AUSTRALIA'S FIRST EVER NATIONAL RESEARCH FINDINGS ON CHAPLAINCY IN
AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS RELEASED ONE
Monday, 12 October 2009
“Chaplaincy in Australian government schools is making a major contribution to school morale; it is proactive, unique, effective and important. Government project funding should be continued when the three year cycle of project funding ends.” These words encapsulate the sentiments of 98% of principals who took part in Australia’s first ever national research project on “The effectiveness of National School Chaplaincy Association (NSCA) Chaplains in Government Schools in Australia”. The national research findings are being presented at the National Conference of the Australian Council of State Schools Organisation (ACSSO) which takes place in Hobart, Tasmania today. Copies of the Research Report have been supplied to the Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minster’s offices.
According to the 688 principals who participated in the national study, chaplains in government schools were also helping to build the sense of community in the school , supporting the school ethos and assisting the integration of potentially ‘at risk’ students, including recent immigrants and Aboriginal students.
The quantitative and qualitative study, commissioned by the National School Chaplaincy Association (NSCA)* involved feedback from school principals, chaplains, teaching staff, parents and students. In their research, Edith Cowan University and University of New England academics Dr Phillip Hughes and Prof Margaret Sims found that chaplaincy in government schools was not only unique, proactive and effective, but also a neutral and non-judgmental service that has long term value to the wellbeing of Australian Communities.
'A WINNING FORMULA'
According to Stanley Jeyaraj, NSCA Convenor, the research findings confirm that the role and impact of school chaplains in government schools should not be watered down or altered. “This is a winning formula. Chaplains are making significant impact within the school and the broader community. They are often able to make an important contribution in linking the schools with the wider community. This is particularly significant in rural and isolated areas where chaplains are more likely to be living in the local community, being able to bring support within the school for community projects.”
Within South Australia over 300 Government schools have an established chaplaincy program. The responses from School Principals have been extremely positive. Chaplains in SA government schools are known as Christian Pastoral Support Workers.
“I find it difficult to put into words what an impact it has on me personally and the staff in the Junior School at THS (The Heights School) to have been resourced with this position... Having the support of a Chaplain matters enormously as there is someone to offer the things we are unable to. It feels like we now have a safety platform and less children are likely to fall through the cracks. Our school feels different since she has joined us. It feels safer, more caring and richer. It feels more tolerant, warm and supportive. It feels bigger and more generous and expansive. I cannot overstate the benefits to the Junior School community of THS having a Chaplain.”
Helen Tunney
FORMER DEPUTY PRINCIPAL, THE HEIGHTS SCHOOL
“I am extremely impressed with our Chaplain’s approach to his position and work. He’s a real asset to the school. His care and commitment to the well-being of students and staff is evident in all he does.”
Janette Scott
PRINCIPAL, PARA HILLS HIGH SCHOOL
“The Chaplain has proved to be a wonderful, gentle, non-judgmental influence on the school... I see the ongoing role of the Chaplain as a vital one for the social and emotional wellbeing of many of the students... She is highly thought of and respected by the students... I am thankful that this program will continue for the next year and hope that in the future there will be additional financial support to maintain the role.”
Elizabeth Walsh
PRINCIPAL HAWKER AREA SCHOOL
“Our Chaplain has been an absolute marvel in her role over the last 12 months... She is a very well liked and respected member of our school community... Programs (she runs) are having a huge influence on student development and learning... It’s hard to say how her work could be improved - it is just fantastic as is!”
Brenton Willson
PRINCIPAL GLADSTONE PRIMARY SCHOOL
PASTORAL CARE COMPLEMENTS EXISTING SERVICES WITHIN GOVERNMENTAL SCHOOLS
“The study also found that Chaplains were accessible and approachable, dealt with a wide range of issues ranging from behaviour management, social and family relationship issues to matters relating to social inclusion and racism.“
Mr Jeyaraj said that the study also found that chaplains provided pastoral care in a way which complemented what was being provided by other members of the school staff. “The fact that the chaplain was not a teacher, nor a psychologist, but a neutral person, was noted quite frequently in principals’ comments. Part of this ‘neutrality’ was related to the fact that chaplains did not have a disciplinary responsibility and could listen non-judgmentally. Furthermore, many chaplains saw an important part of their work as building relationship skills.”
HIGHER PROPORTION OF MALE CHAPLAINS WHEN COMPARED TO TEACHERS AND SOCIAL WORKERS
“The proportion of male chaplains (41%) was very high compared with teachers and social workers. This obviously had advantageous effects within the school community as only 26% of teachers are male, and the majority of these work in secondary schools,” Mr Jeyaraj said.
This national study was designed to focus on the effectiveness of Christian chaplains placed in government schools by the National School Chaplaincy Association’s providers and therefore does not include chaplains in non-government schools, chaplains of other faiths, nor non-religious support workers who were also able to access the Australian Government’s funding.
