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Nicola Saad has been a chaplain for Scripture Union Australia at Humpybong State School in Margate for 15 years.
“Chaplaincy is a practical role, providing holistic support to the school community,” she said.
“Sometimes I am sourcing food hampers, providing needed school uniforms or stationery, or suggesting Triple P strategies to a struggling parent.”
Nicola’s role is partly funded by the National Student Wellbeing Program and the community, and offers social and emotional support services.
“I also offer Triple P as part of my chaplaincy,” she said. “This might entail offering Triple P seminars (Level 2) or sitting down one-on-one with a parent and listening to their issues, working through a relevant tip sheet with them, and helping them choose some strategies they can try.
“As a chaplain, we work, where possible, with the whole family. I have had many conversations over the years with families seeking strategies to help change the dynamic in their home.
“I was so excited when I had the opportunity to train as a Triple P facilitator because I believed it would equip me with tools to pass on to families to help them turn their situations around.”
Nicola said she uses the strategies she learned in Triple P in her interactions with students and parents.
“Triple P is a useful lens through which to view behaviour and to know best how to respond,” she said. “It also helps to be able to engage with parents. I have many conversations with parents, and offering a suggestion and a tipsheet when they are dealing with challenging behaviour is gold!
“I use tipsheets a lot when working with families. They are great because they are well written, concisely explain the strategies, and provide relevant examples.
“There is a broad selection, and they are a great tool for parents. I’ve read many parenting books, but I was often overwhelmed with information and found it hard to know where to start to implement the suggestions. By contrast, the tipsheets contain just the right amount of information parents need to absorb to make a change.”
Nicola says she has also benefitted personally from her Triple P training.
“I wasn’t a Triple P parent, but I am a Triple P grandma, and I have seen an enormous difference in how I relate to and connect with my grandchild.
“Our school, and by extension, our society, benefits from having parents who are more confident about their parenting choices and students who have the behavioural skills they need to succeed in school and life.”
Nicola recommends the free Triple P training to other Queensland practitioners.
“It is a fantastic way to add value to your service and to strengthen the community.”
