Hi my name is Vicki Eland and I have been the chaplain at Mapleton State School for over 10 years.
I feel it is a privilege to be working with my school community and enjoy working with staff, students and families as part of my role. The moto “See a need, Fill a need” can sum up what my role entails. I find myself doing many different and varying things to give the community social, emotional or spiritual support.
On any given day you could find me running programs, meeting with people individually, organising support from local community organisations, organising activities for under 8’s day or attending a school camp. As part of our role, we delight in bringing local volunteers into the school to help out with fundraisers, mentoring, or sharing their skills with a small group.
If you would like to be part of the team, I would love to hear from you. Government funding covers just over 1 day’s wage for each chaplain. All other funds needed are to be raised by donations from individuals or fundraisers. Programs need materials to run them, families in crisis need food/clothing/ school supplies etc. and the gap in wages for me to work 2 and a half days a week needs to be met. This is a large task and if you would like to help in this area your support would be greatly appreciated.
The role of chaplain although enormously rewarding can also be quite draining as we are often working with people who are in crisis. Your prayers are always welcomed and I believe prayer is the most significant way to support chaplaincy.
My contact details are as follows vicki.eland@suchaplaincy.org.au
Isaiah 58:9-10.
Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I. “If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.