Terry Young (Longman, Liberal National Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Recently I attended a fundraising dinner for the school chaplain, Nancy Jones, at my old school, Dakabin State High. North Pine Baptist Church, at Kallangur, hosted the evening, and there were many past students and teachers present as well as the current principal, Pete Keen, and one of the deputy principals, Rae Ellis. Thank you to those who contributed to the night with their stories and by opening up about the struggles they faced at high school and the positive impact the school chaplain had in helping them through that difficult period.

Longman is truly blessed to have wonderful chaplains throughout the majority of its 44 schools. These committed individuals provide a safe pair of ears for teenagers to confide in on matters or issues they may have difficulty talking to their teachers or parents about. Many also provide practical assistance, running initiatives such as brekkie club, which feeds kids that, for various reasons, may come to school hungry—not to mention the staff and parents they care for as well.

These selfless individuals are probably the lowest-paid workers in the country and receive a small amount of government funding which funds around 1½ days per week. Many chaplains are at their schools for much more than this and rely on donations from generous private donors—which have unfortunately shrunk by 30 per cent since the tax deductibility of donations was removed two years ago when a new government was elected. Others choose to donate their time, and many have quit much higher-paying jobs to take up this calling. As I said on the night, although they cannot speak about their faith their actions will show the love of Christ far more than any words ever will. On behalf of myself and the lives you've touched, thank you.

So many of our children and teenagers don't fit our current education system. Some have medical conditions, some are disengaged because of current or past abusive situations in their lives, and some are just not wired to learn through our current academic systems in mainstream schools. In Longman we have two schools in Caboolture to help deal with these disengaged students: Alta-1 and Horizons College. Both these schools target a different type of disengaged student, and both do an amazing job. Their problem is one of capacity to handle demand.

These schools provide not only education for students, many of whom would otherwise be on a downward spiral; their higher teacher-to-student ratios mean these often neglected children are given attention. It is of great concern to me that these schools are having to refuse entry to our younger generation because they simply don't have the room. When I visit these schools and talk to the students, they tell me how much they are now enjoying school compared to when they were in a mainstream school that didn't suit them—which is music to my ears.

To those students who are academic and suit the mainstream system, I say: good luck to you, and I hope you go on to great things. But surely we must ensure all our kids are given every opportunity to flourish and become the best version of themselves. Keep up the great work, Alta-1 and Horizons College.