School chaplain Simon Gilboy is always ready with a smile, a helping hand and plenty of encouragement for students.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
For school chaplain Simon Gilboy, being part of the school community is about creating a safe space where students know they have someone to talk to, laugh with and simply be themselves.
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Simon has been working at the school for almost three years through Korus Connect, a charity-based organisation that provides chaplaincy services to schools using government funding.
His approach is centred around encouragement, connection and building trust with students.
“Hope, always encouragement. That’s my number one language,” Simon said.
Rather than simply sitting down for formal conversations, Simon uses fun and everyday activities to build relationships with the students.
Kite flying, dancing, making model planes, flying paper planes, magic tricks, jokes and games are all part of his time at the school.
Simon said those activities helped students relax and allowed conversations to happen naturally.
“They get loose and have fun,” he said with a smile
“It’s at random moments they’ll just say something, and then you just pause.
“So, I guess it’s been really tuned into not the big things, it’s the little things, and the little things take you into what’s really going on in their lives.”
For Simon, one of the most rewarding parts of the role is seeing students overcome challenges and discover what they are capable of.
He recalled one student who initially struggled to ride a go-kart independently.
After Simon helped him around the track, gradually giving him the confidence to take control, one day the student was riding by himself.
“Like, the kid’s riding a go-kart,” Simon said.
“They’re the moments you live for.”
Simon said the close-knit nature of the school also allowed staff to build strong relationships with students and provide individual support when it was needed.
“For me, I’m just an extension of the teachers,” he said.
As the school prepares to celebrate 150 years, Simon said he was excited about what the milestone represented for the community and its future.
“I think the school has got a really bright future ahead of it,” he said.
“It’s like a small town with a big heart.”
Year 5 student Matilda Watts with school chaplain Simon Gilboy.
Photo by
Rechelle Zammit
