St John Fisher College implements a vertical House-based model for Pastoral Care which provides our students with a relationship-focused approach to education. 

With vertical Pastoral Care (PC), the PC group is comprised of students from each year level and the group becomes much more like a family; with the PC group itself being part of a larger House family. The basic family unit is made up of PC teachers, students, and parents. 

Through house groups and Pastoral Care groups, the College addresses important aspects of a students’ journey through secondary school, including wellbeing, welcoming new students into our community, academic support, behaviour management, developing leadership capacity, social justice and nurturing spirituality.

Vertical PC groups instil family values, a stronger family ethos and ensure the caring and nurturing of each other, building on our strengths. These PCs provide a more cohesive social environment. 

The PC teacher, who will be attached to their PC group for up to six years, provides continuity of care, developing strong, long-term, supportive relationships. They develop closer and more consistent links with families to improve their understanding of the family circumstances and improve their daughter’s chances of becoming the best she can be.

The students also build up strong relationships with each other across a wide age range, and there are more reciprocal opportunities for leadership, mentoring, advice, and support between the students. Peer mentoring is encouraged and happens naturally within a vertical PC group. 

Our vision for Pastoral Care:

To inspire our students to engage in positive relationships and empower them to respond to life’s challenges with confidence and resilience.

We believe that:

• Schools play a vital role in developing the intellectual, physical, social, emotional, moral and spiritual wellbeing of our young people. 
• Student behaviour support is a collaborative effort that requires us to foster positive partnerships with students and families.  
• If students are engaged in learning, they are less likely to engage in unproductive behaviours in the classroom.
• For behaviour change to occur, educators must use positive responses that maintain and sustain teacher-student relationships.  

As a whole community, we established these beliefs, and keep them at the core of all we do.

© Brisbane Catholic Education, St John Fisher College Bracken Ridge (2025)

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