Labor Blog

The National School Chaplaincy Program

Simon Crean posted Sunday, 8 August 2010

Our schools should be welcoming places, where all students can feel at home. For Australia’s children to get the best education possible, the wellbeing of students is absolutely critical, including making sure they get the support they need.

Travelling around Australia, speaking to principals, teachers, parents and students, I’ve found many value the National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) as a way to develop and implement practices that promote general student wellbeing and help our kids perform better at school.

That’s why a re-elected Gillard Labor Government will ensure that up to 1,000 additional schools will benefit from school chaplains, with an extension of the program until at least the end of 2014.

This announcement gives school communities certainty that this program will continue.

Participation in the school chaplaincy program is open to all schools – government and non-government – and is voluntary.

If re-elected, the Gillard Labor Government will ensure even more schools can benefit from the program.

While the original program has been very beneficial for 2,700 schools, some schools in rural, remote and disadvantaged locations missed out.

Schools in rural and remote areas often don’t have access to the same pastoral care services that city schools do. This additional funding will help them benefit from additional chaplaincy and pastoral care support.

This could include developing cluster models or pooled funding so a chaplain or pastoral care worker in a rural area has sufficient funding to service a number of schools.

The additional round will also focus on disadvantaged school communities, ensuring they are provided with the necessary support to benefit from a chaplain.

Chaplains and pastoral care workers provide general personal advice, comfort and support to all students and staff, regardless of their religious denomination and irrespective of their religious beliefs.

Chaplains can help build the sense of community in the school, support the school ethos and provide additional support for vulnerable children. Federal Labor believes this is an important way we can improve school for many of the nation’s students and that’s why we’ll continue to support this valuable program.

Tags: chaplain, chaplaincy, Crean, education, school, schools

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26 Comments

chris41 from Beresfield , NSW Monday, 11 October 2010, 11:11

I voted Labor for the first time this election as the LNP has gone to far right I had hoped for a progressive Labor government. The school chaplaincy program is so disappointing. Maybe if they included secular counselors in for schools to choose that would be better. If any of my friends children come home, AGAIN, asking if they are going to burn in hell if they don't believe in jesus as they where told by the god botherer installed at their school, I will not be happy. Religion is not going to help humanity through the next hundred years. Public education should be secular
rmccathie from Pakenham , Victoria Wednesday, 11 August 2010, 12:11

Where'd the link to this blog post on the Labor Connect page on Facebook go? :o Guess comments that aren't in complete agreement with anything posted aren't allowed on the Facebook page ;\
verden from Caloundra , Qld Tuesday, 10 August 2010, 23:10

Thanks for that suggestion Robert - I'll be sure to deal with my fear after I "get educated". Any more personal advice you'd like to offer? I'm guessing you're one of those judgemental Christians, so no doubt you're full of it. Scripture Union Australia doesn't provide chaplains in South Australia, but they do in Qld, Tasmania & the ACT - or at least their state affiliates do. I think it's reasonable to assume that the views and beliefs of the national organisation hold true at the state level. I also happen to think that some of those beliefs (as described on the SUA website) should have been left behind centuries ago - that we're all sinners and "members of a fallen race", that "the Old and New Testament Scriptures are God-breathed", etc, etc, etc. Even if the chaplains themselves don't actively proscelytise, should a tax-payer funded programme allow a group of this kind to be an official chaplaincy provider to public schools in three states?
robertnstephenson from Hawthorndene , SA Tuesday, 10 August 2010, 08:10

Then Verden you need to check under what guidelines the SU Chaplains are working as the one you have stated is not the policy here is SA and nor is it the policy of chaplains in government schools. You will find that chaplains that do spuke the will of God are quickly shown the door, and rightly so as that is not their role as chaplains. Chaplains are not the concern in our modern world, it is the problems people have with them, perhaps people like you.

You fear them, then I suggest you deal with this fear. Children and school teachers generally have no issue with chaplains, only atheists and agnostics in general and having been the formaer for many years I can tell you it is quite a position of intollerance, judgement and indicative and constant threat to anyone who does not hold this atheist belief.

