Sean Brito-Babapulle - Mannix College Monash University - The significant role of pastoral care in tertiary residential housing - Pitfalls, challenges and

THE SIGNIFICANT ROLE OF PASTORAL CARE IN TERTIARY

RESIDENTIAL HOUSING BENEFITS, CHALLENGES AND PITFALLS

BY MR SEAN BRITO-BABAPULLE 5TH INTERNATIONAL HOUSING SYMPOSIUM

11/12 TH JUNE 2014, MELBOURNE.

BACKGROUND

• 26 YEARS IN RESIDENTIAL HOUSING • 6 RESIDENTIAL COLLEGES AROUND AUSTRALIA • 5 UNIVERSITIES • SELF CATERED AND FULLY CATERED • WORKED WITH 215 – 380 STUDENTS • NOT A COUNSELLOR • NOT AN EXPERT

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

THANKS TO MY COLLEAGUES – HEADS OF COLLEGES, DEPUTIES AND RESIDENTIAL LIFE MANAGERS.

FROM OVER 20 UNIVERSITIES IN AUSTRALIA AND NZ • FEDERATION, SWINBURNE, DEAKIN, UNE, UWA, ANU, FLINDERS, ADELAIDE

UNI, VIC UNI, CHARLES STURT, SYDNEY, UNSW, CURTIN, QUEENSLAND UNI, JCU, CANBERRA UNI, MONASH, MELBOURNE , ACU, CHARLES DARWIN, EDITH COWAN, OTAGO

REPRESENTING OVER 60 COLLEGES, HALLS AND VILLAGES RESEARCH – EDITH COWAN UNIVERSITY, ACUHO-I, AACUHO AND UCA TALKS, DISCUSSIONS, OBSERVATIONS AND TRAINING

DEFINITION OF PASTORAL CARE

Pastoral care is a person-centred, holistic approach to care that complements the care offered by other helping disciplines while paying particular attention to spiritual care. The focus of pastoral care is upon the healing, guiding, supporting, reconciling, nurturing, liberating, and empowering of people in whatever situation they find themselves*. *Pastoral care definition from Bruce Rumbold, La Trobe University School of Public Health

TYPES OF PASTORAL CARE ISSUES • Relationships • Family break ups • Family deaths • Family issues • Mental health • Drugs • Alcohol • Gender issues • Health problems and illness • Accidents and injuries • Academics • Homesickness • Food allergies and special dietary requirements • Hygiene • Anti social behaviour • Religious and cultural differences • Issues with fellow residents

TYPES OF STUDENT ACCOMMODATION

• Fully catered • Self catered • Apartments • Flats • Res Colleges • Res Halls • Res Villages • Houses • Homestays • Rentals • Privately owned • University owned • Government owned

MANNIX COLLEGE • 1969 College established • 285 students & 50 guests • Male and female students • Undergrads and Postgrads • Domestic and international students • Owned by Catholic Church • Student accommodation, guest

accommodation, conference trade academic centre & spiritual centre

• $16 million refurb in 2012 to 2014

WHAT OUR RESIDENTS ARE LIKE

• Generation Z • different Socioeconomics • Different demographics • Different expectations • Domestics and internationals • Cultural differences • finances

DIFFERENT MODELS

• Various staffing structures • Staff only • Student leadership teams only • Counselling teams and support services • Staff and students teams

• Various hours of support • Various types of support

MANNIX MODEL

• Staff and student leadership • Support from uni services • Principal, Deputy Principal, Assistant Deputy

Principal, Chaplain, other staff, SRA and Resident Advisors

• 24 / 7support • Duty Resident Advisor • Night Porter • Staff and student resident advisor meetings • Open door policy • Staff live onsite

ARTICLE IN AGE NEWSPAPER

"...... Many of them get homesick and support from the universities is important. Deakin University, Swinburne University and Mannix College at Monash University all have good support programs in place for on-residence students. Not all universities have the same level of support .... " No room at the uni, the tricky task of making the city home. The Age, 7th March 2014

BENEFITS

• Happy students • Happy staff • Great college environment • Happy family and guardians • Good reputation • Full house • Reduced issues • Harmonious environment

CHALLENGES

• Giving quality training • Getting good staff • Finding the right balance • Getting right ratios • Getting right Residential Advisors • Finding money

PITFALLS OF POOR CARE

• Unhappy students and staff • Unhappy family sand guardians • Unstable environment • Big brother feel • Financial outlay high • Extra staff required • Specialised Training required

WHAT IS THE IDEAL RATIO?

• Varies from institution to institution • Varies depending on investment made

• Find that low ratios offer better pastoral care • Higher ratios more challenging – kids slip through

the gaps

A GOOD PASTORAL CARER

• Empathetic • helpful • friendly • understanding • good listner • Maintains confidentiality • responsive

CONCLUSION

• importance today of pastoral care • understanding our clients • costs • caring staff • students are our core business • many challenges and pitfalls but many benefits

ANY QUESTIONS?

CONTACT DETAILS

Mr Sean Brito-Babapulle Principal B. Sc., B. Med. Sc. (Hons)., Grad. Dip. Ed., Grad. Dip. Bus. Admin., MACE, MAICD

Mannix College, Monash University, Wellington Road, Clayton, Victoria, Australia 3168 Ph: 03 9565 0193 Fx: 03 9544 5959 Mb: 0419 907 646 Em: sean.brito@monash.edu Web: www.mannix.monash.edu