A range of services are provided by school chaplains and student welfare workers including:
- support and guidance about ethics, values, relationships and spirituality
- provision of pastoral care
- engagement with the broader community.
Schools funded under the program can choose the services of a school chaplain to provide pastoral care services or select the services of a non faith-based, or secular, student welfare worker.
What funding is available?
The Australian Government has provided $222 million under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program to support 3555 schools across Australia to access the services of a school chaplain or a non faith-based student welfare worker.
Applications for funding under the program are now closed.
Information on the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program Guidelines and National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program Code of Conduct is available.
Want to know more?
- call 1300 363 079
- email schoolchaplaincyandwelfare@deewr.gov.au
The Resources page has documents about the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program.
Updates
High Court update
On 26 June 2012, the Australian Government introduced legislation in Parliament to amend the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.
This amendment was designed to provide legislative authorisation for existing government programs, including the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program.
The Bill passed through both houses of Parliament and received Royal Assent on 28 June 2012 implementing the required legislative authority to support the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program.
Information on the High Court challenge is available.
