Media Release

Morrison supports chaplaincy care for Shire school students

Monday 9th November 2009

Local Federal Member for Cook, Scott Morrison held his second annual Shire Prayer Breakfast this week and invited local church leaders to support a petition calling for school chaplains to be retained in Shire schools.

The prayer breakfast at Miranda RSL, invited church leaders from across the Shire to discuss what local churches are doing and what they can do, to help address local community needs.

“The Prayer Breakfast is the latest in a series of important initiatives that enable me to work with and for our local community,” Mr Morrison said.

“I will also be asking local church leaders and their congregations to let their voice be heard on continuing the National School Chaplaincy program,” he said.

The School Chaplaincy program was introduced by the Howard Government in 2007 and enabled schools to employ a part-time school chaplain and enjoys strong support among principals, schools and in the community generally.

“The program is run in five schools in the Cook electorate - Kareela, Miranda North, Oyster Bay, Endeavour Sports High and Grays Point – and is supported by each school community, both parents and staff,” Mr Morrison said.

“The Rudd Government recently announced it would end this worthy program. In difficult times our kids need more, not less, support to deal with the many challenges and pressures they face. They are an experienced, professional and compassionate source of advice and comfort,” he said.

“The chaplaincy program has been particularly successful in helping students with behaviour management issues and those that may have difficulties in their social relationships.

“This decision will most disadvantage those students that battle with loneliness or bullying at schools and students who have difficulties in their families,” Mr Morrison said.

The National School Chaplaincy program petition is also available for download below or at Scott’s office, Shop 3, 346 Port Hacking Rd Caringbah. Signed petitions can be returned to Scott Morrison MP, PO Box 819. Caringbah 1495.

The Shire Church Breakfast featured Mission Australia’s Toby Hall as guest speaker who shared how his organisation is making a difference to address a broad range of social challenges, as one of Australia's leading not for profit agencies.

Download Attachment - Petition_-_National_School_Chaplaincy_Program.384.pdf