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Information for parents

Will my child/ren be able to receive religious instruction from their faith group while attending a state school?

On enrolment the principal will advise you if approved instructors from your faith group have right-of-entry to the school and deliver a program of religious instruction. Also the school's website will have information about the programs of religious instruction which occur at the school and the faith groups involved.

If your faith group does not provide instruction you can advise your local religious leader. It is a decision of the religious leader to determine if the faith group has the capacity to provide religious instruction at the school.

How will my child be allocated to a religious instruction class?

The principal will allocate your child to a class on the basis of written documentation provided by you.

In finalising the enrolment process at the school you will be given RIS Form C1 or C2 - Parent Notice for Religious Instruction in School Hours to complete. This form enables you to:

identify a religion
Indicate the faith group of which your child is a member. Your child will attend the religious instruction program provided by the faith group. When the faith group you have identified is participating in a cooperative arrangement for religious instruction, your child will be allocated to the cooperative class; or
request withdrawal
Make a written request that your child be withdrawn from instruction provided by the faith group of which you have indicated your child is a member; or
give written consent
Make a written request that your child attends a particular program of religious instruction when your child is not a member of the faith group providing religious instruction. This consent is also required when your child is not a member of any of the faith groups providing a cooperative arrangement for religious instruction; or
give no religious identity or no written consent
Provide no information. A principal will not allocate your child to any religious instruction class.

What happens if my child does not participate in religious instruction?

The principal of a state school must arrange that your child receives other instruction in a separate location during the time period arranged for religious instruction. The principal will be able to tell you what this instruction will be.

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