Western Australia’s education minister Peter Collier pledged his support for the chaplaincy program this morning. The High Court ruled that it was unlawful for the program to receive federal funding as planned in the recent budget.
Collier stated that chaplains play a vital role in public schools. “We have shown our commitment to the chaplaincy program, it is an excellent program, it does provide vital pastoral care for students throughout schools. So we’ll be working with the federal government to enure certainty for the program. In addition to that we have shown our commitment by increasing funding for the chaplaincy program by an additional just over 2 million dollars this year. So the state government is very committed to the chaplaincy program.” he told Fairfax media.
When he was asked why the program only funded staff from a religious background, as opposed to secular counselors, Collier said the following: “Well, I think this needs to be established to get a bit of perspective in regard to the role of the chaplain. Because there is this misguided notion that somehow they are indoctrinating our students. Yes, in some instances they may provide advice but that is only when the child seeks that advice. They cannot for all intents and purposes, provide that spiritual indoctrination for want of a better term, which is what some people think they do. Chaplains play a very very versatile role in providing service delivery for our students. Now in a lot of instances a student just will not feel comfortable going to speak to a psychologist. Or not feel comfortable going to speak to perhaps their principal or deputy principal. But they feel very comfortable going to speak to a chaplain.”
“They’re someone that is removed from, dare I say it, the academic responsibility, their teacher or their psychologist…We have in our schools at the moment throughout Western Australia and globally, we have situations where students and staff bring with them a raft of different issues. And it is just good to have someone that is there, removed, dare I say it, from the academic stream, that can be an ear for them.”
OUTinPerth contacted the minister for comment regarding the chaplaincy program, and received the following comments:
“Chaplains are not employed to provide religious counsel to public school students. Chaplains in public schools provide important pastoral care to students and offer support and guidance on ethics, values and relationships.
“In Western Australia, 356 public schools are currently funded $20,000 a year (with a 20 per cent loading for schools in remote areas) through the Australian Government’s National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program (NSCSWP).
“A further 268 public schools have a chaplaincy program but do not receive Commonwealth NSCSWP funding. Some of these schools benefit from State Government funding. Last year an additional $2.06million in State Government funding was announced for chaplains over four years.
“All students in WA public schools also have access to school psychologists. School psychologists are the appropriate professionals to provide services to students experiencing issues such as depression and suicidal thoughts. There are now 290 (full time equivalent) school psychologist positions around the State.”
OUTinPerth also inquired about how the Minister addressed concerns that the chaplaincy program may be detrimental for LGBT students, but did not receive a response.
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Sophie Joske
