28-June-2007
Information for Teachers and Schools
Kilvington Girls Grammar in Ormond and Our Lady of Sacred Heart College in Bentleigh will receive $60,000 each to fund chaplaincy services to assist their students.
The funding, which has been awarded under the first round of the National Schools Chaplaincy Program, aims to support school communities that wish to access the services of a school chaplain.
Chaplains will be expected to provide general religious and personal advice, comfort and support to all students and staff, regardless of their religious denomination, irrespective of their religious beliefs.
The choice of chaplaincy services, including the religious affiliation, is a decision for the local school community, following broad consultation. The program is voluntary and students are not obliged to participate. Parents and students will be informed about the availability and non-compulsory nature of the chaplaincy services.
“School chaplains are already making valuable contributions to the personal, spiritual and emotional wellbeing of many school communities nationally. The Chaplaincy program, announced by the Prime Minister last October, will help many schools access these services for the first time, as well as enabling the expansion of many existing chaplaincy services,” Andrew Robb said.
“Chaplains will be able to provide moral and spiritual support to students in times of difficulty, such as family breakdown or crisis.
“I congratulate the Kilvington and Our Lady of Sacred Heart school communities on their successful applications for this funding. I have visited both schools and have been impressed with the dedication of the staff to the well-being of their students,”
“This funding will help staff provide further assistance to the students and families within their school communities,” Andrew Robb said.
Round Two will commence in early July.
For more information on the National Schools Chaplaincy Program, please visit www.dest.gov.au/schools/chaplains
Media contact: Megan Cox 9557 4644 / 0414 492 674