ACT Senator Kate Lundy today welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement that an additional $42 million will be provided to extend the National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP).
The additional funding will ensure the NSCP will continue to December 2011, for all schools currently being funded under the program.
53 ACT schools have benefited from $3,172,000 for chaplaincy services under additional funding for the program.
This is in addition to 53 ACT schools who received over $3 million funding under the NSCP in 2007.
Senator Lundy said the program’s extension shows the great impact that the chaplaincy services have on the wellbeing of local students.
“Many of our local schools try to provide for the wellbeing of their students and the School Chaplaincy Program has helped them do this,” Senator Lundy said.
The $42 million announced by the Prime Minister today is in addition to the $165 million already dedicated to Australian school communities to provide chaplaincy services.
To date, the program has funded approximately 2 700 schools across Australia.
During 2010, the Government will further examine the benefits of chaplaincy in Australian schools, and will consult widely with stakeholders on future options.
Further information about the National School Chaplaincy Program is available at:
www.deewr.gov.au/schoolchaplaincy
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And how is is acceptable that the government should subsidise the provision of Christian infrastructure in state schools?
I would like to see our tax dollars spend on GENUINE and UNIVERSAL support services for ALL school students. I wonder for instance what kind of support a gay student will get from an evangelical Christian chaplain?
What’s next? Equal time for intelligent design in the national science curriculum?
The National School Chaplaincy Program, was an initiative of the former Coalition Government. On 29 October 2006, the then Prime Minister, Mr Hon John Howard MP announced the National School Chaplaincy Program as a nation wide School Education Program to commence at the beginning of the school year for 2007. The Rudd Government upon taking office confirmed that it would honour all funding commitments previously made under this program, but have made some changes.
School communities determine the role, faith and, or denomination of the chaplain. The services provided by a chaplain should be appropriate to the school community and student context in which they will operate. Chaplains will be expected to respect the range of religious views and affiliations, and cultural traditions in the school and the community, and be approachable by students of all faiths. While recognising that an individual chaplain will in good faith express his or her belief and articulate values consistent with his or her denomination or religious belief, a chaplain should not take advantage of his or her privileged position to proselytise for that denomination or religious belief.
In addition, the National School Chaplaincy Program guidelines have been broadened to allow the employment of other suitably qualified support staff over the life of the Program if a Chaplain is not appropriate or cannot be found for a school community. The support workers may include non-denominational pastoral care workers, youth workers or other secular support staff.
For more information you can visit the National School Chaplaincy Program website http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/NationalSchoolChaplaincyProgram/Pages/home.aspx
Kind regards
Annika Hutchins
Office of Senator Kate Lundy
What is this excuse “It was Howard’s idea”? Rudd has taken an active choice to extend, so it’s now his project as well.
“The offer only applied to those schools that had exhausted all reasonable avenues to find a suitable chaplain.”
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/NationalSchoolChaplaincyProgram/Pages/nscp_frequently_asked.aspx
From the tone of the DEEWR FAQ is it obvious that the primary focus is religious (see quote above), so the ‘community choice’ is a red hearing — effectively it’s (given the Australian demographic) handing free cash to one religious group — happens to be the Christians.
And what qualifications will these people have to provide social and emotional support to students? 4 years in a seminary?
I do not want tax dollars given to religious organisations. I want it spent on helping people — ALL People without judgement. I don’t trust the religious organisations to do that, no matter what guidelines are put on a web site.
Hi Alec,
As discussed on Facebook and Twitter, this scheme is not just for religious support, but can be non-religious. We understand your concerns, however it is unfair of you to assume that if someone is religious that they woudln’t be capable. We would hope that any person chosen, regardless of their religion would be fully trained and prepared for the challenges in supporting school students in their lives. Each school would choose the most appropriate person for them, religious or not, so probably your best bet is to speak to schools you are involved in to assist them in making the most appropriate choice for their needs.
Cheers,
Pia Waugh
Office of Senator Lundy
This is the usual rubbish from the ALP too scared to counter anything Rudd says, thinks or does.
The comments from the Senator and her staff clearly show they are covering up for Rudd wasting yet more ATO funds.
There are no requirements from DEEWR to have qualified chaplains. No quals at all, and it varies from state to state and territory as to what is required.
The only ‘research’undertaken so far was paid for by the employers of the state school chaplains.
Hardly unbiased.
And the results have been misrepresented in both houses of parliament continuosly since October 13 2009… and in newspapers, and by Gillard, and by Rudd, as well as various backbenchers whose ill informed comments can be read in Hansard, as well as the blatant lies told by some Coalition Senators.
The Edith Cowan University research shows that 58% of school principals could not be bothered to rsvp to the survey instrument.
42% of the sample group did, a mere 688 schools from a total of 2712 schools with chaplains.
This is now being touted by all politicians, dishonestly, as being 97% of all schools with chaplains, when in fact it is 98% of the 42% who responded.
Even the 97% figure banded about in the Senate and not disputed by Kim Carr, because he has no idea either, is a mistake, repeated almost daily since getting an airing on ABC Radio’s PM on October 13 2009… by the ECU author, Dr. Hughes.
Not one single politician has bothered to read this research, not their staff either.
Except one, Dr Kaye-NSW Upper House Greens, whose comments can be found here:http://www.australiansecularlobby.com/nscp.html
Hi Hugh,
Thanks for the comments, we appreciate the information. Could you please provide a link to the Edith Cowan research so we can go through it. I’ll have a look at Dr Kaye’s comments.
Cheers,
Pia
Office of Senator Kate Lundy