Inadequate school counselling services, and the need for formal training to guide students, compounds the controversial school chaplaincy program in Australia’s public schools, says Dean of Charles Sturt University’s (CSU) Faculty of Education, Professor Toni Downes.
“There is no doubt that all students in all schools benefit from strong pastoral care, welfare and wellbeing programs,” Professor Downes said.
“However, the current situation in Victoria highlights problems with the existing system, in this case in the quality of the program.”
The program was introduced by the former federal Liberal government and has been supported by the current Labor government in Australia’s public schools.
Professor Downes contends that the problems revolve around whether:
- it is appropriate or beneficial that the chaplaincy program links students’ wellness and wellbeing with access to spiritual support and professional counselling and guidance;
- it is appropriate and beneficial for the program to be located in secular schools; and,
- chaplains should undertake formal training and obtain qualifications and that formal quality assurance frameworks be in place to assess these programs.
“The points highlighted above have even greater importance where government schools have for many years requested unsuccessfully for improved regular access for their students to qualified counsellors ,” Professor Downes said.
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