Implementing religious instruction

Considerations for principals establishing and implementing religious instruction

The following are key areas for consideration when establishing and implementing religious instruction in a school. This is a guide only and other considerations may be important for your school community.

Communication

• Information on RI is available on the school's website, newsletter and/or parent handbook (DOCX, 314KB) and this information is reviewed (at least annually) for accuracy.
• Parents are provided with information on RI when they are completing the student enrolment application.
• Newsletter articles relating to religious instruction comply with the advertising and sponsorship procedures and do not contain any argument about religion.

Timing

• A time for RI is allocated and the religious instruction coordinator is informed.

Placement process

• Students (excluding Prep) are allocated to either RI or other instruction based on information in the completed Student Enrolment Application, unless parents have provided other written instructions.
• Religious instruction coordinators are provided with the necessary data (i.e. relevant numbers and names of participating students at each year level) to plan and schedule delivery of the authorised program. Such information is not to leave school grounds unless it is de-identified (i.e. consists of first names only).
  

Approval of religious instructors

• Applications (Form 1: Single/cooperative arrangement and religious instructor approval (DOC, 959KB) from religious leaders to provide religious instruction in a school are considered and filed appropriately.
• Form 2: Religious instructor approval (DOC, 315KB) is issued to each applying faith group if appropriate (i.e. authentic faith group with students enrolled at the school).
• A religious instruction coordinator is nominated for each single and/or cooperative arrangement.
• At the start of each year only approved religious instructors retain authorisation to deliver RI.
• Processes to withdraw approval of a religious instructor are initiated where conduct is inappropriate.

Induction of religious instructors and religious instruction coordinators

• Religious instructors' blue card (or exemption) is sighted to ensure currency. Note: The frequency exemption does not apply to religious instructors.
  
• Student Protection training, Code of Conduct training and school-based induction are provided and training dates noted in Accredited Representatives Training Register in Form 1: Single/cooperative arrangement and religious instructor approval (DOC, 959KB).
  

Authorised program/other instruction

• Authorised program/s of RI are reviewed to ensure they do not contravene legislation or departmental procedures, and are made available to the school community on request.
• Authorised program/s of RI may be reviewed to ensure they are developmentally appropriate for the intended target audience and feedback provided to the religious instruction coordinator.
• Separate learning spaces are allocated for each RI program (not in the same room).
• Staff are allocated to supervise each group of students.

Monitoring

• A register is maintained of the religious instructors who attend the school with the dates and times of their attendance.
• Complaints relating to student protection are managed using the student protection procedure.
• Complaints related to RI (excluding student protection complaints) are responded to using the customer complaints management (PDF, 189KB) procedure.
• Queries, complaints or concerns relating to RI are shared with the relevant religious instruction coordinator as appropriate.
• The process to withdraw a religious instructors' approval is managed by
  • providing the religious instructor and religious instruction coordinator written notice of matters of concern and inviting either a written response or a meeting to discuss issues and provide an oral response
  • establishing in writing if necessary, a process to resolve the issues of concern with the consent of the religious instructor and religious instruction coordinator
  • withdrawing approval of the religious instructor, if not satisfied with the response provided by the religious instructor and religious instruction coordinator, until the issues are resolved and providing written notice of this decision to the religious instructor and religious instruction coordinator.