School chaplaincy in Tasmanian state schools

School chaplaincy in Tasmanian state schools

• It is cause for considerable thanksgiving to God to report that chaplains are now working in 7 of 8 senior colleges, 25 of 31 high schools, 13 of 26 district high schools and 44 of the state's 141 primary schools. The long term benefits for young people in Tasmanian schools cannot be over estimated.
• The chaplaincy program in Tasmania operates under the Department of Education guidelines which specify the Tasmanian Council of Churches as the approved chaplaincy service and Scripture Union Tasmania as the project sponsor. This means that the TCC, through its Commission on Christian Ministry in State Schools, must approve the appointment of each chaplain and that SUTas must provide the necessary recruitment, administrative and support services.
• SUTas, with some administrative funding through the national chaplaincy program and some financial support from the Genesis Foundation has been able to appoint five (one full-time, four part-time) chaplaincy support officers in both the north and south of the state.
• Anecdotal evidence suggests that already the ministry of chaplains is valued by local school communities. This is vital because the future of government funding may well depend on evaluation of the effectiveness of the program in 18 months to two years.
• Professional development is a major priority for SUTas in its management of the chaplaincy program. Most chaplains undertake regular professional development through workshops and seminars available to staff in their own schools. Some have enrolled for the course in school chaplaincy at Tabor College and all take part in the SU program for professional development which began with a training/induction day in February 2008.
• One major challenge facing the Commission through its Chaplaincy Working Group is to ensure that each chaplain is supported by an effective local chaplaincy committee. LCCs have been the lifeblood of school chaplaincy since chaplains were first appointed, but with federal government funding, a large number of additional chaplains do not yet have the support of a LCC with its cross-denominational membership.
• A significant feature of the chaplaincy program is the way in which the Council, SUTas and the Education Department work together in true partnership to support this ministry. A special word of appreciation needs to be expressed to SUTas, and in particular to Ruth Pinkerton, the State Director, for the remarkable work that has been done in achieving the present outcome.

Communication with churches

• School Crossing provides an effective means of communicating with local churches and we continue to be indebted to Kathryn Yaxley and Jenny Cowley for their work in its publication.
• The Commission is currently exploring the possibility of contributing to a website which may be set up by the Council. This would increase the effectiveness of the Commission's communication with local churches and with the community generally.

The Revd Canon Dr Tom Wallace AM

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