Change of Title
The National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) has been expanded and extended to become The National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program (NSCSWP).

Changes in the program

• The nature of the service and the religious affiliation of the chaplain are to be determined by the school and its community. This consultation with the school community precedes any application for funding.
• It is a voluntary service - schools are not obliged to participate in the program and students are not required to use the service if they do not wish to.
• NSCSWP chaplains/student welfare workers will be bound by a Code of Conduct which, among other things, respects the rights of parents to ensure that the religious and moral education of their children is in line with their own convictions and undertakes not to engage in proselytising.
•  Minimum qualifications for chaplains/student welfare workers have been introduced.
• Schools currently funded under the National School Chaplaincy Program will need to lodge a submission for the funding to continue these services after 2011.
• Up to 1,000 additional schools will receive funding under the expansion of the program, with priority given to schools located within a disadvantaged, regional or remote location.
• Remote and very remote schools may be eligible for a 20% additional loading.

Overview of the Nature of Chaplaincy Services

The NSCSWP Guidelines state that the school chaplain is a person who is recognised:

• By the school community and the appropriate governing authority for the school as having the skills and experience to deliver school chaplaincy to the school community.
• Through formal ordination, commissioning, recognised qualifications or endorsement by a recognised or accepted religious institution or a state/territory government approved chaplaincy service.
• As meeting the minimum qualification requirements as outlined in the Guidelines.

The NSCSWP Guidelines state that the student welfare worker is a person who is recognised:

• By the school community and the appropriate governing authority for the school as having the skills and experience to deliver school chaplaincy to the school community.
• As meeting the minimum qualification requirements as outlined in the Guidelines.

School chaplains/student welfare workers are responsible for supporting the spiritual, social and emotional wellbeing of their students. School chaplains, in particular, have a key role in supporting the spiritual wellbeing of students, regardless of faith or beliefs.

School chaplains/student welfare workers should have or develop an appropriate and suitable external network of professional groups working with the community and be aware of current student wellbeing, anti-bullying and cyber safety strategies.

School chaplains/student welfare workers must ensure that all services that are delivered:

• Are approved by the School Principal
• Have the appropriate prior parental/guardian consent
• Have the voluntary consent of students who participate
• Are respectful of  the range of religious views and cultural traditions in the school community and respect the stated views of parents/guardians to ensure the religious and moral education of children is in line with their own convictions

School chaplains/student welfare workers provide the following services:

• Assist in delivering student resilience and wellbeing services
• Provide support and appropriate referrals for students, their families and staff in times of grief or when students are facing personal or emotional challenges.
• Support students who express a desire to explore their spirituality.
• Provide services with a spiritual content (excluding religious education) including facilitating discussion groups and lunch time clubs if approval and consent for the activities have been obtained.
• Organize one-on-one or group sessions with students, parents, staff and other members of the school community
• Run breakfast clubs
• Deliver peer leadership and support programs
• Facilitate activities connecting students with other members of the community.

Services provided during the Program must not include:

• Providing religious education in their schools
• Attempting to convert students to a religion or set of beliefs through proselytising/evangelising.
• Providing professional support services
• Performing religious services/rites during school assembly without the appropriate prior consent.

School chaplains and student welfare workers must adhere to the Program Guidelines and the Code of Conduct at all times.

SRE and School Chaplaincy

Chaplaincy is distinct from, but complementary to, SRE in the school.
In order to help clarify the roles of school chaplains and SRE teachers and how they will interact, ICCOREIS has prepared the following document:

Guidelines for SRE and School Chaplaincy   
School chaplains and student welfare workers are not to provide religious education in their schools. They are also not to perform religious services/rites (such as worship or prayer during school assembly etc) without the appropriate prior consent.