day etc
• Be a ‘Go To’ person for information and/or help distribute information.

Our Family Engagement Officer works in an advisory role that aims to respond to the identified needs of our students and families, in a facilitative way. Their aim is to collate, summarise, filter, link, share and present information that meets the needs of students and families. The Family Engagement Officer does not act in a decision-making role, but rather provides information and advice that aims to meet the needs of our families, so that they feel empowered to self-advocate and make informed decisions. 

Information delivered includes:

• Face to Face information sessions onsite at St Edmund's College
• Online webinar information sessions
• Short video information resources
• Written information resources
• Pre-booked, scheduled one-to-one parent/carer meetings
• Facilitation of external guest speakers and a service provider expo