House debates

Wednesday, 18 June 2014

Statements by Members

School Chaplaincy

1:51 pm

Photo of Luke SimpkinsLuke Simpkins (Cowan, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I would like to speak about the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program. Leading up to the budget I received many emails about this from parents, particularly from Woodvale Primary School. After the funding for this program was announced in the budget, Pearsall Primary School also contacted me for support in trying to get a chaplain. The chaplains throughout the schools of Cowan are extraordinarily positive. They make a very strong contribution, and their activities are completely legitimate and above board. A great example was a few years ago at Hudson Park Primary School, where the then chaplain, Shirley Pyrc, wrote one of the best school songs I have ever heard. They do make an excellent contribution.

I know that some people make allegations about chaplains, and make suggestions about evangelical activity, but I have never seen this and nor have I had a complaint even alleging it in Cowan. Overwhelmingly, the support for the program is extremely strong, and I hope that the High Court decision will enable it to continue. In any case, I look forward to the government providing due support to allow the positive contribution of chaplains to continue within the Cowan electorate.

Comments

Meredith Doig
Posted on 25 Jun 2014 9:11 pm

Given your support for the pastoral care provided by chaplains, I assume you would not object to similar pastoral care provided by non-religious persons. Chaplains are not allowed to proselytise (or evangelise for that matter, since the two words mean essentially the same thing). Therefore, there can be no additional benefit from a pastoral support person being religious - unless, of course, the real reason for mandating religious-only chaplains is unacknowledged.

Patti Farnell
Posted on 26 Jun 2014 3:34 pm

Re chaplains - Schemes like the Whittlesea Secondary School self help funding for their Chaplain should receive more public acknowledgement. WSS hold a community market on the third Saturday each month to help pay for a Chaplain. This is setting a good example to students, rather than nannying handouts and some students actually have stalls themselves - a great initiative in my view even though I believe independent social workers are a better option.