Position: School Chaplain
Commencing Date: As soon as practicable
Per Hourly Range: $38.31 - $40.18 per hour pending experience
Tenure: Fixed Term, Term Time (8 hours per week)

St Benedict's Catholic School features the highest standard of education and learning facilities synonymous with Catholic schools across Townsville city. St Benedict’s Catholic School nurtures learning success by promoting student engagement within a flexible environment. St Benedict’s Catholic School embraces sustainable practices for the natural and built environment fostering a love for creation and aspiring to be good stewards. Our school’s culture reflects the grace and spirit of St Benedict, known as a gentle, dignified, strong, peace-loving man, who lived a contemplative life and honoured ‘God in all of life’.

About the role

St Benedict's Catholic School, Shaw is seeking a dedicated School Chaplain. This role is a Fixed Term, Term Time position completing 8 hours per week. This position commences as soon as practicable and concludes 5 December 2025.

The Chaplain works to create opportunities for faith development of students and advance the religious life of the school community. The Chaplain will foster the experience of Catholic community within the school and engage the community in social justice and social action. The Chaplain encourages and facilitates connections with Church/faith communities and agencies.

Key Accountabilities

The Chaplain will represent the school in a professional, warm, friendly and efficient manner. Duties include:

Provide pastoral and spiritual support to students:

Spend informal time with students (e.g. playground, classroom and excursions)

Mentor and provide practical support to students.

Engage students in opportunities for faith development:

Coordinate and facilitate reflection and prayer experiences (e.g. reflection days, retreats, forums, meetings and other similar experiences)

Contribute to the organisation of major school liturgies and celebrations.

Advance the religious life of the school community:

Contribute to the development and promotion of Catholic ethos within the college community.

Foster the experience of Catholic community within the school:

Support events that promote the collegiate spirit of the school

Under the direction of the Principal, initiate contact with families of the school community (e.g. families experiencing sickness, families new to the college experiencing hardship).

Engage the school community in social justice and social action:

Make information available to students around issues of social justice support and resource service groups within the school community.

Encourage and facilitate connections with church/faith communities and agencies:

Encourage student involvement in parish faith communities

Facilitate ecumenical and inter-faith relationships and activities.

Undertake ongoing professional learning:

Participate in TCE facilitated programs for professional learning

Contribute to local cluster gatherings of Chaplains.

Generalist administration support:

Maintain relevant records and data.

Any other task as reasonability directed.

Mandatory Criteria

Current Working with Children Suitability Card - The successful candidate will require a paid Blue Card before commencement as per the No Card, No Start policy developed by Queensland Government.

Certificate IV Pastoral Care, Youth Work, or Chaplaincy & Pastoral Care, or an equivalent/higher qualification; and that qualification must include competencies in ‘making appropriate referrals’ and 'mental heath'.

Current Driver’s Licence

Ability to travel from time to time within the Catholic Diocese of Townsville

Ability to perform the physical requirements of the role in a safe manner.

Desirable Criteria

Interest in ongoing professional development

Experience in the education or Catholic sectors

What we Offer

Competitive Salary Range

Annual Leave with 17.5% leave loading

Access to salary packaging options to maximise employee benefits and salary

Modern facilities, equipment and resources

Access to long service leave after 7 years of continuous service

14 Weeks’ paid parental leave

Deferred Salary Scheme

Access to corporate health schemes

Induction processes and professional learning programs

Access to Employee Assistance Program

Wellbeing programs and initiatives

Our Organisation

Townsville Catholic Education supports a diverse region extending from Townsville to the Burdekin and Whitsunday regions in the south, and north to Ingham and Halifax, south-west to Winton, and west to the border with the Northern Territory, encompassing Mount Isa and several small, isolated western towns and east to Palm Island. Townsville Catholic Education provides a supportive, flexible working environment where care for the individual is an important part of our ethos. We employ motivated people who want to work together to produce excellent outcomes for our students. Our staff are recognised as being central to achieving our mission.

Townsville Catholic Education has standards of conduct for workers to maintain a safe and healthy environment for children. Our commitment to these standards requires that we conduct working with children checks and background referencing for all persons who will engage in direct and regular involvement with children and young people and/or adults-at-risk. The organisation is fully committed to child safety and has a zero tolerance to abuse of children or adults-at-risk.

How to apply

Click on the link to apply via the Careers page.