Character Development & Wellbeing
Pastoral care is a distinctive and cultural characteristic of Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice tradition and, accordingly, is a fundamental aspect of Trinity College.
The first generation of Christian Brothers cultivated compassionate care as a fundamental hallmark of the educational culture that they sought to create. This defining feature continues to characterise Trinity College’s approach to the pastoral care and wellbeing of each student and is informed by the four touchstones of Justice and Solidarity, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community and Liberating Education.
Each young man’s wellbeing and formation at Trinity College is a responsibility we assume with the greatest of importance and significance. Genuine pastoral care is an integral aspect of this formation, and it is interwoven within every facet of the Trinity experience for our students.
Our pastoral care practices develop and continue to support the mind, body, and spirit of the whole boy as he builds resilience and self-efficacy to reach his full potential. Our specialised programs guide the boys in developing skills for healthy relationships within and beyond the College, support them in facing challenges and overcoming hurdles, and provide them with an array of real-life skills and experiences in becoming the best version of themselves as they grow to be Men for Others.
Various opportunities for leadership are actively promoted throughout Secondary School and complement similar opportunities which are also vital for our Junior School boys. In striving to be Men for Others, Trinity College encourages leadership across all dimensions of the College in both formal and informal endeavours.
At every stage of the Trinity College journey, our pastoral care and formation programs have been purposefully and appropriately designed and sequenced to provide for the cognitive, social, emotional and spiritual needs of our boys, contributing to their holistic formation.
Year 4 - Belonging & Positive Relationships
The Year 4 Formation Program is designed to nurture a strong sense of belonging and positive relationships among boys beginning their Trinity College journey. Through shared experiences and reflective activities, the program encourages students to connect deeply with their peers, appreciate the unique strengths of others, and cultivate gratitude for the people and opportunities they are provided at TC. By fostering empathy, respect, and gratitude, we aim to build a supportive community where every student feels valued and empowered to contribute.
Year 5 - Leadership & Responsibility
The Year 5 Formation Program is designed to build on the strong sense of belonging and positive relationships established in Year 4, while guiding students toward leadership and responsibility within the Trinity College community. Through collaborative experiences and reflective practices, the program empowers students to develop confidence, initiative, and empathy as they take on roles that influence and support their peers. By fostering respect, gratitude, and a commitment to service, we aim to prepare students to demonstrate servant leadership and aim to nurture individuals to feel valued and inspired to grow. Students in Year 5 begin to create a relationship with boys in Year 9. This interaction is the beginning of a connection which the continues whilst boys are in the Junior School and continues into Year 7.
Year 6 - Independence
The Year 6 Formation Program builds on the leadership and responsibility developed in Year 5, guiding students toward greater independence as they prepare for the transition to Middle School. Through challenging experiences and reflective practices, the program encourages students to take ownership of their learning, choices, and actions while continuing to demonstrate empathy and respect for others. By fostering resilience, self-management, and a sense of personal accountability, we aim to empower students to lead themselves confidently as they navigate their final year in the Junior School.
Throughout Semester Two, boys in the Junior School begin their Year 7 transition program. With the support and guidance of their classroom teachers, they are gradually introduced to instructional and environmental adjustments that reflect the expectations of a Year 7 classroom. To further assist each boy in this transition, our mentoring program with Year 10 students continues. This relationship, first established in Year 5, is strengthened through regular connection and guidance. It also lays the foundation for the Year 7 and Year 11 Senior Mentor Program that boys will experience once they enter Middle School.
Year 7 - Becoming Brothers
Year 7 marks a significant rite of passage where students transition from primary school and become members of our secondary school. To help adapt to this new environment, each Year 7 student is provided with a Year 11 Senior Mentor – an elder student leader who can provide support, guidance and advice about the expectations of secondary education. The Senior Mentor program is an integral support mechanism designed to build connections across year groups, whilst also providing a reliable source of information and encouragement as our Year 7s grow, develop and mature.
To further support our new Year 7 students, we have a specially tailored transition program that seeks to provide gradual, guided and developmental support and expectations to all students as they commence their secondary journey. All Year 7 students are provided with a Transition Planner designed to help them ease into the extra demands of a secondary education. The Planner includes a calendar detailing important events, sports training and fixtures, a guide to uniform expectations, and a home studies schedule to help students manage their time beyond the classroom as they learn to prioritise their increasing responsibilities, whilst also learning the valuable skill of organisation.
At the centre of the transition experience for our Year 7s is our Becoming Brothers character formation program designed to help students establish new friendships in a constructive and respectful manner, whilst also fostering personal growth which is meaningful and sustainable, grounded in resilience and self-belief, and ultimately giving them the best opportunity to succeed in all facets of their lives. With the core GEM principles (Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness) of The Resilience Project embedded within the program, students will explore how they can best support their own wellbeing with a view of building relationships that are respectful and founded on virtuous behaviour. The Becoming Brothers Camp in first term is an important experience for all Year 7s as they build these relationships through shared experiences and a willingness to adopt a growth mindset to new experiences and challenges.
