Information from the www.suqld.org.au website:

School Chaplaincy:

A School Chaplain is a safe person for young people to connect with at school, providing a listening ear, caring presence, and message of hope. They care for students struggling with a wide range of issues, including: family problems, confusing relationships, friendship issues, peer pressure, self-esteem issues, bullying and depression.

SU QLD School Chaplains run positive, fun activities for young people - both in and out of school - and foster a supportive, caring school community. This includes support for at-risk students, support for staff and families from the wider school community, and spiritual support and direction for the school community.

The partnership between the school and the Chaplain, supported by local churches, businesses and community organisations, provides a network of local support and assistance. These positive relationships help young people to face issues, and provide hope, connection, meaning, and purpose.

• More than 500 school chaplains (affectionately called "Chappies") are employed in over 600 Queensland schools.
• 50% of Queensland state schools have a Chaplain.
• 340,000 students have access to a Chaplain.
• 45% of primary schools have a Chaplain.
• 80% of high schools have a Chaplain.

Since SU QLD first introduced a Chaplain to a State school in 1990, Chaplaincy Services have been implemented in more than 600 schools across Queensland.

Working alongside other caring professionals, SU QLD Chaplains care for young people’s spiritual and emotional needs through pastoral care, activity programs, community outreach and adventure-based learning.

Most importantly, SU QLD Chaplains provide a personal point of Christian contact, care and support for students, teachers and their families within their schools.

As the premier Chaplaincy employing authority working in Queensland schools, SU QLD is the first choice for communities wishing to place Chaplains in their local schools.

SU QLD provides employment, training and support for all SU QLD School Chaplains.

Representatives from local churches, schools and communities form Local Chaplaincy Committees (LCCs) to administer and raise funds for their particular Chaplains.

SU QLD Chaplaincy Services operate in accordance with the Education Queensland Chaplaincy Policy.

For more information visit the www.suqld.org.au website or www.chappy.org.au

HOW YOU CAN HELP PROTECT SCHOOL CHAPLAINCY PROGRAM

As we reported last week a High Court of Australia challenge threatens the existence of many hundreds of school chaplains across Australia. Australia's School Chaplaincy program is facing a constitutional challenge in the High Court as a Toowoomba man opposes the Commonwealth funding of chaplains in state schools. The Australian Secular Lobby and its supporters are actively supporting the challenge. "This is a small but committed minority who are ideologically opposed to this very effective program" said Tim Mander, CEO of SU QLD.

"They are spreading a lot of misinformation about School Chaplaincy. For example, they're mixing it up with the Religious Education program in schools - which has nothing to do with School Chaplaincy."  Ron Williams is arguing that the Federal government has no power under the constitution to fund school chaplains, and that the guidelines for School Chaplaincy impose a religious test on employing "an officer of the Commonwealth". SU QLD is one of four defendants, the other three being the Commonwealth and two Federal Departments.

The High Court has agreed to hear the case and has set down 10-12 May for the hearing. Importantly, the case says nothing about chaplains' access in schools. It concerns only whether the Commonwealth may fund school chaplaincy under the terms of the current guidelines. Tim Mander says SU QLD and many other stakeholders and supporters will fight this High Court challenge vigorously over the coming months. "If this High Court challenge is successful, a large proportion of kids' support in schools could disappear," he says.

Along with other members of school support teams, school chaplains help students to feel a sense of belonging in the school and help students deal with personal issues such as self-image, personal crises, loneliness, grief and loss.
Here are some actions School Chaplaincy supporters can take to show their support:

1.      National Prayer Day for School Chaplaincy

SU QLD believes that the response to the High Court challenge must be bathed in prayer. To that end they are inviting churches to pray specifically for the future of School Chaplaincy on Sunday May 1. Churches wanting to participate can email prayer@suqld.org.au  There are a number of resources available to help congregations participate.

2.      Support School Chaplaincy Website

To help provide accurate information about the High Court challenge and the benefits of the School Chaplaincy program, this website will help: http://www.supportschoolchaplains.com.au/  Please tell others about this website. It will help dispel the myths that are being disseminated by those opposed to School Chaplaincy.

3.      Fighting Fund

SU QLD is committed to putting the best legal case forward to the High Court to save the Commonwealth funding of School Chaplaincy. But to do this will be costly. To help cover these costs, a Fighting Fund has been set up which can be accessed via http://www.supportschoolchaplains.com.au

Please encourage friends and colleagues to go online and donate to this fund.

Source: Compiled by APN from material provided by SU QLD