Care & Wellbeing

Pastoral Care at TGS

Toowoomba Grammar School is entering an exciting proactive phase in its pastoral care and character education journey—one that prioritises genuine connection, deep insight and the unique developmental needs of boys. In an increasingly crowded mental-health landscape, where countless platforms promise quick solutions, the School remains committed to building a bespoke wellbeing and character curriculum grounded in evidence, meaningful engagement and the real experiences of boys.

While character can indeed be taught, a great deal of a boy’s character is caught—shaped through the example, care and everyday interactions he experiences at school. Much of the nurturing our boys receive occurs incidentally: in the classroom, across the playground, on the sporting field and in rehearsal rooms. These moments matter because our staff are genuinely invested in every boy’s growth. Their professionalism and warmth create an environment where boys feel safe, known and supported to become young men of integrity, confidence and purpose.

A New Era of Insight: The STEER Partnership

Recognising that boys require nuanced, tailored pastoral care, TGS engaged STEER Global Education in 2023 to deepen our understanding of how boys think, connect and navigate their world. With guidance from STEER and respected international and domestic partners, the School is developing a purpose-built wellbeing and character model that captures not only how boys feel, but how they process relationships, challenges, expectations and their sense of identity.

This forms part of the School’s transition into a more proactive phase of pastoral care—one that places equal emphasis on student voice, early insight and guided character development.

Data drawn from STEER, the Mission Australia Youth Mental Health Survey, Wellio and the School’s own wellbeing surveys provides a clearer picture of the ebb and flow of a school year. These insights help us understand not just surface-level behaviours, but the deeper reasons boys may thrive, withdraw, take risks or struggle. Equipped with this knowledge, staff can better support boys individually, design targeted interventions and strengthen each boy’s sense of belonging.

Wellbeing and Character Development

The Character and Wellbeing Development program at Toowoomba Grammar School is a multi-tiered initiative that combines:

• Mentor led weekly pastoral care
• Timetabled Character & Wellbeing Classes
• Data-driven platforms and surveys – STEER, Wellio, Mission Australia National Youth Survey, TGS Wellbeing Surveys
• Expert-led programs aligned to the Jubilee Research Centre, Birmingham and assisted by specialist groups – Tomorrow Man, Daniel Principe, Glenn Gerreyn and Lorin Nicholson
• Community engagement and outdoor experiences

This approach helps students build resilience, connection, character, healthy relationships and a lifelong sense of purpose—all within a supportive and virtues-driven school environment.

Pastoral Care Groups

Boys meet regularly in Pastoral Care Groups, organised by year level and led by dedicated House Mentors who understand the developmental milestones of their cohort. These sessions explore age-relevant topics, supported by internal data and expert presenters who address issues significant to adolescents.

Topics include:

• Setting up for success
• Teamwork and resilience
• Growth mindset
• Grit and perseverance
• Goal setting
• Respectful relationships
• Identity
• Healthy decision-making
• Habits and routines
• Character development

These lessons are an essential part of our broader wellbeing strategy, helping boys articulate their ideas, strengthen self-awareness and develop the confidence to make positive choices.

Proactive Wellbeing and Anti-Bullying Initiatives

The School engages in proactive strategies to promote wellbeing and respond early to concerns. All boys complete an annual wellbeing survey measuring areas such as:

• Coping strategies
• Self-efficacy
• Conflict levels
• Sleep patterns

A dedicated bullying survey further supports the School’s commitment to maintaining a safe and respectful environment, with boys encouraged to report concerns directly to staff or through a secure online form.

Service, Character and Community

Service plays a pivotal role in shaping boys’ values and perspectives. All boys participate in school and community service initiatives designed to cultivate gratitude, empathy, and civic responsibility. Activities include:

• Visits to primary and special schools
• Clean Up Australia Day
• Landcare projects
• Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp
• Relay-for-Life
• Million Paws Walk
• Fundraising for local and national charities

These experiences foster a deeper appreciation for community and highlight the importance of contributing to the wellbeing of others.

Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week

The School’s Outdoor Pursuits and Activities Week, held at the end of Term 1, provides boys with unique opportunities to develop character, teamwork and resilience. Each year level participates in a program tailored to its stage of development:

• Year 7: Alexandra Headland, Sunshine Coast
• Year 8: Lake Cootharaba, Noosa North Shore
• Year 9: Lake Cootharaba, Noosa North Shore
• Year 10: Work experience
• Year 11: Leadership Conference
• Year 12: Life Skills Program

These experiences challenge boys to step outside their comfort zones and cultivate valuable leadership, collaboration and problem-solving skills.

House system

The overall administration of the Pastoral Care system is in the hands of the Head of Senior School and the 12 Heads of House. There are five senior houses, each with a Head of Boarding House and Head of Day House. Year 7 is a year of change as the boys move from primary school into the secondary school. This transition is overseen by the Head of Year 7 and the Head of Corfe House (Years 5 to 7 boarding).

Each House has both dayboys and boarders from Year 7 to Year 12. Under this system, a boy feels a part of a family within the School and grows his connection and identity. The House system provides a unit for organisation, sporting and pastoral care purposes. Boys can obtain assistance and advice about any aspect of school life from their Heads of House. Each House has a number of teachers called the House Mentors, who are each responsible for the wellbeing of each boy in their small group. Seniors assist in leading the House and organising the House teams for the inter-house competition. Most importantly they are also charged with assisting the younger boys in the House.

The five Houses are: Taylor (black), Boyce (maroon), Mackintosh (red), Groom (dark green) and Stephens (royal blue). Each of these Houses has resulted from the amalgamation of a Boarding House and a Day House, thereby serving to effectively integrate the boarders and dayboys into a cohesive and supportive unit.

The boys enthusiastically involve themselves in a range of inter-House sporting, academic and cultural competitions for the award of the annual ‘Headmaster’s Shield’. Heads of House are also supported by the counselling team who are available for individual appointments to assist boys with any issues or concerns they may be experiencing.