Territory’s ‘needs are higher’ as calls grow for student welfare funding

The Territory’s ‘needs are higher’, says one chaplaincy leader who is calling for greater student welfare support.

Funding is the “biggest obstacle” facing student wellbeing officers, says a school chaplaincy manager.

The statement comes after it was revealed the Territory receive less than 1 per cent of funds from the Federal government’s National Student Wellbeing Program – a program funded at more than $60 million a year.

By comparison, Tasmania receive more than four times than the Territory.

Kylie Garrett, NT manager of chaplaincy group Scripture Union, said the Territory was not receiving the support it needed for the challenges it faces.

“Funding is a big issue, the (Territory) only gets 0.8 per cent of the NSWP national funding,” Ms Garrett said.

“So we only have 23 schools (across the Territory) that can gain that assistance.

“Our population is lower than most other places but our needs are higher.”

Ms Garrett said schools who had school chaplains valued their contribution.

“Chaplains are very loved and valued by their school communities here in the NT,” she said.

“Every school that we have a chaplain in, I have met with their principles and all of them see great value in the chaplaincy service and in the chaplain that we’ve provided them with and find them to be a great benefit to their community.”

Ms Garrett said Scripture Union had seven chaplains serving in the Territory and only one in a remote region – a situation she hopes to build upon.

“More chaplains (in the Territory) is my great hope,” she said.

“(Schools) can also get some secular wellbeing officers with the NSWP funding so some schools are choosing to do that as well.”

Distinct to wellbeing officers, chaplains provide pastoral care and are typically associated with a faith-based institution.

“(Chaplains are) solely there to meet the wellbeing needs of that community and to serve them and to encourage them,” Ms Garrett said.

“They’re not there to try and persuade anyone in any religious way to any specific faith even – they are just there to come alongside and serve their community.”

A Department of Education spokesperson told the NT News schools had “flexibility” to “support the needs of students”.

“The Department of Education can advise that schools have the flexibility within their school global budgets to use school funds to support a range of programs to support the needs of students.”