Tuesday, July 26, 2011

No major problems with chaplaincy: Garrett

The Commonwealth Ombudsman's report into the national school chaplaincy program found no major problems with the scheme, according to Minister for Education, Peter Garrett.

Mr Garret said the Ombudsman had made some useful recommendation which had the broad agreement of his department.

“It's important to note that today's report found no major problems with the scheme. It should also be made clear that many of the issues raised by the Ombudsman have already been identified by the government,” Mr Garrett said.

"We know there is room for improvement in some of the administrative aspects of the scheme, and work is already under way," he said in a statement.

Recommendations of Ombudsman Allan Asher included asking the federal government to mandate a minimum qualification for school chaplains.

As well, Mr Asher said the education department must improve its management of school chaplaincy, review the chaplaincy code of conduct and clarify what would be considered a breach of the requirement that chaplains not proselytise.

Complaint procedures need to be strengthened, Mr Asher recommended and guidelines should more clearly define the terms "chaplain" and "pastoral care".

Mr Asher said his review was of the program's implementation and that its merit was for the government to consider.

The report was prompted by the Northern Territory ombudsman's investigation into complaints about the chaplaincy program in five NT schools.

Scripture Union Queensland chief executive Tim Mander said he was confident the chaplaincy minimum requirement already set by his organisation would exceed any standard the government might put in place.

"Most of the things that he's mentioned have already been dealt with by the major employing agencies," he said.

Mr Mander said school chaplains had strong community support and he would welcome any clarification of guidelines that would give the public more confidence in chaplains' work.

Greens education spokeswoman Sarah Hanson-Young supported the ombudsman's recommendations, saying the way the program was administered now could put young people at risk.

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