AEU Response to Changes in the National School Chaplaincy Program

The AEU said today that the changes in the Federal Government's chaplaincy program were a step in the right direction and would better assist schools to enhance the welfare support provided to students.

AEU Federal President Angelo Gavrielatos said: “This is an acknowledgement that the National Chaplaincy Program is fundamentally flawed. In addition to undermining  the secular traditions of our public schools it fails to recognise that the needs of students are best served by qualified professionals providing  vulnerable children with expert care and support.

“Beyond this program there remains a huge shortfall in the resources that schools have to employ qualified professionals such as counsellors and psychologists and this in an area that should be addressed as part of the current Gonski review of schools funding.

“Research released by the Gonski review last week showed that public schools are overwhelmingly the ones who are educating students with the greatest needs such as those at risk, those from low income families, those who are indigenous Australians or have a disability and those who live in rural and remote areas.”

From the DEEWR Website: Link

Program Extension and Expansion

The extension and expansion to the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program will begin in 2012. The program provides funding to schools to access the services of a school chaplain or secular support worker.

The scheme began in 2007 with 2700 schools taking part. Last year, the Australian Government committed to extending the scheme until 2014 for current schools, as well as providing funding for up to an extra 1000 schools. The Government has provided a further $222 million to expand the scheme and offer more schools access to the service.

With the extension and expansion of the Program, following the extensive consultation process, a number of changes are being intorduced to strengthen current arrangements. These changes include:

• Schools will be allowed to choose whether they wish to employ a chaplain or a secular student welfare worker;
• The name of the program will be changed to National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program to reflect the new choice school communities will have;
• New minimum qualification requirements for all new chaplains and student welfare workers will be introduced. The minimum qualification will be a Certificate IV in Youth Work, Certificate IV in Pastoral Care or equivalent.
• All existing chaplains who do not meet new minimum qualifications requirements will be required to complete two units on referral and working effectively in mental health. 
• Minimum provider standards to ensure:
  • increased national consistency in the implementation of the NSCP
  • greater quality assurance that the services provided under the program are delivered appropriately and that adequate controls are in place
  • responsiveness to feedback through the consultation process for increased accountability measures
• The complaints procedures will be amended to strengthen management processes and transparency and ensure schools are responding quickly to students’ or parents’ concerns.
• The maximum grant for schools in remote locations will be increased to $24,000 per year to reflect the higher cost of delivering services in these areas.

These changes are being made after a lengthy consultation process with schools, providers and the community. The changes also respond to the Australian Ombudsman’s report into chaplaincy services which made a number of recommendations about how the program could be improved to make sure it is best meeting the needs of students and school communities.