There have been two parallel discussions in recent weeks related to religion in schools:   the Federal funding for chaplains in schools programs and the issue of religious instruction (mostly Christian education classes) being held in class time in state schools.

In some of the media coverage and some talk back discussions both issues have become confused.

Our organisation wishes to comment upon the first and very significant issue of the Federal funding of chaplains in schools program.

Many Children and adolescents across the primary and secondary years require at various times a range of support structures and systems to either identify, support, counsel or refer them to other support networks. This is due to a range of issues along a continuum of simple to highly complex needs.

Whilst a range of people (religious or not ) including parents, teachers, principals and chaplains, may be well meaning, caring and supportive in their own way, the skills of identifying, supporting, counseling, referring and sustaining appropriate supports for students in need requires expertise.  Professionals with this expertise are those who have studied as a field of discipline the specific skills in counseling, psychology and/or social work.  It is extremely disturbing, that a Federal Government (that has access to up to date research and expert advisors) can provide millions of dollars to people who are of a religious background and may or may not have such expertise.

Here is the crux of the major flaw in this approach and potential damage and neglect to children.

1. The expertise of a psychologist or social worker or counselor is not being recognized (or respected) as being required for the complex needs and issues that face so many children and adolescents in Australian society today.
2. A society that assumes that a religious well meaning person has the skills and knowledge to counsel a student or that there are even skills in knowing how and where and when to refer a student
3. A society that mistakes a religious field of study to equate with the skills and expertise of counseling

In other words, this program and funding is provided to chaplains first rather than to social workers or psychologists. It is not called the counselors in schools program is it!!?? In essence, if the chaplain happens to have some additional counseling skills then that is perceived as good luck, but it is not actually a prerequisite for the job.

Our organisation continues to be shocked and disappointed at the range of decisions being made by our current federal government in relation to the well being and education of young children.  Childrens well being and health are core elements of the United Nations Rights of the child - it is a child's right and governments responsibility. Funding chaplains instead of qualified counselors in schools is like a 17^th century practice; in a time before we had a body of evidence about mental health, psychology and the need for high levels of expertise in intervention and supports for children.

We are aware that some schools are being creative with the funding and employing social workers and psychologists rather than chaplains and we congratulate them for that initiative. However, the Federal Government must stop this message about funding "chaplains".

We wonder how it is that there hasn't been a louder outcry about this and when it will happen!!

Kathy Walker