Page 610 - Week 02 - Thursday, 21 February 2019
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ongoing connections with providers such as the PCYC, the YWCA and Menslink to deliver information and supports that meet the needs of each school community.
Where the Education Directorate recognises that a particular expertise or strategy is required to promote wellbeing for particular students, they act to meet these needs. For example, the ACT government funds the safe and inclusive schools initiative to ensure that schools can access support if and when they need it to assist them in building inclusive and welcoming environments for all students.
Many schools offer breakfast programs to ensure that students have a healthy start to the day and are ready to take on their learning. School chaplains have been and continue to be a valuable overall addition and they are valued members of their school communities, a fact that is well understood by the government.
Public schools will therefore be supported to directly employ these workers on a secular basis going forward. This has been clearly communicated to relevant schools and to the chaplaincy providers that engage chaplains for our schools. I understand Minister Berry has written to the Scripture Union to advise them of this position and to provide reassurance that we will work with their organisation, schools and chaplains to ensure a smooth transition for all parties.
To be clear, for those communities that value the contribution of the individual currently delivering a chaplaincy role in their school there will an opportunity for that to continue and for them to continue to support the school and the community. The Education Directorate will be working with providers, schools and chaplains to manage this transition process throughout 2019. The safety and wellbeing of students in schools is of the utmost importance in this transition.
We have invested heavily in ensuring that these supports are in place and we are clear on our future direction. We will continue to do all that we can to ensure that students within our system benefit from learning in safe and supportive school environments. I thank the Leader of the Opposition for raising the matter of public importance today.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong) (3.18): I would like to rise briefly on this issue today to speak on behalf of the Greens and also as a former education minister. It is a real shame that the Canberra Liberals could not consider raising this matter of public importance under the title “The importance of school pastoral care”. By doing so, they could have avoided elevating chaplains over youth workers, social workers and other pastoral care providers in our schools.
I am fully aware of the positive role that chaplains can play in the support networks at schools, both government and non-government. And I appreciate that chaplains can and do provide this positive role without veering into proselytising. But, by definition, chaplains are religious and this fact alone may preclude some young people accessing their services.
So effectively the Canberra Liberals are drawing attention to religious activities in schools and highlighting what they believe to be the benefit for children and young people. I can respect that. That is some people’s faith. But by being exclusive of
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