Big change to controversial school program

The Albanese Labor government is moving to dump the compulsory religious element of the national school chaplaincy program.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare said the major change was aimed at giving schools greater choice around pastoral care.

The voluntary scheme supports more than 3000 school communities across Australia.

“The government will open up the program to give schools the option to choose either a chaplain or a professionally qualified student welfare officer,” Mr Clare told NCA NewsWire.

“We believe that principals and school communities are best placed to understand their students’ needs, so we will give schools a choice about the services they need and the staff they hire.”

The $60m-a-year school chaplaincy program was introduced under the Howard government.

Its religious streak has been a point of contention ever since.

Australian Education Union boss Correna Haythorpe welcomed the news.

“Public schools are no place for religious proselytising and instruction,” she said.

“The AEU has always said that students and families who need support should be able to access evidence-based mental health, social and wellbeing assistance from qualified professionals.”

Opposition education spokesman Alan Tudge said Labor’s changes would spell “the end” of school chaplains.

“Schools will come under pressure from activists not to employ chaplains, regardless of how effective they have been,” Mr Tudge said.

“The chaplains employed by the schools are typically loved by the school community and work well beyond the two days per week of salary.

“The program has worked, it has helped thousands of kids, and doesn’t need to be ‘fixed’.”