A total of 688 principals and 1031 chaplains completed the quantitative survey. In addition, in an attempt to observe directly how chaplaincy was working in as wide a variety of situations as possible, case studies were conducted. These included primary and secondary schools in metro/regional/rural schools ranging from small (less than 250 students) to large (more than 650 students), with various socio economic and multicultural levels. Interviews were held with parents, students, staff (including principals) in Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria, Western Australia and in the Australian Capital Territory.
NSCA SCHOOL CHAPLAINCIES 'ALMOST TREBLED SINCE GOVERNMENT FUNDING INJECTION'
The Australian Government, through the National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP), injected $165m to provide chaplains in schools over a three year period to support the contribution chaplaincy provides to the spiritual and emotional wellbeing of school communities. Both government and non-government schools could apply for funding through the NSCP to establish new school chaplaincy services or expand existing services.
Mr Jeyaraj said that Government funding through the NSCP had enabled the number of chaplaincies in government schools, as arranged by the major providers of the NSCA, to almost treble since its inception three years ago.
“In March 2007 there were 653 chaplaincies in government schools as provided by the NSCA, compared to 1,652 in March 2009. The rise in the number of chaplaincies, along with the research findings, indicates that schools believe the program contributes in a worthwhile way to their schools, and must be continued.”
PASTORAL CARE - THE MAJOR PART OF CHAPLAINS' WORK
Chaplains indicated that their largest proportion of their time (30%) was spent in pastoral care. This care was either informal (eg engaging students in the playground) or structured (eg pre arranged one-on-one discussions). An additional 34% of time was spent in group activities with students.
Chaplains indicated that during the past year:
-82% had run needs-based programs such as handling grief or behaviour management;
-79% of chaplains said they had done off-site visits to parents and /or care-givers;
-73% had led in school events or special ceremonies and
-49% had participated in school camps.
Chaplains indicated that in the two weeks prior to the survey the following issues had been raised by students, by staff in referring students to them, or by themselves in advising students:
-95% of chaplains reported dealing with behaviour management issues such as anger
-92% with bullying and harassment;
-92% with peer relationships and loneliness;
-91% with student-family relationship issues;
-85% with sense of purpose and self esteem;
-81% with grief and loss;
-77% with community involvement and social inclusion;
-76% with spirituality and ‘big picture’ issues of life;
-72% with mental health and depression;
-50% with alcohol and drug abuse and
-44% with self harm and suicide.
Mr Jeyaraj confirmed that these findings on issues that chaplains dealt with were consistent with data that was previously collected by NSCA members in research projects.
PROFILE OF CHAPLAINS IN GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS
Chaplains who have been placed by the Chaplaincy Providers of the NSCA come from a range of backgrounds and bring to the job a variety of skills.
“Among the chaplains are young people who are interested in working with other young people. Some of them have been youth workers in churches or other contexts. Many chaplains respond to the opportunity to play a caring and supportive role with young people whilst many of them have children themselves. There are some chaplains who also pastor churches. Of the 1, 031 chaplains surveyed, 74% worked in just one school whilst 26% worked in two or more schools,” Mr Jeyaraj said.
Schools and communities were able to apply for up to $20,000 per annum (covering all costs including a minimum of two days chaplaincy service per week per school) to a maximum of $60,000 over the three year cycle as part of the Government’s National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP). “However, the Federal Government guidelines encourages schools to complement this contribution so that a Chaplain could work for more than two days a week and the national survey found that there were many schools where chaplains worked full-time,” Mr Jeyaraj added.
Overall, the data from the national survey of chaplains showed that:
-59% of chaplains are female
-41% are male
The study found that the proportion of male chaplains is very high compared with teachers and social workers. “Only 26% of teachers are male, and the majority of these work in secondary schools. Just 29% of health and welfare support workers are male.” (ABS, Table 20680-c83c-Australia.xls)
In terms of age:
-28% were under 30 years of age
-25% were between 30 & 39
-23% were between 40 and 49;
-19% were between 50 & 59 and
-4% were 60 years of age or older.
The survey found that they came from a wide range of church backgrounds, ranging from Anglican, Catholic, the Uniting Church of Australia (UCA) and Orthodox denominations through to the congregationally-orientated Baptist and Churches of Christ to Pentecostal and charismatic denominations. Not one denomination was dominant.
* National School Chaplaincy Association (NSCA) providers:
ACCESS Ministries(VIC); GENR8(NSW); Scripture Union (QLD); Scripture Union (TAS); Scripture Union (ACT); SMG(SA) and YouthCARE (WA).
The study did not include chaplains in schools in NSW as the Department of Education in NSW did not allow the research to proceed.
The South Australian Department of Education has decreed that the word 'chaplain' should not be used for those appointed to its government schools. Instead, the term 'Christian Pastoral Support Worker' has been declared the appropriate term. Because 'chaplain' is used in all other parts of Australia, 'chaplain' has been used in this media release.
Ends
Issued by:
Heidi Thomson - Gluis, Program Administrator
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State enquiries:
Haydn Lush, Executive Director SMG
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Mob: 0412 368 771
National enquiries:
Stanley Jeyaraj, NSCA Convenor
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Mob: 0412 261 669
Research enquiries:
Dr Phillip Hughes
Edith Cowan University
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Mob: 0438 708 675
