Pastoral Care: Unique or Universal?

The nature, development and current position of Pastoral Care in England are considered. Attention is drawn to both the strengths and problems of Pastoral Care, and the problematic dimensions are underlined by the comparison of Pastoral Care in England and Western Australia. The question raised in the paper's title is addressed through a comparison with guidance in Canada. The writer suggests that, though this comparison suggests broad underlying principles to affective education, it also shows that Pastoral Care has some unique qualities which could be profitably used as models. It is stressed that Pastoral Care is best understood in a broad international context.