Tara Reading

I'm Tara and I'm the school chaplain here at Cooma North.

My role is pretty much about connecting with people and building relationships so I'm just that extra person here that yeah, children can come to and can trust. And if they're happy they can come to me and tell me their problems. Or if they're lonely, we can have a chat.

I'm here at permanent part time and so I do three days a fortnight here at the school.

I am not a counsellor. I don't counsel the kids, I refer kids on.

It's not a Christian role, it's a holistic wellbeing support role. I come to school, I go to the classrooms, I ask the teachers if there's anywhere I can help. You know, some kids might be struggling in the classroom, just need that break and that outing. So I'll go play basketball with them or go kick a football, go do some art.

I'm also here for not just the children, but also the staff and parents as well. So it encompasses all those areas.

When you know that a child's been in a really difficult space and you're being there just building relationship with them, and then you just see them grow and flourish and come to this place where they're just excelling and they're happy and they want to come and share those experiences and what's going on, I just find that really rewarding.