SECULAR EDUCATION | Rationalist Society of Australia

Queensland education minister confirms new funding will allow choice over chaplaincy

Si Gladman — Fri, 31 Jan 2025 02:42:06 +0000

Any new funding to boost student wellbeing in Queensland’s public schools will not be used exclusively for religious-based chaplaincy, the state’s newly appointed education minister has confirmed. In a letter to the Rationalist Society of Australia earlier this month, education minister John-Paul Langbroek (pictured) said that additional state government funding towards the National Student Wellbeing […]

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RSA calls on Opposition Leader to support removing religious indoctrination from schools

Si Gladman — Thu, 23 Jan 2025 23:35:48 +0000

The Rationalist Society of Australia has called on the Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, to support the removal of religious indoctrination, including scripture programs, from Australian classrooms. The RSA wrote to Mr Dutton this week after he declared that, if elected to government this year, the Coalition would demand “education not indoctrination” in schools. […]

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Non-religious students encouraged to use New South Wales’ new ‘religious intolerance’ helpline

Si Gladman — Wed, 15 Jan 2025 08:55:40 +0000

Non-religious students who are bullied because they do not participate in the Special Religious Education (SRE) program in New South Wales’ public schools can report these incidents to the Religious Intolerance Helpline. In a letter to the Rationalist Society of Australia, the state’s education department has confirmed that all members of school communities who experience […]

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RSA seeks answers about new Queensland government’s plan to “expand school chaplaincy”

Si Gladman — Fri, 29 Nov 2024 05:34:24 +0000

The Rationalist Society of Australia is seeking confirmation from the new Queensland government over whether it will use taxpayers’ money to fund religious-based discrimination by inserting chaplains into public schools. In a letter to Premier David Crisafulli (pictured) and education minister John-Paul Langbroek, RSA Executive Director Si Gladman raised concerns about the government’s plan to […]

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Christian SRE providers under “real and rising pressure” in New South Wales as public opposition mounts

Si Gladman — Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:05:55 +0000

Christian providers of Special Religious Education (SRE) in New South Wales claim to be under “real and rising pressure”, as political opposition increases and school communities seek reform of the increasingly unpopular program. As part of yet another fundraising push, Youthworks is sounding the alarm that “SRE is under pressure in schools across our state”. […]

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Minns government fails to respond to claims about teaching of caste in Hindu scripture classes

Si Gladman — Thu, 24 Oct 2024 08:02:10 +0000

The Minns government appears to have turned a blind eye to claims that the discriminatory caste system is being taught in New South Wales public schools as part of Hindu religious classes. The state’s education minister, Prue Car (pictured), and education department have failed to respond to the Rationalist Society of Australia’s question about whether […]

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Liberal MP calls for state funding of Christian scripture group

Si Gladman — Tue, 22 Oct 2024 00:11:44 +0000

A Liberal member of the Victorian Parliament has called for state government funding to boost the activities of Christian missionary agency Korus Connect, which delivers scripture classes to a rapidly declining number of school students. In a speech to parliament last week, Ann-Marie Hermans (pictured) MLC said Korus Connect required “continued financial support” to help […]

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Public schools choosing secular wellbeing roles over religious chaplaincy in New South Wales

Si Gladman — Thu, 17 Oct 2024 08:26:10 +0000

New South Wales’ public schools are opting for secular wellbeing officers more than religious chaplains under the Albanese government’s National Student Wellbeing Program. According to data provided to the Rationalist Society of Australia (RSA) by the state’s Department of Education, as of April this year 57 per cent of 233 schools that had engaged a […]

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