School chaplaincy program

Schools do not employ their own chaplains or student wellbeing officers. Schools can choose any service provider or one with an agreement in place. These providers are shown in Table 1. 

Table 1: Service providers with an agreement in place

Service provider	Chaplain or student wellbeing officer	Location
Albany Youth Support Association (AYSA)	Student wellbeing officer	Albany, Broomehill-Tambellup, Cranbrook, Denmark, Gnowangerup, Jerramungup, Katanning, Kojonup and Mt Barker
Anglicare WA	Student wellbeing officer	Metropolitan and regional areas Remote and very remote areas
Choyces	Student wellbeing officer	City of Mandurah, Shires of Boddington, Murray, Serpentine-Jarrahdale and Waroona
onPsych	Chaplain and student wellbeing officer	Metropolitan and regional areas Remote and very remote areas
SU Australia	Chaplain and student wellbeing officer	Metropolitan and regional areas Remote and very remote areas
YouthCARE	Chaplain	Metropolitan and regional areas Remote and very remote areas

 

There are state and national programs in place to fund chaplaincy and student wellbeing officer services for schools in Western Australia. For schools to be eligible for funding, they must meet specific requirements.

Western Australian Government chaplaincy and student wellbeing officer program

The chaplaincy and student wellbeing officer program is an initiative funded by the Western Australian Government to support the emotional wellbeing of students. This program was developed in response to increased demand for services from Western Australian public schools.

Australian Government National Student Wellbeing Program

The Australian Government National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) is now known as the National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP). The project agreement for the National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP) is an agreement between the state and the Commonwealth of Australia. The aim of the program is to deliver student wellbeing services to Australian schools. The agreement sets out specific roles and responsibilities and financial arrangements.

Key changes to the program include:

• renaming the NSCP to the NSWP
• the option for schools to select a chaplain or student wellbeing officer
• a broadened definition of chaplain to include chaplains of any faith or no faith
• recognition of a wider range of minimum qualifications and competencies
• emphasising the program offers a complementary non-religious service in schools
• the limitation of out-of-scope services that chaplains and student wellbeing officers may provide.

Participating schools are eligible to receive up to $20,280 in metropolitan or regional areas and $24,336 in remote or very remote areas.

Approved 2024 to 2027 funding distribution

Table 2: Approved 2024 to 2027 funding distribution per annum

School sectors	Student distribution	School funding figures	Administrative funding figures	Total annual funding
Public	66%	$4,972,410	$180,900	$5,153,310
Independent	18%	$1,351,067	$25,500	$1,376,567
Catholic	16%	$1,172,623	$25,500	$1,198,123
Total	100%	$7,496,100	$231,900	$7,728,000

Cross-sector panel

Table 3 shows the panel membership of the cross-sector panel which selects and prioritises schools for funding.  Each education sector runs their own application process to identify schools to be funded through the NSWP, from 2024 onwards.

Panel membership

Table 3: cross-sector panel membership

Representative	Nominee	Education sector
Executive Director, Statewide Services WA Department of Education	Assistant Executive Director, Service Delivery (Chair)	Public
Executive Director Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia (AISWA)	Lead Psychologist	AISWA
Executive Director Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA)	Team Leader	CEWA
Principal Consultant Statewide Services	Secretariat	Public

Terms of reference

In accordance with their role, the cross-sector panel:

• ensures delivery of all aspects of the project agreement
• ensures appropriate processes are in place to meet the conditions of funding and distribute funding to schools for the purposes of the agreement
• publishes guidelines and other relevant documentation ensure information is available on relevant websites
• reports on deliverable outputs.

Participation in the school chaplaincy and student wellbeing officer program by public schools and students is voluntary. Parents can withdraw their child from the program by advising the principal. If a parent chooses to opt out of the program their child will not have any formal pastoral care contact with the school chaplain or student wellbeing officer.

Schools must ensure processes are in place to meet the expectations of parents. Schools may provide information about the chaplaincy and student wellbeing program to students throughout the year.

For a list of WA public schools funded in 2024 through the Western Australian Government chaplaincy and student wellbeing officer program, refer to In-school State-funded Chaplaincy Program.

For a list of WA schools funded in 2024 through the National Student Wellbeing Program, refer to:

• National Student Wellbeing Program - WA public schools
• National Student Wellbeing Program - Catholic Education Western Australia schools
• National Student Wellbeing Program - Association of Independent Schools Western Australia schools.

Under the school chaplaincy and student wellbeing program, chaplains and student wellbeing officers may be of any faith or no faith. They must meet certain requirements including having one of the following recognised qualifications:

• Certificate IV in Youth Work
• Certificate IV in Pastoral Care
• Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care
• an equivalent qualification consistent with the qualifications above, which must include either:
  • formal units of competencies in mental health and making appropriate referrals, providing pastoral care or working with youth
  • formal units of competencies in mental health and making appropriate referrals, and demonstrated competency in providing pastoral care or working with youth.

In addition, chaplains and student wellbeing officers must:

• have a Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Check
• undertake professional learning which includes
  • the eSafety Commissioner's eSafety training for National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP)
  • our Department's Child Protection and Abuse Prevention professional learning course
• not proselytise (as in, convert or attempt to convert someone from one religion, belief, or opinion to another) respect, accept and be sensitive to other people's views, values and beliefs
• comply with state laws and policies in relation to child protection
• have regard to the National Framework for Protecting Australia's Children
• have regard to the relevant state responses to the recommendations from the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Abuse (Volume 6 – Making institutions child safe, Volume 10 – Children with harmful sexual behaviours and Volume 13 – Schools).