The Tasmanian Government has given our in principle agreement to administer the Commonwealth Government's National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) in the State's schools.
We are continuing to negotiate the final agreement, particularly as it relates to secular workers, who we believe should be funded under this program as they were in the past.
A great many schools around Tasmania have had chaplains and secular workers for a number of years and have come to value these individuals as members of their school communities.
Not agreeing to administer this program would mean the chaplains and secular workers would no longer be funded to work in our schools and there are many school communities who feel they would be the poorer for it.
To be very clear, school chaplains are not employed to provide religious education, but rather to offer pastoral care and support for students, staff and parents.
We are confident that the chaplains working in Tasmanian schools are well aware of their responsibilities.
Our agreement with the Commonwealth will secure the ongoing employment of school chaplains and will, we are sure, be welcomed by many school communities around Tasmania.
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