A Caring Start to the Year at Burdekin Catholic High School

As the new school year begins, Burdekin Catholic High School is reaffirming its strong commitment to student wellbeing through a comprehensive and deeply values-driven pastoral care approach.

At the heart of the school’s philosophy is the belief that education extends beyond academic achievement. Pastoral care at Burdekin Catholic High School is about caring for the whole person—supporting students’ emotional, social, spiritual and personal development within the context of family, school, parish and the wider community.

This approach ensures that every student is known, understood and supported. Staff work collaboratively to be aware of each student’s individual needs, feelings and circumstances, while providing safe and appropriate opportunities for students to share concerns and seek guidance.

Guided by Gospel values of justice, compassion, community, inclusion, hope, liberation and reconciliation, these principles underpin all decision-making across the school. They are lived daily in classrooms, playgrounds and relationships, shaping a culture where dignity and respect are paramount.

Burdekin Catholic High School aligns its practices with the Townsville Catholic Education Guideline for Positive Behaviour in Schools, which is committed to providing safe, supportive and nurturing learning environments. This framework promotes positive behaviours through clear expectations, teaching productive behaviours for learning, and responding thoughtfully to behaviours that may hinder learning or wellbeing.

“Our goal is for students to make respectful choices and for everyone in our community—students, staff and families—to feel truly ‘known and loved’,” Mr Leighton Gallagher, Assistant to the Principal – Pastoral Care, said.

To achieve this, the school prioritises fairness through equity rather than equality, considers individual context and circumstances, reflects on the impact of actions on the wider community, offers opportunities for reconciliation, seeks redemption and growth for each individual, and always respects the dignity of those involved.

Pastoral strategies at Burdekin Catholic High School fall under four key areas: preventative, supportive, corrective and restorative. Preventative and supportive measures form the foundation, ensuring students feel safe, connected and valued. Corrective and restorative responses are grounded in restorative justice, focusing on healing, learning and rebuilding relationships rather than punishment alone.

Restorative justice, the school explains, is about addressing conflict and wrongdoing in a way that maintains belonging and significance for all involved. Each incident is viewed as a vital teaching opportunity—one that encourages understanding, accountability and personal growth. Importantly, behaviour is distinguished from the individual’s humanity, affirming the inherent worth of every student.

As Burdekin Catholic High School embarks on another year, its pastoral focus remains clear: to nurture young people, stand with them in moments of challenge, and help them grow into compassionate, hopeful and responsible members of the community.

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