When Brendan was in Grade 7, he found himself locked in a losing battle against anger and frustration. But in his corner, he had a constant source of support and someone he could trust – his school chaplain, Jodie.
“I’ll never forget the day I met chaplain. I thought there was no getting better. I felt sadness, anger and disgust at myself. Chaplain helped lift me out of the dark hole I was in after I’d been suspended. There were times I was too angry to talk or too sad to find the words, but she always managed to understand what I was going through. I owe her more than I can think of.”
For young people, learning to regulate emotions or control their behaviour can be overwhelming, and can sometimes lead to destructive behaviour. To help support young people in this space, chappies like Jodie deliver anger management programs like the RAGE program in schools. RAGE is about navigating and managing negative emotions, exploring the 4 T’s of anger (Trigger, Thoughts, Tantrums and Trouble).
From her background in youth justice, to over a decade of experience as a school chaplain, Jodie has had a passion to see young lives changed, and she’s shown many young people like Brendan that there is a better way forward.
“There’s nothing better than encouraging young people and to walk beside them and tell them they can do it. A lot of issues begin in the early years. If a young person isn’t given space to speak up and talk to someone, it can be a really slippery slope. That’s why I believe in chaplaincy.”
*Student name has been changed for privacy.
