Debate resumed, on motion by Mr Randall:

That the House:

(1)

notes that in 2007, the Coalition Government initiated the National Schools Chaplaincy Program (NSCP);

(2)

acknowledges the important role of school chaplains in supporting the personal, spiritual and emotional wellbeing of students at schools throughout Australia;

(3)

recognises that school chaplains provide essential services to students of all ages, staff and the wider school community, assisting them resolve emotional, social and everyday issues and build relationships;

(4)

notes that the Government’s failure to renew existing contracts awarded under the NSCP will impact student welfare, personal and academic development and place additional pressure on school resources; and

(5)

calls on the Government to:

(a)

extend the NSCP beyond the life of the existing contracts due to expire in 2010;

(b)

support an extension of the program to make chaplains available to more schools; and

(c)

acknowledge that failing to renew funding for this widely accessed service will disadvantage students.

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