I've promised in the past to keep everyone up to date with the School Chaplaincy campaign and any developments in this area. I believe that having chaplains in our schools is a vital service provision that is benefiting so many of our young people.
Yesterday the Federal Minister for Education, Mr Peter Garrett, announced significant changes to the federal schools chaplaincy program. These changes include further funding, which is welcome. They also include a new provision that allows schools to choose whether they would like a chaplain or a secular social worker. While the evidence is that the majority of principals are happy with chaplains, this means that some will choose to secularise their student services.
Other changes include new minimum qualification requirements (e.g. a Cert IV in Youth Work, Pastoral Care or equivilent). New benchmark standards will be introduced in service delivery and a new complaints process will be introduced.
For further details, see the Minister's media release at:
http://www.deewr.gov.au/Ministers/Garrett/Media/Releases/Pages/Article_110907_102159.aspx
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