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 Program (NSWP) would allow schools a choice of either a chaplain or a wellbeing officer.
RSA Executive Director Si Gladman had sought answers from the new Liberal-National government late last year after a media report revealed that the government would “expand school chaplaincy” as part of an effort to “crack down on school bullies”.
In his letter, Mr Langbroek said chaplains and wellbeing officers were optional for schools and were required to “show respect for all religious and non-religious beliefs and worldviews represented in the school community”.
“Any proposed additional funding for these services will continue to allow schools a choice of a chaplain or student wellbeing officer,” he said.
The Albanese government, after taking office in 2022, replaced the controversial National School Chaplaincy Program with the NSWP and introduced a new requirement to allow schools the option of choosing a chaplain or a secular wellbeing officer.
In 2023, however, the RSA revealed evidence that Queensland schools were pressuring their school communities to accept the continuation of chaplains through religious labor-hire firms that recruit staff based on religious credentials.
In New South Wales, as of April last year 57 per cent of 233 schools that had engaged a provider had opted for the secular option. The RSA is not yet aware of the equivalent data for Queensland, but at least six of 16 providers for the NSWP in the state appear to be recruiting secular wellbeing officers.
Speaking today, Mr Gladman said that Mr Langbroek now needed to ensure that school communities could make an informed choice.
“Governments should be putting the needs of children first, instead of the needs of religious interest groups, and they should be funding secular and professional wellbeing support in schools,” he said.
“If governments are going to continue to support the current NSWP, allowing for a choice of a chaplain or wellbeing officer, then they should at least ensure that parents and carers can make an informed and free choice, without undue pressure.
“When school communities have that choice, they are rejecting the funding of religious agents under discriminatory religious hiring practices and are, instead, choosing secular professional wellbeing support.”
The RSA has previously informed the Queensland education department and the state’s Human Rights Commission that the ongoing religious-based discrimination in the chaplaincy roles was in breach of the state’s Anti-Discrimination Act.
Mr Gladman informed Mr Langbroek that the Human Rights Commissioner Scott McDougall had told the RSA that he would make representations to the education department to “address potential contraventions” of the Act.
In 2022, a provider of chaplains, Scripture Union, asked the state government to make changes to the Anti-Discrimination Act to allow it to legally “recruit Christian employees” for school chaplaincy roles – even though it had already been doing this.
Religious labour-hire firms, also known as Accredited Employing Authorities (AEAs), require, for example, candidates to be “inspired by their Christian faith”, to “model the love and compassion of Jesus Christ” and have an endorsement letter from their church.
In his letter, Mr Langbroek did not address the RSA’s concerns about the discrimination and likely breach of the Anti-Discrimination Act. However, he said that the Department of Education had reviewed previous complaints and had not identified any breaches of the AEA contract or the federal funding arrangement.Under the NSWP Project Agreement, there is no difference in the job descriptions of chaplain and student wellbeing officer, and the program is specifically “not a religious program”. However, chaplains are still required to have the endorsement of religious institutions.
We actively advocate for secular reform of the school chaplaincy program. Follow our campaign on the school chaplaincy issue here.
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Si Gladman is Executive Director of the Rationalist Society of Australia. He also hosts ‘The Secular Agenda’ podcast.
Image: John-Paul Langbroek (Facebook)
Letter from Queensland education minister John-Paul Langbroek, 21 January 2025
Dear Mr Gladman,
Thank you for your email dated 28 November 2024 to the Honourable David Crisafulli MP, Premier and Minister and Veterans, and myself regarding chaplaincy services in Queensland schools. As this matter falls within my portfolio responsibilities, the Premier has forwarded your email to me for consideration. I appreciate the time you have taken to share your thoughts and views on this matter.
As a member of the Crisafulli Government, I am especially focused on advancing this Government’s plan for Queensland’s future to create a strong, sustainable education system that serves every Queenslander.
The Department of Education (DoE) is committed to providing a high-quality education for all students in Queensland state schools. As you may be aware, chaplains and student wellbeing officers are optional services in schools and are required to be inclusive of, and show respect for, all religious and non-religious beliefs and worldviews represented in the school community. Any proposed additional funding for these services will continue to allow schools a choice of a chaplain or student wellbeing officer.
DoE contracts with Accredited Employing Authorities (AEA), the organisations approved to provide chaplaincy and student wellbeing officer services, reflect the program requirements of the Australian Government’s National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP). This includes the requirement for a chaplain to be endorsed by a recognised or accepted religious institution, and that chaplains and student wellbeing officers can be of any faith or of no faith.
While recruitment practices are managed by AEA they are contractually required to comply with NSWP program requirements, and state and federal laws, including the Anti-Discrimination Act 1991. I understand that DoE has reviewed concerns previously raised by the Rationalist Society of Australia and did not identify any breaches of the AEA contract or Federal Funding Australia.
If you have concerns with the operation or requirements of the NSWP, you may wish to raise your concerns with the Australian Government Department of Education. Contact details are available at https://www.education.qov.au/about-departnient/contact-us.
If you would like further information or assistance, please contact Ms Claire Cummins, Director, Disability Inclusion and Student Services on [details removed].
Thank you for bringing your organisation’s services to my attention.
Yours sincerely
JOHN-PAUL LANGBROEK MP
Minister for Education and the Arts