31 July 2008
Chaplaincy in schools
The National school chaplaincy program was a controversial initiative of the previous government.
It's a $165 million dollar program over three years to provide government and non government schools with up to $60,000 to employ chaplains.
These are not teaching positions—chaplains are there to provide spiritual guidance and pastoral care, over and above approved religious education.
By all accounts, there's been a strong demand for the funding of chaplains, but some parents and teachers groups have concerns about the chaplaincy program.
So how has it been working so far? What roles are the chaplains taking on and are there other ways of proving pastoral support that don't have a religious base?
Guests
Terry Aulich
Executive Officer of Australian Council of State School Organisations
Simon Wright
Publisher of Stop the NSCP website
Tim Mander
CEO Scripture Union Queensland
Rev erend Dr Evonne Paddison
CEO Access Ministries
Further Information
National School Chaplaincy Program
Stop the School Chaplaincy Program
Presenter
Richard Aedy & Paul Barclay
Producer
Amanda Armstrong
Story Researcher and Producer
Matthew Leonard
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