I think having a calm and peaceful influence that support children in what ever capacity is far better than the no hope peddling of the atheist

I have spent years looking at the positions here and at no time have I found many of these diisngenuous positions presented by people who find chaplains the evil threat to the empire reasonable.

Just check the language used against the program, in that alone you can see the unreasonable, judgemental and even vileness of their positions. This is the alternative for our children - I think not.
verden from Caloundra , Qld Monday, 9 August 2010, 18:09

Well, Robert you're clearly more "educated" than I am. But SU Qld does have chaplains (or "chappies") in state schools, and they are part of the National School Chaplaincy Program. So that does make it an issue of concern, for a lot of people I suspect.
robertnstephenson from Hawthorndene , SA Monday, 9 August 2010, 17:09

verden - you will find that many organizations who have chaplains cannot actually chaplain in our state schools. Scripture union has many chaplains on the books, but they are private schools across the country and they are funded by the organization not taxpayers

again I will point out that by posting the little bit of rubbish here you show you have no understanding of the progarm in our schools - I know 3 school chaplains and I also know a schools chaplaincy advisor and manager:

so instead of posting about issues that do not exist in the governments program - how about you examine just what the program does

Government schools are now crying out to have this service - not all mind you but most. So, if this service is no bad answer me why is it such great demand? I have seen how one chaplain made such a difference in one kid's life he is now studying well in highschool where before you couldn't get him to come to primary school at all.

to see that one kids life improve by so much was well worth 10 years of chaplaincy pay'. and Verden, the kid was and still is an atheist -- get educated before you can something you have no idea about.
robertnstephenson from Hawthorndene , SA Monday, 9 August 2010, 16:09

verden - you will find that many organizations who have chaplains cannot actually chaplain in our state schools. Scripture union has many chaplains on the books, but they are private schools across the country and they are funded by the organization not taxpayers

again I will point out that by posting the little bit of rubbish here you show you have no understanding of the progarm in our schools - I know 3 school chaplains and I also know a schools chaplaincy advisor and manager:

so instead of posting about issues that do not exist in the governments program - how about you examine just what the program does

Government schools are now crying out to have this service - not all mind you but most. So, if this service is no bad answer me why is it such great demand? I have seen how one chaplain made such a difference in one kid's life he is now studying well in highschool where before you couldn't get him to come to primary school at all.

to see that one kids life improve by so much was well worth 10 years of chaplaincy pay'. and Verden, the kid was and still is an atheist -- get educated before you can something you have no idea about.
robertnstephenson from Hawthorndene , SA Monday, 9 August 2010, 16:09

verden - you will find that many organizations who have chaplains cannot actually chaplain in our state schools. Scripture union has many chaplains on the books, but they are private schools across the country and they are funded by the organization not taxpayers

again I will point out that by posting the little bit of rubbish here you show you have no understanding of the progarm in our schools - I know 3 school chaplains and I also know a schools chaplaincy advisor and manager:

so instead of posting about issues that do not exist in the governments program - how about you examine just what the program does

Government schools are now crying out to have this service - not all mind you but most. So, if this service is no bad answer me why is it such great demand? I have seen how one chaplain made such a difference in one kid's life he is now studying well in highschool where before you couldn't get him to come to primary school at all.

to see that one kids life improve by so much was well worth 10 years of chaplaincy pay'. and Verden, the kid was and still is an atheist -- get educated before you can something you have no idea about.
verden from Caloundra , Qld Monday, 9 August 2010, 16:09

A better text editor would be nice.
verden from Caloundra , Qld Monday, 9 August 2010, 16:09

A better text editor would be nice.
verden from Caloundra , Qld Monday, 9 August 2010, 16:09

It's worth noting that Scripture Union Australia calls itself the largest employer of school chaplains in Australia. This is from their Aims & Beliefs page : "We believe in the Holy Spirit who convicts the world of guilt in regard to sin, righteousness and judgement; who makes the death of Christ effective to sinners, declaring that they now must turn to Christ in repentance, and directing their trust towards the Lord Jesus Christ; who through the new birth makes us partake in the life of the risen Christ, and who is present within all believers, illuminating their minds to grasp the truth of Scripture producing in them his fruit, granting to them his gifts, and empowering them for service in the world." http://www.scriptureunion.org.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=23:aimsbeliefs&Itemid=2 But don't worry, their chaplains are highly trained, and I'm sure our kids are in safe hands. The Australian Psychological Society doesn't seem to think so, but what would they know? http://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/APS-Submission-School-Chaplains-July2010.pdf
robertnstephenson from Hawthorndene , SA Monday, 9 August 2010, 15:09

well, that makes some sense... good work
sangerer from Albert Park , Victoria Monday, 9 August 2010, 15:09

