Page 1382 - Week 04 - Thursday, 4 April 2019
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support for the emotional wellbeing of a school community, is an important function. But fulfilling these functions does not require a person providing pastoral care to have some form of religious association or endorsement. Unfortunately, the main provider of chaplaincy services in the ACT requires a range of religious conditions on the employment of a person as a chaplain and includes in their role description a range of religious functions that are unlikely to be consistent with the act.
My decision will not stop children gaining an appropriate awareness of religion. The religious needs of students in government education are met through “the study of different religions as distinct from education in a particular religion” as supported by the Australian curriculum. Where the parents of children seek religious education for their children in a government school, this is made available, as required by the Education Act. Should the parents seek religious education for their children, they also have the option of choosing non-government school education, supported by significant public funding, or home education that conforms with their convictions.
In recognition of the faith basis of ACT non-government schools, Catholic and independent schools will continue to have the option of participating in the national school chaplaincy program. We will work closely with these sectors throughout 2019 to plan for the continuation of the program in their schools from 2020.
I recognise that the student and school wellbeing support provided by chaplains, and equally by secular wellbeing workers, is valued by school communities and that the individuals providing these services often become personally valued. For this reason, I have ensured that chaplains currently employed under the program have the option of direct employment on a secular basis. The Education Directorate is working with schools to make sure that these arrangements are ongoing. These workers will continue to provide support to the school community, but without the obligation of religious affiliation or endorsement.
The Education Directorate has commenced discussions with principals and chaplains to plan for this transition during 2019. This includes consideration of the specific role of the chaplain in each unique school community and how the function would translate to provision under a secular role. The directorate is also working with chaplaincy providers to ensure a smooth transition for all parties and the continuity of service provision in all schools.
MR RATTENBURY (Kurrajong—Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability, Minister for Corrections and Justice Health, Minister for Justice, Consumer Affairs and Road Safety and Minister for Mental Health) (3.16): Just on 21 February this year, as Hansard will show, we discussed an MPI from Mr Coe entitled “The importance of school chaplains”. Today we are being asked to discuss an MPI on the importance of school chaplains in the ACT.
I do not intend to extensively repeat my comments from last time because I continue to have the views that I put on the previous occasion. In essence, for me, the really important issue is school pastoral care. I acknowledge that that can come in a range of forms. Whether it is youth workers, social workers, chaplains or other pastoral care
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