At The Lakes College, Pastoral Care is at the heart of everything we do. Grounded in our Christian ethos and guided by our College values, we are committed to creating a safe, supportive and inclusive environment where every student is known, valued and cared for.
When students enrol at TLC, there is a saying, “Which House Will Choose You?” and with that, they find a home away from home.
Central to our pastoral care program is a vertical House structure that enables every child to be recognised as an integral part of the College community. Our four Houses; Kittabilla, Kumbarchu, Nyani and Tabbil, are the hallmark of personal formation and are central to daily life, co-curricular engagement and student leadership at TLC.
Each House celebrates, encourages, supports and nurtures every individual to do and be their best.
Each House has a dedicated Head of House, a staff member responsible for the spiritual, academic and social wellbeing of each student.
In our Secondary School, there are eight House Groups within each House, each guided by a Home Group Teacher, bringing together students from across all year levels.
Students remain in their House throughout their time at TLC, cultivating meaningful friendships, leadership opportunities and a caring, cross-age school community. Siblings are also placed in the same House.
This structure creates a sense of belonging, strengthens connections across the College and fosters leadership, service and pride.
Student Wellbeing
Student Wellbeing at The Lakes College is research based and integrated into all aspects of College life. Our extensive network of care builds student connection and belonging within the community. Students are nurtured through their individual character strengths and encouraged to lead with their virtues, while respecting the unique strengths of each other.
In our Secondary School, our signature Find Your North wellbeing framework supports and grows a students self-awareness, emotional agility and mental toughness in preparedness for their pathways beyond school.
Our Primary School actively participates in The Resilience Project, an enriching program centred on instilling Gratitude, Empathy and Mindfulness in our students. A unique aspect of this program is the incorporation of a daily journaling practice. Students are encouraged to maintain a personal journal where they reflect on their experiences, thoughts and feelings related to gratitude, empathy and mindfulness.
By integrating this program into our Primary School wellbeing framework, we not only address the immediate emotional needs of our students but also equip them with lifelong skills that positively impact their personal and academic journeys.
What We're Doing at TLC
As part of our Find Your North wellbeing program, we take a whole-of-school approach to safety and respectful relationships. Here’s how we support your child.
TLC Student Protection Contacts (SPCs)
We ensure students know who they can speak to if they feel unsafe or need support. Our SPCs include:
- Principal
- Deputy Principal – People & Culture
- Counsellors
- Nurse
- Head of Secondary
- Head of Primary
- Deputy Head of Secondary (10-12)
- Deputy Head of Secondary (7-9)
- Deputy Head of Primary – Students and Wellbeing
- Deputy Head of Primary – Curriculum Transformation
These contacts are displayed in every classroom and shared space throughout the College to ensure visibility and accessibility.
External Support Services
We also inform students about confidential external supports, including:
- Kids Helpline: 1800 55 1800
- Headspace
- 1800 RESPECT: For support with domestic, sexual, and gender-based violence
- Child Safety After Hours Services
- Police Link
Learning Experiences
Students participate in age-appropriate sessions that help them:
- Recognise bullying and harassment
- Understand consent and respectful relationships
- Identify safe adults and reporting pathways
- Build empathy, resilience, and assertiveness
These sessions are aligned with national frameworks such as the Consent and Respectful Relationships Education (CRRE) and Our Watch Blueprint, which promote safety and equality in schools.
Partnering With You
We know that creating a safe and respectful environment requires a strong partnership between school and home. We encourage you to:
- Talk with your child about what respectful relationships look like
- Reinforce the importance of speaking up if they feel unsafe
- Explore resources available to families on Bullying. No Way!
Guided by Our Values
As a Uniting Church school, our approach is grounded in values of:
- Love, Compassion, Acceptance
- Respect, Honesty, Accountability
- Empowerment, Justice, Forgiveness
These values shape our culture and guide our response to all forms of harm, ensuring that every incident is handled with care, consistency and a commitment to restoration.
Meet our Heads of House:
Kittabilla House
Kittabilla is a regal and powerful lion named Scar. Scar is surrounded by the light emanating from the centre of our crest. In addition to the intense features and the light that surrounds the mane, a battle scar is etched onto Scar’s eye to represent the challenges that are thrown our way, which makes a person (or lion) stronger. “WE ARE THE MANE EVENT”
Kumbarchu House
Kumbarchu’s mascot is a highly ferocious bear named Kumba. Despite his fierce appearance with red eyes and a formidable presence, Kumba is actually a gentle, tree-hugging mammal at heart. Kumba wears the hoop pine from our crest around his neck. “GRIT AND TEAR, BEWARE THE BEAR”
Nyani House
Our Nyani mascot as an owl named Vulcan who has a very intense stare and flames emerging from their neck feathers. With piercing eyes and blazing red flames, Vulcan absolutely represents our desire for learning and growth. “IN THE HEART OF THE FIRE”
Tabbil House
Our Tabbil mascot is a manta ray named Morty. Morty is a truly mesmerising sea creature. As one of the ocean’s most fascinating and majestic beings, Morty represents the beauty and wonder of life. “SWIFT AS THE TIDE, STRONG AS THE SEA”