Just read the outline for your "Reward for school improvement program to drive better schools". Now here is a policy with soem legs! I would probaly advise that ACARA expenditure can be saved since the framework exists already. In fact, school attendance can be fixed as a simple ICT and internal school process feature that is already being done by most schools. The only issue is a centralized data validation and verification process. This is being stopped at regional department level. So streamlining the various departments of state education of redundant and arbitrary layers can actually save money and deliver the outcome. (You also get rid of some of the dud's that are hiding in there.) ----> As far as numeracy and literacy is concerned; once again the issue is accountability and verifiability. Students fall through the cracks because they shift schools and for many other reasons despite national and state testing. I wrote a simple database that can be added onto the State student SMS system (eg. Cases 21) that fixes this problem at the data end. Actually providing specialist literacy and numeracy services to identified students in need requires a personal student management plan that needs to be worked out at school level and not department level. Therefore, once again we don't need to spend money on expanding the public service. -----> As far as whole school academic improvements, year 12 retention, pathways articulation and employment placement programs are concerned; ---->once again, no additional public service is required. The frameworks exist. What does not exist is for schools to have uniform access to the resources and services and for the trained school staff to implement the programs competently. As such, I urge Labour to Support programs such as the Australian Wind Energy Centre of Excellence to be established in South Australia this year. The Centre will deliver e-learning and e-training facilities and services to schools, TAFE's and Universities, as well as connect more than a dozen international edcuation and research institutions with Renewable Energy Companies operating globally. In addition, we are working on ensuring that Australian certified students have their certification recognized in the UK, Europe and the US. To this end we are working with Renewable UK and the Euro-Skills Board to make this happen. Now that is proper government policy that offers quality long term outcomes and uses intelligent management processes without attempting to legislate the "Nanny" state. So if you; Julia and Simon; want to sign of on this agreement on behalf of the Australian government I look forward to hearing from you. I know you are busy right now, but you know how to find me if you truely want an election policy "Win Win" story. What do you think?
sangerer from Albert Park , Victoria Monday, 9 August 2010, 14:09

Please note "robertnstephenson" My comments are not aimed against the chaplaincy program. If schools wish to have one then it should be a matter for the school board. This does not require a government policy or indeed a government funded program. It only requires the AP or Principal forming closer ties with church groups. I did it during my five years in the service. I had Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai weekend language schools, the Islander community church, the Buddist temple etc all organized and included in school life. It didn't cost a cent, delivered valauble services to the school community and even generated income. No "robertnstephenson", if this is going to be government policy then it should actually deliver something that isn't already being done by school communities as a matter of common sense. The comments here are about a cheap policy scam that we expect from the liberals and not from a party that we expect to have integrity and common sense.
robertnstephenson from Hawthorndene , SA Monday, 9 August 2010, 14:09

oops reboot - I mean Í'apologise for the mix up
robertnstephenson from Hawthorndene , SA Monday, 9 August 2010, 14:09

Yes it is clear wires have crossed along the way, so appologies for this. What out politicians aspire to is up to them, there are many ex Liberal politicians that set up cosy future jobs for themselves before they lost government, so it is not a new position.>br>
Mr Rudd may have future ambitions, but at the moment he is wanting to win his seat and ensure Labor get back in - considering his ousting I do feel he has be quite gracious and Julia Gillard has been very positive towards him - do remember they set out on this roud together in 2007, so I have no complaint that the positions have changed. It is interesting the Liberals and media are saying there is disunity in the ALP, yet everything about it says they are a united front - how do you figure disunity when the ex PM and new PM stand side by side against Mr Abbott and he mostly missing captains.

