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The Australian Federal Government, as part of its commitment to extend funding for the National School Chaplaincy Program (in both duration and scope) until December 2014 undertook to a process of national consultation to review the program.
The discussion paper for the review has just been released and submissions about the program are open until March 18, 2011.
The report contains a comprehensive overview of the program and also suggests particular areas in which feedback and opinion are being sought, particularly in the area of qualifications for chaplains and the function of the role in schools. (These two are somewhat overlapping, as qualifications will be expressed in function.) One feature of the program so far has been the capacity for schools to tailor the role to meet their particular needs or strengths. The discussion paper features a lot of observations about the program drawn from a number of sources. Of its 32 pages, 22 are given over to the body and appendices of the report and the remaining 10 pages provide a template for the submission process.
The government currently support the program. From the discussion paper:

The National School Chaplaincy Program (the program) commenced in 2007 to support schools to establish or expand school chaplaincy services. The Gillard Government recognised the valuable contribution this program makes to many Australian Schools. It has made the commitment that all schools currently receiving funding under the program will continue to receive funding until the end of the 2014 school year and that up to 1000 additional schools will receive funding for three years from 2012-2014.

From the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations website:

National Consultation Process

The national consultation process is considering the achievements and effectiveness of the National School Chaplaincy Program, its relationship with other student support activities, and canvassing stakeholder views in relation to future chaplaincy and pastoral care services. A number of issues are being examined including:

• Achievements of the program
• Relationship with other student support activities
• What is/ is not working well
• Current and future needs
• Potential target group(s)/ priority areas
• Possible future program options
• Funding model/ mechanisms and funding requirements

The national consultation process will include two stages:

• Stage One – Stakeholder Meetings
• Stage Two – Public Discussion Paper

The first stage of the national consultation process involved meetings with key stakeholders around Australia.
A Discussion Paper has been developed on the basis of perspectives and issues raised in the stakeholder meetings. The Discussion Paper provides an overview of the information provided and proposes options for the future.

• NSCP Discussion Paper 2011 ( PDF 412KB | RTF 1.9MB)

Responses to the Discussion Paper are now invited from all interested parties. This process is open until 18 March 2011 and all comments received will be collated and analysed for the development of future program options.

Responses
If you would like to provide a response to the Discussion Paper, a questionnaire has been developed to assist you.
You can also provide a response or comments by the following methods:

• email the NSCP Consultation mailbox chaplaincyconsultation@deewr.gov.au
  or
• post to:

  NSCP Consultation
  Australian Government Department of Education,
  Employment and Workplace Relations
  GPO Box 9880
  Adelaide SA  5001

Updates and further information on the consultation process will be available on this website as the process progresses. If you have any questions in relation to the national consultation process, please contact:

• The Program Hotline: 1300 363 079 (Between 9.00 am and 6.00 pm) or
• Email chaplaincyconsultation@deewr.gov.au