http://www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/NSCSWP/Pages/NSCSWP_Overview.aspx

The National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program will begin in 2012 and expands on the current National School Chaplaincy Program. The Program provides funding to schools to access the services of a school chaplain or secular support worker.

The latter (secular Student Welfare worker) is new, and upon further reading it appears to be a great improvement in at least opening the option (see the changes fact sheet). There are also improved requirements in terms of qualifications. I don’t agree that a diploma or degree in theology qualifies you for the task, but the other stuff makes sense (see the new qualification requirements for existing workers).

Each school now needs to either extend (existing) or expand (new) with the program to get (or continue to get) funding – and for that the school must be aware of the new secular option. The P&C has only just announced this, with a special meeting set for next week. Currently the only motion tabled is in support of the existing chaplaincy program and for continuing with it. That’s an unfortunate bundling. Not sure additional motions can be tabled before next week. Will see about that tomorrow.

My local primary school currently has a chaplain from Scripture Union. I don’t know if she satisfies the qualifications (may well be – will ask, now that I have reference points) – I’d just prefer that job to be done by a secular worker. Our school is particularly multicultural, and the chaplain’s own religious background may well represent a minority – so what’s the point? People’s religion is their own business, I just don’t believe it belongs in a (state) school and has no relevance to the work the person does (or is allowed to do under the guidelines). If she’s good and qualified, then I’d be fine with her re-applying for the same gig as a Student Welfare worker: she’d no longer be there for Scripture Union.

So while I’m pretty happy with the changes to the program, I fully appreciate the inertia that existing chaplaincy arrangements at schools will have… change there won’t be easy, regardless of its merits.

In particular, I find the complaints-based system problematic. First of all, taking issues up with your school is a matter of “picking your battles”, overall they do a really good job and yet by raising something you end up completely on the wrong side of things, which may well affect your child at the school. So it’s by no means a scenario between equals. You can compare it to raising a complaint against your boss or your employer. Very tricky.

Secondly, the person directly exposed/affected is a student, not a parent – the parent would have to hear everything and on the basis of that lodge a complaint. That’s already hearsay and a child’s interpretation of things is subject to their perspective and age. In addition, if something happens the harm is already done. I want issues prevented, not potentially remedied. And think of a situation where a student goes to the chaplain or student welfare worker with a problem relating to a parent/carer. There are requirements for referral to appropriate organisations and so on, but the only people directly in the situation are the worker and the student. I’d be fine with my child discussing something confidentially with a worker, provided basic qualifications and safeguards are in place. In this case, the qualifications are coming (with the theology and other loopholes due to the legacy of the program) but the safeguards appear borked to me. The child is in no position to judge whether anything might be wrong, and they might have noone to turn to or check with for an extra opinion – or at least feel that way. Problematic.

So in conclusion, I reckon the new program is a big improvement, it just carries the inevitable legacy of the pre-existing program… let’s see how it progresses! And do check with your local school and P&C as they’ll be up for extension (renewal) as well.