Will Kevin Rudd go onto other things later, perhaps but as I said it isn't in his picture at the moment. Would the UN have him? Most certainly but he has made it clear his passion is still here for Australia on Australian soil and within the Australian government.

As for Chaplains, there is a misconception they are not trained, this is false and only goes to show how little the general public commenting actually know about the system. It is true there are other areas requiring help but school are not health centres, they are schools and some of the suggestions are health issues set appart from education. The Chaplaincy program addresses some of this by becoming a link up between some services which operate outside of the education system. I.E. Speech Pathology.

you also cannot employ a full time psychologist when it is alwayts wiser to employ a full time psychiatrist with wider and more health orientated skills. These are more expensive and unless their is a bulk billing system inplace these extra services will not fit into schools

School dentistry has worked but even now it has become a seperate health area. Still partly funded by government but way more separate than it use to be.

As for secular programs - I have dealth with the so called secular proponents in this reguard and I must say that there is no way in two types of hell that I would let any of those people near my children - before taking my word for this do some research on so called secular ethics and the new move to abandon morality a myth we don't need. Frightening stuff.
robertnstephenson from Hawthorndene , SA Monday, 9 August 2010, 12:09

In the nicest possible way - reboot, you are not even on topic and can be said to be raving a tad... perhaps you need to quiet down for a time. It is clear you are a well drilled Liberal exponent, as you are almost quoting direct Liberal propaganda and Liberal leaning News Reporting. You could either post in a more honourable fashion and also post in keeping with the subject of this blog, or perhaps research a little more neyond the answers you desire.

For those who have comment thus far AGAINST the Chaplaincy program it is very clear you do not even know what it is. You see the word chaplaincy and pull on the war heavy trench coat of your own bigotry without a second thought.

I can go down to the local school and get letters from over 300 students and 25 teachers praising the program - and a good proportion of those families involved in the school are atheist, and almost all the teachers are atheists

If I can do this with just one school, then I am confident that 1000s of schools will be able to do the same, and in some cases they have contacted the government encouraging the program to contue. So, there are a 'FEW'people with probelms based on ignorance; no a majority or even a reasonable number - the exageration here is a little expected - I do see it a lot by people who express degrees in ignotance.

The vast majority of Aistralian schools with chaplains want to keep them and the kids love their chaplains - so who do we please? The bigoted few, or the small voices of our children?
sangerer from Albert Park , Victoria Monday, 9 August 2010, 12:09

You got it "rmcathie". I wonder whether any of the people here have actually taught in a school, TAFE or University for that matter. The state education sector is in need of properly funded professional welfare counselors, behavioral psychologists, speech therapists and people who are trained in intellectual disabilities, learning disabilities, migrant / non-English speaking integration etc. What is needed is professional staff and a serious commitment by state and federal education departments to deliver school infrastructure support services in this area. As a former senior Victorian education department staff member and ongoing education consultant the needs in the most disadvantage schools are primary contributors for low schools achievement. It only takes one rotten apple to spoil the bunch and that one rotten apple consumes 80% of teacher time and a fair chunk of school resources. It simply is disingenuous to copy a pathetic Howard government policy initiative that was primarily aimed at the private sector. Private school fees fund the vital services that are lacking in the public education sector. So unless you have the intention of introducing a mandatory minimum school service fee policy for the public education sector a chaplain service will simply not address the core the issues in some of the most disadvantaged schools in Australia. How dare you even consider it for remote aboriginal schools or schools located in the most marginal metropolitan areas where more than 40 different nationalities attend classes. The policy is nonsense, elitist, insulting to cultures and customs and a waste of money. You have Abbott holding Labour accountable on waste and you want to implement the biggest liberal party ideologically driven waste since Howard left office. For god’s sake man! Do you want to win this election by standing up for what is right and what is in the national interest, or do you want to ape liberal party policy. You don’t deserve to run this country if you want to run with a Liberal Party education agenda…..PHAAAAA
shaygb from Eatons Hill , Queensland Monday, 9 August 2010, 11:09

