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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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December 2006 |
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Chaplaincy in Tasmanian schools - what next?Scripture Union Director, Kay Hunter examines the question. In Tasmania, School Chaplaincy is an initiative of the Tasmanian Council of Churches (TCC) through its Chaplaincy Working Group, supported by Scripture Union. (SU is the principal employing agency.) Chaplaincy began in 1995 with a volunteer chaplain at Launceston College. There are now 18 chaplains serving schools and colleges. All except three of the chaplains in Tasmania are employed by SU, and approximately 12 000 students in state schools and colleges have access to chaplaincy services. Chaplaincy operates within guidelines established by the TCC and the Department of Education, which are approved by the minister and published on the DoE website. The effectiveness of chaplains in meeting needs of students has led to requests from other schools for chaplains. Whenever parents and students have been consulted by schools, they have supported the initiative. Struggles with anxiety, relationship problems, alcohol, other drugs, pregnancy, and the death of friends cause many young people to lose hope and their sense of purpose. Resulting lack of motivation and focus prevents many students from achieving their potential. Schools do a great deal to help these students, but resources are limited and they can't do it all. Many schools have found it valuable to have a trustworthy person who is not part of the school organisation available for students to talk to. The chaplain complements the work of the school's support staff. There are some great stories of how chaplains have helped students in need. So what does the recent announcement about Federal Funding for chaplaincy mean, and how does it fit in with existing arrangements? Any thing that allows more resources into schools to support our students is good. So we welcome the extra funding for chaplaincy. We recognise that there is a degree of anxiety about the administration of this funding and how it will impact on the good work of chaplaincy already begun in Tasmania. The advice given from government sources is that the federal government recognises the excellent work that chaplains are currently doing in our schools, and wants to build on that established base. They understand the nature of school chaplaincy and are committed to ensuring that the funding will be used to support legitimate religious workers who are supporting students in need. If you care about chaplaincy, then in your school you can:Get involved in parent and friends groups and where ever possible get elected onto your school association. It is at this level that the 'shape' of chaplaincy funded by the federal government will be determined. If there is no Christian input you may end up with a chaplain who does not represent Christ in your school. If there is a chaplain in your school already, find out about the local chaplaincy committee who support and oversee that work and ask how you can support them practically and in prayer. And in your church you can:Pray that more and more young people hear about the love of God for them through chaplaincy and that this funding will assist in that process. Encourage Christians to apply for chaplaincy positions in our schools. Encourage your church to financially contribute to the work of chaplaincy in our schools.
For more information contact Tasmanian Council of Churches or Scripture Union Tasmania |
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