Dispelling the myths about school chaplains

A chaplain serves the community in a "first-response capacity" by providing pastoral care, spiritual support and referral pathways to access specialist crisis support. They are able to do this, as they are approachable, having a neutral, rather than disciplinary role.

They are also accessible, proactively building networks of relationships with school communities. This accessibility often allows them to be made aware early of situations, allowing them to provide effective referrals to other professionals. Some anecdotal reports suggest that more students are now accessing professional counseling due to increased referrals from chaplains.

A misrepresentation that often fuels suspicion or angst is the cost of the program. Rarely does it get pointed out that the annual funding for each school in the program is $20,000. This means about one-third of chaplaincy funding needs to be raised from the community, and has led to a type of government-community partnership, which is both cost-effective and increases community cohesion.

The care of school communities is of critical importance, and unfortunately, the issue of whether chaplains are capable and qualified is awash with misunderstanding. It's important for the community's peace of mind to know that all chaplains employed by member organisations of the National School Chaplaincy Association (which employs 85 per cent of chaplains in government schools) have minimum training requirements, and they receive ongoing professional development.

Importantly, qualified educational professionals overwhelmingly endorse the program. In a 2009 national survey it was found that 98 per cent of responding principals who had a chaplain in their school wanted government funding for school chaplaincy to continue.

Whether school principals get their wish remains to be seen. The High Court challenge is based around constitutional federal and state rights, and it's difficult to know where the decision may fall.

Whatever the outcome, one thing is sure: chaplains promote wellbeing in our community, and we must find a way to keep them in schools.