My god!!! (I am saying this with a straight face.) How ludicrous. Allowing people who believe that a supernatural being created us all to be involved with our childrens education. It is exactly the thing that most of us despise about the fundamentalist muslim education system. Education is about knowledge and the empowerment that knowledge supplies. It isn't about believing in fantastical realms and boogie men. Around the world it is very easy to see the difference between socieities who live in a fact based world versus those who have a faith based religious view. The fact that there is virtually a consensus belief that there is no god by the greater scientists should be all that the ALP needs to put this prehistoric issue to bed. Another right leaning policy announcement and I will have to surrender my membership of the Australian Labor Party.
robertnstephenson from Hawthorndene , SA Monday, 9 August 2010, 08:09

Having seen the chaplaincy program wotking in a number of schools it is clear, despite the fundamentalist atheists and secular society, the service is working well and teachers are not only happy with how it works in schools, some have even expanded the scope a little.

Those on the blog who have made quite nasty comments have not examined how the program works, and it is clear by your comments. Also some who are making anti-Christian quotes have obviously never seen the guidelines of a chaplain or the guidelines schools present chaplains

I have seen childrens lives turned around because of the dedicated work of these individuals - and not, the children didn't become Christians, in fact most of the children remain atheists like their parents and even their parents see the huge benefit these chaplains bring to the schools.

Chaplains are trained professionals - so I am not sure where some get off saying they are not and then the idea of a secular councelling service is a pointless service. Whenever these services have been introduced they have been abject failures -why? They are expensive and kids don't talk to people who are paid just to be councellors, they don't trust them

Chaplains will stay, thankfully and the bigotry of the few will again be left to those who have yet to get educated... or even fear being educated on just what and how this program runs.
sorellchap from Hobart , Tasmania Sunday, 8 August 2010, 22:08

Thank you Mr Crean for listening to the many principals, teachers, students and parents - and even school counsellors and social workers - out there who have benefited from having a chaplain in their school. The research that was conducted last year showed overwhelmingly how much this program is appreciated by the majority of schools that have made use of this funding. This program is not about the Christian lobby getting their way, it is about schools getting help that is desperately needed, in ways that can't always be met by 'professionals'.
Meredith from St Kilda East , Victoria Sunday, 8 August 2010, 22:08

This is absolutely the last straw! Giving in to the bully boys of the Christian Lobby. I'm sorry but this has REALLY ***** me off. Gillard had the courage to stand up for decent, progressive secular values but some in the party (who the HELL are they??) has convinced her to ***** off all those who are fed up with the religionists getting more and more money with less and less accountability. I'm really struggling to see how I can remain a member of a party with no moral backbone and absolutely no sense. This is NOT a good decision and will backfire on the party.
adelaidechic from elizabeth south , south australia Sunday, 8 August 2010, 21:08

what we need is julia to talk to everyone as find out their views we she said she throwing rule book out well we want a prime minster what is going to listen to australia people not bad policeys we want good ones they say the only way to get their is look n listen to make things right
riddlemethis from Tootgarook , Vic Sunday, 8 August 2010, 19:08

Simon, this decision is the death knell of the ALP election campaign for secular voters. Let's be honest, if schools were given a choice between a qualified professional counsellor/psychologist and a priest to provide support to students and ensure continued wellbeing in school communities, all but the most fundamentalist religite would take the professional every time. But the fact is they are being told to choose between having any old extra set of hands, or nothing at all. This is an egregious betrayal of children's rights to a non-judgmental support network that will not undermine their scientific literacy nor impose one set of superstitions favourably over another. This is indoctrination by stealth and the ALP just cemented a joint venture with the ACL. Disgraceful.
rmccathie from Pakenham , Victoria Sunday, 8 August 2010, 18:08

To quote one of the commenters on this issue at the Labor Connect page on Facebook: "What rubbish. The chaplaincy program is a farce that should be replaced by a properly funded, secular counselling service staffed by professionals."
mikesmithqld from The Gap , Qld Sunday, 8 August 2010, 17:08

Simon, these include the people who are talking about dinosaurs and humans living contiguously, an earth that is 6000 years old, and evolution as a being unproven and wrong teaching! Some of them are using the chaplaincy system to recruit, and there are no adequate controls over what they teach or how they give advice. How could you? Shame!