Year 8 - Building Bridges
Throughout Year 8, students are provided with opportunities to develop a strong sense of personal identity, while continuing to develop social connections within the cohort. Utilising The Resilience Project schools program, this strength-based approach enables students and the school community to thrive by building on their resilience and virtues, focusing on the importance of mindfulness and gratitude. Students are taught that our wellness comes not just from physical health, but from positive mental health and our spiritual health. Developing a deeper understanding of our emotions and how we can best embrace them will help our students harness their energies in the most positive and productive way possible, enabling them to become kind and generous young people.
Students spend time developing a more sophisticated understanding and appreciation of cultural diversity, as well as examining the foundations of respectful relationships as an important aspect of being part of an inclusive community. Education around empathy is central in fostering a stronger community connection for our students to continue building a supportive and spiritually nourishing network.
In essence, the formation focus is on helping the boys build bridges towards developing relationships which have meaning and are grounded in respect, compassion and kindness.
Year 9 - Becoming Men
Becoming Men is the cornerstone of our character formation programs at Trinity College in which students are instilled with important values which will equip them with the tools and inner fortitude to tackle the many hurdles that teenagers face in today’s world. Students are asked to examine the major influences that have led them to this point in their lives, exploring their ancestry and family history, whilst also identifying the key role models and mentors which can help them continue on their path towards adulthood.
Students are asked to bid farewell to the little boy behaviours which have perhaps characterised their lives to this point, and embrace more mature behaviours, thinking and values which will propel them towards young manhood. They will spend time with the key father-figures and mother-figures in their lives, as well as identifying specific mentors who will accompany them on this year of growth and development. Students spend significant time examining the virtues which characterise good humans, constructing a vision for the type of person they want to become.
The Becoming Men program features a number of ceremonies and events which help punctuate the vitality of the concepts and ideas taught within it. Parent and family engagement with this program and associated events help to continue building our students’ support network and their capacity to fulfil their potential along whichever path they choose in life. This rite of passage program is considered as a turning point in their character formation journey where becoming a true man for all others is a clear and definitive focus.
Year 10 - Personal Development Workshops
The Year 10 PDW Program is designed to complement the pastoral experiences of the previous three years and prepare the boys for their next rite of passage into their senior schooling years. Students learn real-world skills rotating through a series of seven modules to provide them with a solid grounding to prepare them for the responsibilities of adulthood. Throughout this year, our students are challenged to look inwardly and examine their own personal development and character formation through a series of purposeful modules:
• Keys for Life – an understanding of road safety
• Food technology at Mercedes College
• Helping Minds – supporting student mental and emotional wellbeing
• Relationship IQ
• Money Matters
• Careers education
• Christian service – engagement with the elderly in our community
Year 11 - Accept and Lead
With a strong focus on leadership and mentoring, Year 11 provides an opportunity to develop the concept that, as a year group, their legacy grows with each new experience, with each previously untested idea that they are courageous enough to deploy, and every time they inspire others and see a task through to completion. Leadership is not shaped, and legacies are not defined at the end of the road, but rather by the moments shared, the decisions made, the actions taken, and even the mistakes overcome throughout the many phases of high school.
It is through engaging with active mentorship and leadership that our students develop a keener understanding of the influence they can truly have on those around them, inspiring others for the greater good, and leaving a legacy which is felt far beyond their immediate sphere. Our Senior Mentor Team program is the cornerstone of our leadership development, coupled with other leadership opportunities such as Peer Ministry and retreat leadership. By undertaking these opportunities, students are encouraged to branch out of their comfort zone to discover what they are truly capable of.
Year 12 - Embracing Change
Life as a Year 12 student can be very busy and, at times, stressful, with students becoming anxious about what the future beyond Trinity College may hold. As a result, they can experience a range of different emotions, including stress, fear, uncertainty, frustration, and disappointment. Not only are these students completing their final year of their secondary education, but they are looking beyond for the opportunities and possibilities that exist.
With all of this in mind, we aim to provide education and guidance around the plethora of issues, challenges and obstacles which arise at this time of life, equipping our young adults with the tools to move through this time with resilience and a healthy positive attitude. We engage with external providers such as Red Frogs, Paul Dillon and tertiary institutions to provide students with all the facts associated with the decision-making they will be faced with throughout this year and beyond. This final year of our students’ character formation journey constantly reminds them of our ultimate end goal, that being to produce ‘Men for Others’ who are ready and able to make meaningful contributions to society, demonstrating virtues which are founded in strong gospel values.