National School Chaplaincy Program

In reply to the Hon. T.A. FRANKS (6 June 2018).

The Hon. R.I. LUCAS (Treasurer): I have been advised of the following:

1. Program monitoring of the National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) is undertaken by the Department for Education within a risk management framework.

The department conducts a range of monitoring activities to verify that the NSCP services are delivered in accordance with the conditions of the project and goods and services agreements. Monitoring activities include:

responding to concerns from members of the school community or seeking feedback from them to verify participation and progress

examining school and service provider documentation associated with claims for payment

conducting site visits to schools and service providers to review compliance with the project and goods and services agreements; and

supporting structures such as the code of conduct. Site visits also provide an opportunity for principals to express their satisfaction or concerns with the program regarding implementation and service delivery.

The department also undertakes desktop monitoring to oversee program delivery. Schools and service providers may be asked to provide additional information throughout the funding period, including:

evidence of pastoral care worker minimum qualifications

evidence of child related employment screening clearances

certification forms signed by the principal against the program compliance requirements

copies of school complaints registers

follow up on resolution of complaints

verification of details that have been provided in financial acquittal reports; and

evidence of ongoing school community support for the program and the pastoral care worker via governing council meeting minutes and results of school parent surveys.

2. All complaints regarding the National School Chaplaincy Program or a pastoral care worker within the school should be directed to the school principal or a complaints officer designated by the school principal in the first instance as the school principal has an overall duty of care and is ultimately responsible for all students and staff within the school community.

Complaints are also able to be lodged with the service provider (according to the service provider's complaint process) who is the employer of the pastoral care worker providing the NSCP service in the school. School principals and service providers are expected to notify the department of complaints. School principals also notify the service provider (as the employer) of any complaints about the pastoral care worker/NSCP service in the school.

If a complainant is not satisfied that their complaint has been resolved at the local level, they can seek assistance from the Education Complaints Unit. The Education Complaints Unit is able to provide advice and support about issues behind a complaint, advocate with local sites to ensure that all options for resolution have been explored and objectively review complaints that have not been resolved at the local level, including through a formal review.

Complainants are also able to raise any concerns that they may have with the South Australian Ombudsman.

3. Records of complaints made at the site level are recorded by the individual site and reported on in the sites annual report. The department does not centrally collate records of complaints made to individual sites.

When complaints are received by the Education Complaint Unit they are recorded by the main topic of the complaint. The Education Complaint data is reported in the Department for Education's annual report.

4. The minimum qualifications requirements under the NSCP are determined by the Commonwealth Department of Education and Training. Service providers must comply with these requirements to participate in the program.

The department does not assess minimum qualifications or equivalency of qualifications as the service provider employing the pastoral care worker is responsible for determining this. Service providers must retain sufficient evidence of the pastoral care workers qualifications including assessment of equivalency. This documentation can be requested by the department as part of its monitoring activities.

As a minimum, pastoral care workers are required to hold qualifications in Certificate IV in Youth Work, Certificate IV in Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care; or an equivalent (or higher) qualification.

These qualifications ensure that pastoral care workers have the appropriate skills and competencies to deliver NSCP services. Some pastoral care workers hold qualifications above the minimum requirements appropriate with wellbeing services such as social work and psychology.