Most Australian schools employing student welfare officers hired religious chaplains, figures released this week show.
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After the government-funded scheme to employ chaplains in schools attracted outcry, the scheme was changed last year to allow schools to hire secular welfare officers under an expanded program that began this year.
Before the change, just 1 per cent of funded places were filled by non-religious workers. This year, 1000 more schools will join the scheme, 65 per cent opting for a chaplain.
But the scheme is still dominated by religious chaplains. Of the existing 2555 schools taking part in the program, 2265 schools have a religious chaplain, 220 have secular welfare workers and - the Department of Education says - 70 are ''undecided''.
The Australian Secular Lobby's national director, Hugh Wilson, labelled the changes a ''sham'', saying the secular aspect to welfare workers' jobs was not enforced and that religious groups continued to apply for, and be granted, supposedly secular welfare positions.
For example, one religious group's website states that it is seeking chaplains and student well-being workers for schools. It says a student well-being worker is required to have a tertiary qualification in youth work, community services or Christian studies.
''It wouldn't matter what you called them, but what they're not is a secular youth worker,'' Mr Wilson said.
But Education Minister Peter Garrett said it was up to schools to decide the providers that supply their chaplaincy or welfare services, as well as the sort of services they provided.
''The strengthened guidelines make it crystal clear that student welfare workers are there to deliver a service which is secular, and geared to the needs of students,'' he said.
''Schools are able to choose from a list of providers, which includes non-religious affiliated organisations, and there is no obligation on schools to use any particular provider.
''There are some religious providers that are supplying both chaplains and student welfare workers, and schools working with these providers are able to chose either option.''
Schools receive up to $72,000 over three years to employ chaplains or welfare workers, and Mr Garrett said priority in the current funding round was given to schools in regional and remote areas, and in disadvantaged communities.
The High Court is yet to hand down its findings on a constitutional challenge that contends the scheme violates religious freedom protections in the constitution, and exceeded Commonwealth funding powers.
Meanwhile, the federal government has announced that another 1000 schools, including 11 in the ACT, will get a new chaplain or student welfare worker. Sacred Heart Primary School in Pearce, Charnwood-Dunlop School, Cranleigh School in Holt, Dickson College, Farrer Primary, Gungahlin College, Kaleen High, Kingsford Smith School in Holt, Latham Primary, Blue Gum Community School in Hackett and Orana Steiner School in Weston will each get $60,000 to pay for the program.