On 7 September 2011, the Minister announced that the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program (NSCSWP) will be expanded to fund up to 1000 additional schools. School communities will be able to choose to employ either a chaplain or a secular student welfare worker. The program will also be strengthened with the introduction of minimum qualifications, benchmark standards for service providers, and improvements to the complaints management system.
Expansion Applications now open
Applications are now open for funding under the expansion of the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program.
All applications for funding under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program will be lodged electronically via the Internet. Applications will only be accepted if submitted online, and a receipt of the submission will be issued automatically.
Schools can apply for a maximum of $60 000 over three years to establish or expand chaplaincy or student welfare services in their school community.
Priority will be given to schools located within a disadvantaged, regional or remote location. In recognition of program support required by such schools, an additional 20 per cent loading to a maximum of $72 000 over three years will be available to all remote and very remote schools, as measured by the Accessibility/Remoteness Index of Australia (ARIA).
Schools will be required to provide evidence and results of consultation with their parent body or equivalent, demonstrating the support for the appointment of a chaplain or student welfare worker at their school.
Funding under the expansion will be in accordance with the new Guidelines. Applicants already in receipt of funding are not eligible to bid for funding under the expansion round.
The expansion round will be conducted in two opening periods
- Opening 1 opens 20 October 2011 12.00 pm EST and must be submitted by 8.00 pm EST on 22 December 2011.
- Opening 2 opens 5 January 2012 12.00 pm EST and must be submitted by 8.00 pm EST on 2 March 2012.
Applicants will be able submit their application during either period. The final day to lodge Applications is Friday 2 March 2012, 8.00 pm AEST. Applications are available online through the School Entry Point system. Applicants can access the NSCSWP IT Registration Guide to assist in the process.
An application guide is available for your information. This guide is intended to assist schools who not are currently receiving funding under the National School Chaplaincy Program 2007 to 2011 to apply for funding under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program 2012 to 2014.
Applicants should note that in either opening period, once the closing date has passed, applications are not able to be withdrawn. During both opening periods, applicants are able to withdraw their applications and re-submit if they so wish.
Applicants may only submit one application in total.
Schools are reminded to refrain from including identifying personal or confidential information to demonstrate the support and/or need for the Program services in their school within their application process.
This new text should be paragraph 12. Two seperate paragraphs should follow re for further detail refer to guidelines etc and the FAQs.
For further detail please refer to the Guidelines or contact the department at 1300 363 079 or email schoolchaplaincyandwelfare@deewr.gov.au.
Frequently asked questions (FAQs) will be available shortly.
Funding Recipients Expression of Interest now open
Expressions of interest for potential Funding Recipients under the expansion of the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program are now open. Interested organisations can submit an expression of interest online and expressions of interest close at 5:00 pm Friday 16 December 2011 AEST.
Expressions of interest are sought from organisations around Australia to deliver community-driven National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program services in Australian schools.
- Potential organisations will be required to enter into a Funding Agreement with DEEWR as a Funding Recipient.
- Funding Recipient responsibilities include financial management of the service for the school, working together with school principals to deliver the program, recruiting chaplains and/or student welfare workers and monitoring them.
- Funding recipients must be incorporated under Commonwealth, state or territory law.
- The expression of interest process provides an opportunity for organisations to register their interest only. It is not for the purpose of submission of proposals, nor does the registration guarantee a funding agreement with DEEWR.
- It is not a requirement of schools to use one of these organisations as their funding recipient, nor does DEEWR endorse any particular organisation.
- It is the responsibility of the school to ensure that the type of worker engaged by the funding recipient (whether a chaplain or a student welfare worker) has the personal and professional characteristics that are appropriate for the range of services that have been agreed through a process of school community consultation.
- All organisations who have registered as a potential funding recipient and who have met the eligibility requirements will be listed on the DEEWR website (see below for current lists by State or Territory). This list will be updated regularly over the course of the Expression of Interest process. Schools seeking funding under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program will be able to refer to this list to identify a suitable funding recipient.
Please click on a State or Territory for a list of organisations who have expressed an interest in becoming a funding recipient under the National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare Program.
Please be aware that in some states and territories, the state/territory government education authority has an agreement in place with a preferred provider for chaplaincy services in government schools. The agreements do not necessarily preclude a similar agreement being developed with any other group. If your organisation is looking to deliver chaplaincy services in a particular area, it is advisable to contact the state government education authority in that area. The agreements do not relate to the delivery of student welfare services.
The ‘Responsibilities of Funding Recipients’ Powerpoint presentation from the Information sessions held in the week of 14 November 2011, is now available. Questions raised during the sessions are now available on the NSCSWP Frequently Asked Questions page.