ECHO Youth and Family Services has been a provider of Chaplaincy services to schools in Melbourne’s Eastern Dandenong Ranges since 1986. ECHO Chaplains journey with the whole school community, including students, families and staff. They respond to issues and critical incidents as they arise, as well as facilitating proactive relationship building, small group activities and programs to ensure improved well being for young people and their communities.
The Chaplain’s role and responsibilities include providing support in areas such as:
- Student social wellbeing – anger, anxiety, peer relationships, loneliness and bullying.
- Family difficulties such as family breakdown, parenting support and grief.
- The development of self–purpose self-esteem and mental health.
- Support of students ‘at risk’.
- Supporting students and staff to create an environment of cooperation and mutual respect.
Our Chaplains respect, accept and are sensitive to all people’s views, beliefs and values and work closely with the school Wellbeing teams, referring or sourcing appropriate services to meet their particular needs.
Four of our chaplains are funded by the Federal Government through the National School Wellbeing Program.
Our chaplain at Emerald Primary School is funded in partnership between the school and ECHO, through community donations. Training and supervision of ECHO Chaplains is also funded by community donations. If you would like to support our chaplaincy program you can donate at the link above.
ECHO is a member of the Inspire School Chaplaincy Network, a network of Victorian School Chaplaincy providers who have chosen to work together to support School Chaplaincy. Together we represent the majority of Chaplains in Victorian government schools.