Information for principals
What am I required to do once I have received a written request from a religious leader or an accredited representative of a faith group to have right-of-entry to the school?
You are required to:
- issue a letter of approval to religious leaders and accredited representatives to become approved instructors
- issue an identification card each year for all approved instructors in the school
- monitor the currency of each approved instructor's blue card
- make relevant policies of Education Queensland, which are obligatory for all volunteers providing programs, available to all coordinators
- inform parents through the school's Newsletter when a new faith group offers a program at the school; or a faith group's program which has been operating is discontinued
- maintain currency of information for parents about religious instruction programs on the school's website and in the school's prospectus.
How will I know a person is a religious leader?
You can determine if a person can be referred to as a religious leader by considering the nature of the faith group and assessing whether the person has at least one of the following:
- is officially recognised by ordination, or other admission or commissioning (where the particular religion does not require a religious leader to be formally ordained, the person is authorised to carry out the duties of a religious leader based on a specific level of theological or other relevant training)
- has a position distinct from that of the ordinary adherents of the faith group
- is recognised as having authority in matters of doctrine or religious practice
- is authorised to discharge the duties of a religious or spiritual leader, including the conduct of religious worship and other religious ceremonies
- is an acknowledged leader in the spiritual affairs of the faith group.
All faith groups that have right-of-entry are able to provide religious instruction under the terms of legislation.
How will I know the person wanting to be an approved instructor for a faith group is an accredited member of the faith group?
Each religious leader determines the qualifications or qualities necessary for a person to represent the faith group and who are accredited members of the faith group.
A person is an accredited representative of a faith group if you receive either:
- a request in writing from the religious leader seeking approval for the person to become an approved instructor
- a request in writing from the person, seeking approval to become an approved instructor, which includes written documentation from the religious leader or religious authority verifying that the person making the request is an accredited representative of the faith group.
How do I facilitate the religious instruction program/s in the school?
To facilitate the program/s of religious instruction you:
- keep a record of all approved instructors who visit the school for religious instruction
- request Form E from religious leaders who participate in a cooperative arrangement for religious instruction
- request copies of programs of instruction from all faith groups providing programs in the school as needed
- provide parents with RIS Form C1 or C2 from the religious instruction policy to complete when finalising the enrolment process at the school or upon request
- allocate students to religious instruction classes in accordance with information given by parents
- maintain duty-of-care for all students during the time of religious instruction
- arrange a program of alternative instruction for students not participating in religious instruction.
- monitor alternate school activities/instruction to ensure students attending religious instruction do not experience educational disadvantage.
How do I facilitate the program of chaplaincy in the school, ensuring that parental/guardian consent is considered?
To facilitate the program of chaplaincy services you:
- publish in the school prospectus or equivalent document/s, on the school's website and through a range of school materials and update at least annually:
- information about chaplaincy programs in state schools including models of chaplaincy services
- overview of the school's chaplaincy program current for the year, including specific activities where these are planned
- information about parents' rights regarding their children's participation in activities within the chaplaincy program
- develop and make available to all parents or guardians at enrolment, upon the introduction of a new chaplaincy program, and on request, a consent form for the Voluntary Student Participation in Program of Chaplaincy Services which outlines the school's chaplaincy program so that they can:
- know the range of activities (with and without religious, spiritual and/or ethical content) within the school's chaplaincy program
- make an informed decision regarding their child's participation or non-participation in the chaplaincy program overall and in specific activities that are part of that program
- withdraw their consent for their child's participation in the chaplaincy program overall or in specific activities that are part of that program by advising the school in writing
- inform parents or guardians through the school's newsletter and website when new chaplaincy activities or specific events are to occur
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