How schools apply for funding in 2020 to 2022

The National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) will be continuing in South Australian government schools for the 2019 to 2022 calendar years. 

South Australian government schools

Applications are closed.

Schools can contact the Engagement and Wellbeing directorate for information about the application process by emailing education.NSCP@sa.gov.au.

Non-government South Australian schools

Non-government schools can contact their relevant association to find out more about the funding and application processes.

Cyberbullying Professional Learning Package for NSCP pastoral care workers

Information about the Cyberbullying Professional Learning Package for pastoral care workers is available from the Australian Government Department of Education website.

National School Chaplaincy Program

The NSCP is voluntary program that supports schools to promote the wellbeing of students. 

The Australian Government currently provides $7.59 million each year to South Australian government, independent and Catholic schools for the NSCP through the project agreement. 

In South Australia, NSCP funded workers are called pastoral care workers.

Pastoral care workers are prohibited from proselytising under the project agreement. (Proselytising is defined as trying 'to persuade someone to share your beliefs, especially religious or political beliefs' - Collins Dictionary).

Each state is required to form a Cross Sector Panel to ensure the terms of the project agreement are met. 

The terms of reference defines the purpose and structure of the panel

How the program works in government schools

Detailed information about how the program works in South Australian government schools can be found in the National School Chaplaincy Program for government schools guideline. School principals, service providers and pastoral care workers should familiarise themselves with this document.

See the below list of NSCP schools and the service providers they use.

How schools can use funds

Government schools can use their:

• Resource Entitlement Statement (RES)
• South Australian Schools Investment Fund (SASIF) cash reserves.

They can use these funds to:

• purchase pastoral care services above the standard NSCP-funded hours
• pay for service provider fees, if any are charged.

Choosing a service provider

Funded schools can choose one of the existing service providers below to deliver pastoral care services in their school. They can also look at other organisations that meet the program's requirements.

• Centacare (Adelaide)
• Schools Ministry Group
• Uniting Country SA
• Your Dream School Programs.

What schools can ask about

As part of selecting a service provider, think about what your school needs.

Each service provider might have different:

• fee structures
• recruitment processes
• ways to deliver the program.

How to become a service provider

Organisations can contact the department at education.nscp@sa.gov.au about how to become a NSCP service provider.

Complaints management

The complaints management process for the NSCP in South Australian government schools is consistent with the department's complaints management process. A full description of this process for South Australian government schools is provided in the National School Chaplaincy Program for government schools guideline.