FUNDING cuts to the chaplaincy program at Bridgetown High School could mean the loss of the school chaplain.
School Chaplain Carol Stokes announced last week at the Bridgetown Primary School Christmas concert that her funding at the high school had been reduced and she was in desperate need of assistance with accommodation and financial support to ensure she could maintain her position in the town.
The funding for her service at the primary school has been maintained, but she will not able to remain in town without further funding.
Ms Stokes spends three days a week at Bridgetown High School and two days a week at Bridgetown Primary School, and has been an invaluable resource at both schools and within the community.
She has set up a 'Hang Out' room at the high school and is in the process of doing the same at the primary school.
She has also set up the well utilized 'Tuesday Morning Breakfast Club' at the primary school and has organised many school outings and visits, such as to Geegelup Hostel, so as to encourage inter-generational contact.
She provides special workshops for groups of students, helping them with communication skills, friendship building and self-esteem and development of healthy values
The National School Chaplaincy Programme (NSCP) 2015-2018 is an Australian Government-funded initiative to assist in the support of the emotional wellbeing of students by providing funding for school chaplaincy services. The NSCP provides all schools with the opportunity to apply for funding.
A recent high court decision determined that the NSCP would no longer be delivered directly to schools from the Federal Government, but would be delivered to states and territories so they could determine which schools may benefit from the program.
Premier Barnett advised school leaders last week that 247 public schools in WA would get a chaplain, down from about 345 this year and the number of private schools getting a chaplain would increase from about 89 to 114.
Under the agreement, States had to set up a panel from public, Catholic and independent sectors to select which schools would receive up to $20,000 a year for a chaplain.
The WA panel decided that funding should be allocated based on the percentage of the total student population in each sector. National data on community socio-economic advantage was also taken into account.
If schools have not been successful in receiving funding for the 2015-2016 funding period, they are being encouraged to find alternative ways to find the funding, and can also use flexible funding under the new student-centered funding model if they chose to.
Bridgetown High School Principal Stephen Bullied said it was disappointing that such an important service has been cut. He noted that to retain Ms Stokes’s services the community will need to come up with $24,000 per year.
"Chaplaincy programs have been making a difference to the educational outcomes of students and the wellbeing of WA school communities since 1982," Mr Bullied said.
"Our first ever Chaplain, Carol Stokes, was appointed in 2012. We are now looking for community support to ensure that we can continue the service."
Bridgetown Primary School Principal Judith Dadson said Ms Stokes had done an outstanding job at the Primary School and was instrumental in setting up the breakfast club and organising mentors at the school.
"Chaplain Carol has been such an important part of our school community and the wider community, providing support to students across both schools," Mrs Dadson said.
"We are happy to have maintained our funding for Carol, it would be great to be able to source further funding so as to ensure she remains in the community to continue supporting our students at both primary and secondary levels."
Bridgetown High School Board Chairman Patrick Steinbacher said it was disappointing to see further cuts from the state government affecting local schools and such important programs as the School Chaplaincy Program.
"Chaplain Carol has been providing an amazing service in our community for the past few years, we really need to find ways to support her financially so as to maintain her position," Mr Steinbacher said. "She provides breakfasts to those who come to school without having breakfast at home, she helps keep an eye on the students who have troubles at home, and she links people to local support services and facilities that may make their lives easier.
"As a parent I am grateful that my child has the opportunity to reach out if needed to a chaplain who is present in the school to talk to. With all the issues in our community such as drugs, abuse, housing issues, which may result in suicide and mental health issues, I think it is money well spent."
Funding for the Chaplaincy program is sourced through commonwealth funding as well as sponsorship from local religious groups and community organisations, Parents and Citizen's Associations, fundraising and donations from parents, individuals or local business.
"Bridgetown High School was provided with two days funding to cover Chaplain Carol this year and the school was funding an extra day to ensure she could remain in town. The two days of funding from the government has now been cut and we are very keen to find alternative options to ensure she can stay," Mr Steinbacher said.
"We are now looking for local business support to help with this, perhaps by providing assistance with rent, or financial donations to assist Chaplain Carol's wages."
Ms Stokes is employed via Youth Care, which has a sub-group in Bridgetown. The Bridgetown Youth Care group has representatives from the Uniting, Catholic, Family and Anglican churches and the Church of Christ. Bridgetown Youth Care representative Yuko Tonai-Moore said next year would be a challenging year for many students, particularly with the changes of sending year seven students to high school.
"Even more support is needed for our students next year, with such big changes for our younger students," Mrs Tonai-Moore said. "Carol is an integral part of supporting students through major change."
All donations are welcomed and can be made to Youth Care. For more information please contact Youthcare on 08 93765000 or email: finance@youthcare.org.au
Yuko Tonai-Moore can be contacted for further enquiries or to enquire about making donations on 0427 614 458.