With the extension and expansion of the Program, following the extensive consultation process, a number of changes are being introduced to strengthen current arrangements.

These changes include

• Schools will be allowed to choose whether they wish to employ a chaplain or a secular student welfare worker,
  
• The name of the program will be changed to National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program to reflect the new choice school communities will have,
  
• New minimum qualification requirements for all new chaplains and student welfare workers will be introduced. The minimum qualification will be a Certificate IV in Youth Work, Certificate IV in Pastoral Care or equivalent.
  
• All existing chaplains who do not meet new minimum qualifications requirements will be required to complete two units on referral and working effectively in mental health. The Department will pay the cost of the units and assist existing unqualified chaplains or secular workers to enrol in and complete the units.  
  
• Minimum provider standards to ensure
• increased national consistency in the implementation of the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program
• greater quality assurance that the services provided under the program are delivered appropriately and that adequate controls are in place
• responsiveness to feedback through the consultation process for increased accountability measures 
• The complaints procedures will be amended to strengthen management processes and transparency and ensure schools are responding quickly to students’ or parents’ concerns.
  
• The maximum grant for schools in remote locations will be increased to $24 000 per year to reflect the higher cost of delivering services in these areas.

These changes are being made after a lengthy consultation process with schools, providers and the community. The changes also respond to the Commonwealth Ombudsman’s report into the administration of the Program which made a number of recommendations about how the Program could be improved to make sure it is best meeting the needs of students and school communities

The national consultation process included two stages:

• Stage One – Stakeholder Meetings
• Stage Two – Public Discussion Paper

The first stage of the national consultation process involved meetings with key stakeholders around Australia.

A Discussion Paper was developed on the basis of perspectives and issues raised in the stakeholder meetings. The Discussion Paper provides an overview of the information provided and proposes options for the future.

• NSCP Discussion Paper 2011 ( PDF 415KB | RTF 592KB)
  

Responses to the Discussion Paper were invited from all interested parties and closed 18 March 2011. All comments received were collated and analysed for the development of future program arrangements.

The following document represents stakeholder feedback received during Stages 1 and 2 of the consultation process:

• Consultation Process and Outcomes for the National School Chaplaincy Program
  ( PDF 115KB | RTF 180KB)
  

All responses received during Stage 2 will be published here, except where the submitting individual or organisation did not consent to publication.