About School Chaplaincy

The National School Chaplaincy Program

Announced in October 2006, the National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) provided up to $165 million over three years to all Australian school communities to assist in the provision of chaplaincy services. Individual school communities were eligible to apply for up to $20,000 per annum to establish school chaplaincy services or expand existing chaplaincy services.

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced on 21 November 2009 that his government will continue with the National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) and extend existing school chaplaincy funding to the end of 2011. The Australian Government will inject $42.8m into the program, giving certainty to over 2500 government and non-government schools across the country which presently access this service. The Prime Minister also announced in November 2009 that the Government intends to consult further with school communities and churches to bring about a comprehensive plan for pastoral care beyond December 2011.

For more information on the National School Chaplaincy Program, contact the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations on 1300 363 079 or visit www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/NationalSchoolChaplaincyProgram

Who are School Chaplains?

School chaplains are in the prevention and rescue business. They’re helping students find a better way to deal with issues ranging from family breakdown and loneliness to drug abuse, depression and suicide. They provide a listening ear and a caring presence for kids in crisis… and those who just need a friend. All have a passion to improve the lives of young people.

“When you have a chaplain, you always know there’s a soft place for kids to fall,” said a school principal recently. “In fact, the chaplain supports everybody in the school community. The students have someone to go to, and the parents and staff also have someone to go to.”

Chaplaincy supports young people in one of the most complex environments in our society — the school. Today, there are over 1,650 state schools with NSCA chaplains across the country. These chaplains provide a safe and supportive influence.

What do School Chaplains do?

School chaplains are active in promoting student wellbeing, particularly through the provision of pastoral care.
School chaplains encourage reflection about the spiritual dimensions of life.
School chaplains have an educative role in the areas of beliefs, values, morals, ethics and religion.
School chaplains work to facilitate connection into the school network and wider community of students who are suffering from bereavement, family breakdown or other crisis and loss situations.

The services provided by a chaplain should be appropriate to the school and student context in which he or she will operate. Within this context, chaplains will be expected to respect the range of religious views and affiliations, and cultural traditions in the school and the community, and be approachable by students of all faiths. It is not the purpose of chaplaincy services to bring about or encourage commitment to any set of beliefs.

It is important to note that school chaplains cannot provide services for which they are not qualified, for example, counselling services or psychological assessment, or medical assessment.

Chaplains can, under certain circumstances, refer a child to a chaplain who is in accordance with their own beliefs and values.

The key tasks of a chaplain may include, facilitating access to the helping agencies in the community, both religious-based and secular.

The activities undertaken by school chaplains may include, but are not limited to:

Spiritual guidance:

Supporting students to explore their spirituality;
Providing guidance on religious, values and ethical matters; and
Facilitating access to the helping agencies in the community, both church-based and secular.

Greater pastoral care:

Providing guidance to students on issues concerning human relationships;
Assisting school counsellors and staff in the provision of student welfare services;
Providing support in cases of bereavement, family breakdown or other crisis and loss situations; and
Being readily available to provide continuity and on-going support for individual students and staff where this is necessary.