November 2012
Quick Background:
In mid- 2011, the Commonwealth Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) gave permission for the expansion of the National School Chaplaincy Program to include “Student Welfare Workers” (read: Youth Workers) in schools.
Why “Student Welfare Workers”?
Well, we’re not really sure. What we do know is that they can be employed by organisations that service young people in a variety of ways, and they must have at least a Cert IV in Youth Work or Pastoral Care to be eligible for employment under the scheme. So, we think that they’re youth workers, which means that the workers most equipped to handle the complex and varied needs of young people can now support them in schools!
I’m a Youth Service, and would like to employ someone to work in schools in my area, what do I do?
As a first step, you must get yourself on the list of organisations registered as potential funding recipients. All you have to do is submit an Expression of Interest (you don’t even need schools to partner with at this stage) at http://submissions.deewr.gov.au/sites/Submissions/Chaplaincy.
Next, talk to principals in your area to find out if they are interested in entering into an agreement to have a youth worker at their school. They may already have a chaplain under the old program, and the decision as to whether to change to a student welfare worker is theirs. Schools can also employ youth workers on their own, so make sure that you can clearly articulate the benefit that working with your organisation can offer.
If you both agree to place a youth worker in the school, you will then enter into a Service Agreement outlining the roles and responsibilities of each party, and then apply for funding.
Am I eligible as a “Funding Recipient”?
To be eligible as a funding recipient, you must be:
- Incorporated;
- Able to verify:
- Ability to correctly account for, and report on, grants and funding;
- Religious denomination of your organisation (if applicable);
- Ability to employ qualified workers;
- That you hold (or can get) the right insurances before entering a funding agreement.
How Much Money is Available?
The level program guidelines set out the minimum service delivery available per level of funding. Remote schools are eligible for an extra 20% to cover expenses relating to servicing of remote locations. The break-down is:
Amount Available for non-rural schools (ex GST) |
Amount Available for Remote Schools (ex GST) |
Minimum Service Hours |
$20,000 |
$24,000 |
400 |
$15,000 |
$18,000 |
300 |
$10,000 |
$12,000 |
200 |
$5,000 |
$6,000 |
100 |
What can the money be used for?
At least 80% of the above funding must be used to directly fund the salaries, wages and superannuation of the chaplain/student welfare worker who is placed in the school. A maximum of 20% can be used to cover administration costs such as workers compensation and other relevant insurances, general administration fees, support staff costs, and training and professional development (but not to get the required Units of Competency to become a Student Welfare Worker or Chaplain – see below).
What qualification do Chaplains or Youth Workers have to hold?
Student welfare workers or chaplains must hold at least Cert IV in Youth Work or Pastoral Care (or equivalent qualification) to be employable under the program. This must include mental health and making appropriate referrals unit(s) of competency.
Under the guidelines, there are some ways to get other qualifications/experience recognised. However, it seems safe to assume that the qualifications are being used by DEEWR as a quality control measure, and that all employed student support workers or chaplains should hold these qualifications. There is a fact sheet available from www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/NSCSWP/Pages/GuidelinesandDocuments.aspx called a ‘decision assist tool for new workers’ to help guide decision-making in this area.
I would love to apply, but can we apply for funding to cover several schools?
Tricky question at the moment, but it looks like ‘no’. As long as you have Service Agreements in place with the schools, there is no problem with servicing more than one school. However, funds cannot be pooled. You must spend the total amount allocated to you on the school that it is designated for. Remote schools are permitted to form “cluster arrangements” to flexibly overcome the particular challenges of providing Student Welfare services in remote areas, such as travel, training and development etc.
More info
The guidelines are fairly long but detailed, and seem to be able to answer most questions at this stage. To get them, go to www.deewr.gov.au/Schooling/NSCSWP/Documents/NSCSWP_Guidelines.pdf . You can also contact the DEEWR hotline directly on 1300 363 079.
You can also contact YAPA’s Policy Officer Dean Williamson at YAPA on (02) 9281 5522 extension 5, or email policy2@yapa.org.au.
From YAPA’s Point of View:
Benefits of NSW Youth Services placing Student Welfare Workers in schools:
- They already have a focus on the complex needs of young people, and experience servicing these needs;
- They already have avenues and organisational structures established for recruitment, selection, support and supervision of great youth workers;
- They could coordinate several/many workers across a region, centralising administration costs and avoiding duplication.
What Youth Services will have to do differently under the Program:
- Work in partnership with, and be accountable to, school principals and other welfare teachers for the operation of the youth worker in a particular school;
- Negotiate service levels with schools, achieving a balance between effective service delivery/activity and rates of pay for a good youth worker.