Mount Lilydale Mercy College

Pastoral Care to support the whole person

We know that for a child to become a balanced young adult we need to develop the whole person and that greater wellbeing contributes significantly to better learning outcomes. It is through our Pastoral Care program that we promote the physical, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing of our students. Only in this way can we cultivate young men and women with the resilience, independence and confidence to fulfil their potential.

A child’s success is a shared responsibility and we work closely with students and their families and we embrace all families. Embedded in every facet of College life,including educational activities, Pastoral Care builds relationships and creates a sense of community so that your child feels safe knowing that they belong.

Pastoral Care for everyone everywhere

  • Homeroom teachers are the key contacts for the program. A strong pastoral relationship between a homeroom teacher and a child creates a solid link to families. 
  • Our House system gives students a sense of belonging to a bigger group, through which they participate in various activities, including sports carnivals and Mercy Day celebrations.
  • The College offers a range of support services for students and families:
  • Pastoral Care programs for each homeroom (one period each week)
  • Learning Enhancement and Acceleration Program (LEAP) and a Learning Support team
  • Counsellors and psychologists (referral services offered)
  • First–aid facility staffed by qualified nurses
  • Home visits by Sr Mary White RSM
  • Parent information sessions with guest speakers on student wellbeing.

A smooth transition to Year 7

An extensive transition program supports our Year 7 students as they start at MLMC. It was developed to facilitate the smoothest possible change from primary to secondary school. We want your child to feel connected to their homeroom group, and safe within the College. Not only does the Year 7 program provide a broad-based curriculum, it builds the strong student-student and student-teacher relationships needed for an effective learning environment.

Making future leaders

To foster personal growth and empowerment at all year levels we encourage students to get involved in College activities and build their leadership skills. Opportunities range from Peer Support and social justice projects to more formal positions, such as Class Captain, Prefect or the SRC (Student Representative Council). For those students who volunteer, they will leave the College with strong leadership qualities which can set the trajectory of a career and life.

The House system is central to Pastoral Care. Each student is assigned to a House upon enrolment at the College. Students participate in many activities within the school-based House system, such as Music, Performance and Sports events including Swimming, Athletics and Mercy Day activities. 

The College houses

  • Carr Named in honour of Archbishop Carr of Melbourne
  • O’Neill Named in honour of Mother Patricia O’Neill, Principal of the Mercy Training College and Superior General of the Melbourne Congregation
  • Frayne Named in honour of Mother Ursula Frayne, companion of Catherine McAuley and leader of the first Sisters of Mercy
  • Ryan Named in honour of Mother Agnes Ryan from Tipperary, Ireland. Mother Agnes was one of the founding Sisters of Mercy and first Principal of Mount Lilydale Mercy College
  • Maguire Named in honour of Mother Patrick Maguire. Mother Patrick was the first Superior of the Convent at Lilydale and the second Principal  
  • Terry Dunn Named in honour of Mr Terry Dunn, a long-serving staff member who was instrumental in establishing the College sporting program

Counselling Team

The College Counselling Service provides confidential counselling support to MLMC students and their parents/guardians. Information is protected by confidential student-counsellor privilege, a privilege shared strictly within members of the counselling team. The only exception to the rule is when:

  • There is a clear risk to safety of self or others
  • Required by law e.g. court ordered, mandatory reporting to Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH).

MLMC Counsellors are trained and qualified professionals in either the field of psychology or social work. Currently, we have four Counsellors who work either full time or part time.  Counsellors provide support, crisis response and ongoing therapeutic interventions when a young person is experiencing mental ill health. As well as the reactive work, Counsellors also offer preventative interventions such as prosocial programs, educational/psychological testing, and education and parent information sessions to promote good mental health.

  1. Counselling and Wellbeing team - contact details
  2. School counselling - Telehealth appointment instructions
Parents can find further information HERE about a Mental Health First Aid Course being offered to students in 2021.


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