Authorisation refers to the permission given to a person by an Approved Provider (which may be via a church body, local minister or leader of a church or religious persuasion) to teach SRE on their behalf at their local school(s). To be authorised a person must be:
1. Working with Children Check – clearance obtained and verified
2. Code of Conduct Training
3. Child Protection Training
4. SRE Teacher Training (SRE helpers as required by provider)
No person may teach SRE in a NSW public school without formal authorisation by their denomination or religious persuasion who in turn are approved by the Department of Education. The Department’s website lists the religious persuasions that are currently approved
Schools can ask for verification of authorisation and proof of identity. The carrying of an authorisation card and wearing of a nametag is the preferred way for the SRE teacher to provide evidence that this process has been completed according to the current requirements.
Cross – Authorisation (of SRE Teachers in a Combined Arrangement / Joint-Denominational Programs)
Authorisation-letter-in-a-combined-arrangement
The nature and operation of joint-denominational/combined arrangement programs can vary considerably, particularly between primary schools and secondary schools, where often an employment Board will oversee SRE in a high school. However, the school needs to know which participating churches (providers) are working together to put on their website. The combined arrangement is called Combined Christian SRE. All the teachers are listed on the Authorisation-letter.
Whatever the model, every participating church who join together to teach Christian SRE are listed on the Authorisation-letter-in-a-combined-arrangement . Each participating church (provider) must keep written records of who is authorised by their provider and that they agree to the cross authorisation. The authorisation letter is given to the school before SRE starts each year and is usually completed by a local SRE coordinator.
Check the websites listed below of ICCOREIS member churches to find out about authorisation procedures and training requirements.
Anglican Church
Diocese of Grafton
http://www.graftondiocese.org.au/sre
Contact: Rev Michael. Ridge
Diocese of Armidale
http://www.armidaleanglicandiocese.com/ministries/special-religious-education
Contact: Mrs Libby Lukins
Email: xlukins@gmail.com
Diocese of Sydney
Contact: Rev Kate Haggar
Email: kate.haggar@youthworks.net
Australian Christian Churches
Contact: Pastor Barbara Scott
Email: sre@nswacc.org.au
Baptist Churches of New South Wales and ACT
http://baptistsre.nswactbaptists.org.au/Baptist_SRE/Welcome.html
Contact:
Email: sre@nswactbaptists.org.au
Catholic Church
Diocese of Armidale
Email: ccd@arm.catholic.edu.au
Diocese of Bathurst
Contact:
Email srebathurst@gmail.com
Diocese of Broken Bay
Contact: Alison Newell
Email: alison.newell@bbcatholic.org.au
https://www.bbcatholic.org.au/parish-community/ministries/ccd
Diocese of Canberra/Goulburn
Diocese of Lismore
Ph: 02 6622 0422
Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
Diocese of Parramatta
Ph: 02 9890 4731
Archdiocese of Sydney
Contact: Mr Douglas Mawhinney
Ph: 02 9390 5127
Email: douglas@ccdsydney.catholic.edu.au
Diocese of Wagga Wagga
Contact:
Ph: 02 6937 0015
Email: catechist@wagga.catholic.edu.au
Diocese of Wilcannia/Forbes
Contact: Mrs Therese Newell
Ph: 02 6853 9300
Email: theresen@wf.forbes.edu.au
Diocese of Wollongong
Contact: Mr Jude Hennessy
Ph: 02 4253 0987
Email: jude.hennessy@dow.org.au
Christian Community Churches of Australia –
Contact: Mr Glenn Baigent
Mob: 0409 021 584
Email: glenn@cccaustnsw.com
Churches of Christ
Website: Special Religious Education | Fresh Hope Churches, Communities & Ministries
Contact: Mr Ross Stewart
Ph: 02 8573 6079 | M/ 0412 878 486
Email: Ross.Stewart@freshhope.org.au
Fellowship of Congregational Churches
Contact: Mr Tim Foskett
Ph: 9588 5128 Mob: 0413 442 601
Email: tim@fccaus.org or contact@fccaus.org
Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia
Contact: Fr Constantine Varipatis
Ph: 02 9587 5083
Email: fr_con@optusnet.com.au
Lutheran Church
Contact: Kaye Simpfendorfer
Email: kaye.simpfendorfer@lca.org.au
Presbyterian Church
Website: Special Religious Education (SRE) – Presbyterian Youth
Contact: Roslyn Deal
Ph: 02 9690 9379
Email: roslyndeal@pynsw.org.au
The Salvation Army
Contact: Bindy Lupis (Captain)
Youth & Young Adults NSW/ACT, The Salvation Army Australia Territory
Mob: 0478 401 006
Email: bindy.lupis@salvationarmy.org.au
Serbian Orthodox Church
Contact: Mrs Angela Bubalo
Ph: 02 9982 5414
Email: angelastailormadeceremonies@gmail.com
Seventh-day Adventist Church
Contact: Pastor Daron Pratt
Ph: 02 4951 8088
Email:daronpratt@adventist.org.au
Uniting Church
Contact: Monique Mumby
Ph: 02 8267 4325
Email: sre@nswact.uca.org.au