PLACING as a finalist during this year’s Public Education Awards is a win for the pastoral care support sector, nominee Belinda Tilley believes.
With over 19,000 nominations flooding in for the education department-backed awards, Ms Tilley was selected as one of three finalists for the 2019 school and pre-school support category.
A pastoral care support worker at Allendale East Area School, Ms Tilley said the result provided a solid foundation for the pastoral care profession across the nation.
“This provided recognition for the hard work pastoral care workers in general provide and how our effort has impact,” Ms Tilley said.
“It has obviously been in discussion as to whether the position should be cut completely with position hours cut dramatically over the years.
“This provides evidence there is a place for our role in the public education system.”
Ms Tilley said while she had worked in many areas of the school, the two predominate learning activities she delivered was The Wellbeing Classroom program and her own intiative I-Myself.
“I tend to use The Wellbeing Classroom with the junior school and the I-Myself with the middle and senior school students,” she said.
“The kimochi program is an effective learning tool for the younger students which helps them understand how feelings and their brains work.
“Through toys, students are able to relate to each character and help them deal with their emotions.”
Ms Tilley said The Wellbeing Classroom was also an effective way to change from behavioral management and focus instead on emotional coaching.
“In class, I talk about how feelings continue to grow bigger if they are not controlled,” she said.
“We then talk about ‘flip the lid’ moments and what strategies they can use to try and close their lids.
“For teachers the program also helps them change how they handle students who are experiencing challenging moments.”
Ms Tilley said she established the I-Myself program to alter the way students view themselves.
“I think we have seen older students completely turn their negative mindsets around,” Ms Tilley said.
“I get choked up when I hear how touched students are by my support.
“I think I formed this program for those moments, when they do see their worth and their value in the world.”
Year 6 student Ruby said Ms Tilley’s lessons made students realise their own values.
“I think I now realise everybody is special and they are put here for a reason,” Ruby said.
School principal Kylie Smith said Ms Tilley had filled her 12 hours-a-week position over the years with passion.
“When looking for somebody, we wanted to incorporate what was already existing with more classroom-based learning,” Ms Smith said.
“Belinda has been instrumental for our school in supporting the well-being and learning of our students as well as opportunities for staff professional development.
“It is great to see her hard work being rewarded.”
Ms Smith said Ms Tilley made sure student well-being was on the forefront for all staff.
“It can sometimes drop off the agenda as it is not our core business,” she said.
“Belinda is innovative in everything she does and all her work has added value to our school community.”
With a connection with the Schools Ministry Group, Ms Tilley said she has always worked with young people, being a mum of three and a Liberty Church children in youth ministry leader.
Liberty Church senior pastor Rudy Furlong said Ms Tilley was incredibly driven and had a special ability to connect with people.
“Belinda is multi-skilled and I honestly think Belinda is probably best placed in a large city due to her talent,” Mr Furlong said.
“It is a privilege to have a true visionary and her capabilities in our town and specifically in our church.”
Ms Tilley is currently developing an app for her I-Myself program.
