Budget 2014: Re-funded school chaplaincy program targeted with new petition
GLOBAL LGBTI activist organisation All Out has launched an online petition against the Australian Government’s renewed funding for the school chaplaincy program.
Earlier this month the government committed to fund the National School Chaplaincy Programme (NSCP) with almost $250 million out of the budget over the next four years when the current allocation of funding expires at the end of June.
From January 1 2015, the program will replace the broader National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program currently in operation. A significant change under the revised program removes the option for schools to hire a non-religious welfare worker under the scheme.
The program has been widely criticised by advocates inside the LGBTI community and more broadly, with concerns over homophobic practices linked to one of the largest providers of chaplains, Access Ministries.
In February religious educators from Access Ministries reportedly distributed material to students at a Victorian school instructing them to seek counselling for homosexual feelings, condemning masturbation and stating girls who wore revealing clothing were inviting sexual assault.
The incident prompted an investigation by the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
The Star Observer contacted All Out for further detail on the petition but did not receive a response at the time of writing.
Sally, the school chaplains and welfare workers program isn’t illegal. The High Court found some irregularity in the funding arrangement between the federal and state government arrangements, that’s all. That finding may well be the reason that the federal government is now only proposing to fund the chaplaincy part of the program, instead of funding the secular workers too, as they currently do.
Elizabeth, the chaplaincy and student welfare workers in schools program has never been to fund qualified psychologists and specialists. As a part time position paying only $20,000 a year, it has been a basic support worker, either a chaplain or secular student youth worker to help out kids and families with their basic needs, and referring kids and families on to specialist services.
I understand the concerns raised about one of the providers, Access Ministries, and I think they should be removed from the program, but removing the program altogether will leave kids and families who need help unsupported, and I can’t agree with that.
There are qualified Educational Psychologists ( 6-8 years Uni training), basic 4 -year trained psychologists, social workers, welfare officers, youth counsellors and drug and alcohol counsellors- all of whom have at least basic training in counselling and emotional support so there is no excuse for religious zealots or Christian-trained counsellors, graduating from some ‘ Mickey Mouse’ Christian private setup, to be given access to our children in our secular schools. Schools already have access to School (Educational) Psychologists, sadly limited but of top quality, so where did this weird concept come from? Howard seemed to pluck it out of the air. According to tonight’s Age this concept has 5% support whilst so many other worthy programs are being destroyed by this budget. Extremely distressed teenagers already have access to Clinical Psychologists through Medicare by referral from their GPs. Disgusting!
Elizabeth Hyslop Clinical Psychologist
Given the School Chaplains Program is illegal, as the High Court found, I am suprised by this. I am also suprised this is being done at a time the sick and dying are to have a Tax when they see a GP. It would appear giving money to religious groups and cults is more important then funding Medicare so everyone can use it, regardless of your wealth.