With the federal election fast approaching, the National School Chaplaincy Association has launched a campaign aimed at securing continued funding for school chaplaincy beyond 2011.
The Federal Government is conducting a review of the school chaplaincy program and has given no firm commitment to continue funding for it after 2011.
By contrast, the Opposition has given a commitment to the program for a further three years beyond 2011. However, at this stage they have not committed any additional funds to keep up with inflation and allow new schools to have access to a chaplain.
The lead up to the election is a vital time in which to secure commitments to future funding for school chaplaincy. There are currently around 2,000 chaplains employed in public schools throughout Australia and they are making a valuable contribution to the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of the school communities which needs to be continued.
We urge you to join in this campaign by going to http://support.schoolchaplaincy.org.au/ and sending off an email to your local federal MP to inform them of your support of the school chaplaincy program and your wish to see it extended beyond 2011.
I’ve no objection to a review. I am quite for chaplaincy in schools, most definitely. But it has been brought to my attention – maybe I’m wrong on this – that one requires little to no specific training to be a chaplain. I can think of 2 specific people. Yet what we see currently is chaplains in schools dealing with issues such as : youth suicide, youth needing grief councilling, dealing with young people who have witnessed or been affected personally by violent crime, self esteem issues. The classes in my city to do with Youth Ministry at the local theological college are devoid of current Chaplains as students. Is there some way the gov’t could make it mandatory chaplains have some type of social work background ( even a Diploma in Youth spirituality/ministry/issues and not just the prerequisite of being a Christian.
Please Mr Randall – we must have Chaplains in all schools – as every child now needs a non-threatening adult to talk to about life – at school – as so many parents are working and so very tired to give children/teens that time after school where they need to ‘vent’ to the Parent. An unthreatening person/teacher who is not on staff – and that they know and believe to be confidential.
Homeless – if the govt can build housing in Leonaora or where ever with Sea Containers – why cannot a small city be be built for Homeless people and Aboriginal people who need housing with the same material. Anything to give these people a home and an address where they could retreive an allowance from Centrelink.Who cares if these little towns are not as the loval Govt requires – these people need our help – to get them to the next level.
thankyou Margaret Kennington
We must support School Chaplaincy programs. Without programs such as these, we cannot get children into churches, and support will dwindle for highly important organisations such as the ACL and Family First!
Are we allowed to email our local Senator as well?
We need more religious people in schools. There is a need to do something to improve the shocking rate of child sexual exploitation. Our religious leaders have been at pains to push this issue. A firm guiding hand is what they need.