Key points
- The Australian Government sets the requirements of the National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP).
- From 2024, participating schools have the option of choosing a qualified Student Wellbeing Officer or a Chaplain.
- Participating Tasmanian Government Schools:
- have the option of using one of four approved providers, Devonport Chaplaincy, Hobart City Mission, Relationships Australia Tasmania (Speak UP! Stay ChatTY!), Scripture Union Australia.
- must comply with relevant policies, child safety requirements and have suitable qualifications.
- Participating schools must inform families of any NSWP related services or activities.
- Families may opt their child out of services or activities.
- One-on-one interaction outside of a group setting requires parental consent.
The Australian Government has committed funding for the NSWP for the 2023 to 2027 school years.
The NSWP Federation Funding Agreement (FFA) Schedule outlines the requirements of the Program . Tasmania has established a Cross Sector Panel (PDF, 143KB) to select and prioritise schools for funding as required by the FFA.
Since Term 1 2024, Tasmanian schools have had the option to choose a qualified student wellbeing officer or chaplain.
More information on the National Student Wellbeing Program can be found here:
- Australian Government Department of Education website
- NSWP Federation Funding Agreement (PDF, 9.4MB)
Chaplaincy/Student Wellbeing services in Tasmanian State Schools must meet the following requirements:
- Chaplaincy and Student Wellbeing Services in Tasmanian State Schools Policy (PDF, 285KB)
- Chaplaincy and Student Wellbeing Services in Tasmanian State Schools Procedure (PDF, 365KB)
The Behaviour Standards and Code of Conduct for Chaplains and Student Wellbeing Officers in Tasmanian Government Schools (PDF, 405KB) applies to school chaplains while they are providing services in Tasmanian Government schools.
For further queries about the NSWP in Tasmania please email nswp@decyp.tas.gov.au
Role of the Chaplain/Student Wellbeing Officer
Chaplains/Student Wellbeing Officers are not permitted to promote a particular religious view or belief and must respect, accept and be sensitive to other people’s views, values and beliefs. They must comply with State legislation, policies, child safety requirements, and meet qualification requirements.
Your school may have a Chaplain or Student Wellbeing Officer, and your child’s participation in related Programs is voluntary.
A Chaplain is an individual who:
- is recognised by the school community as having the skills and experience to deliver school chaplaincy to the school community; and
- is endorsed by a recognised or accepted religious institution; and
- meets the NSWP’s qualification requirements.
A Student Wellbeing Officer is an individual who:
- is recognised by the school community as having the skills and experience to deliver student wellbeing services; and
- meets the NSWP’s qualification requirements.
All Chaplains and Student Wellbeing Officers must have Working with Vulnerable People Registration.
Some of the things Chaplains and Student Wellbeing Officers do include:
- work as a member of the School Support and Wellbeing Team in the delivery of student wellbeing services
- provide referrals for students, or sourcing appropriate services to meet their needs
- support to improve student engagement and connectedness
- help to create a safe, inclusive and supportive learning environment
- help with breakfast clubs and school activities such as sport, camps and gardens
Chaplains/Student Wellbeing Officers are not allowed to talk to students about religion, unless the student wants them to.
Student participation in Chaplaincy/Student Wellbeing services
- Your school must provide the school community with regular overviews of any Chaplaincy/Student Wellbeing related services or activities.
- For one-on-one interactions outside of a group setting between a Chaplain/Student Wellbeing Officer and your child, parental consent is required.
- If you do not want your child to participate in NSWP activities, you must contact the school Principal.
What else do you need to know about School Chaplains/Student Wellbeing Officers?
- Chaplains/Student Wellbeing Officers are employed through an external panel of Providers.
- Education in government schools is required by law to be secular. Chaplains/Student Wellbeing Officers working in a Tasmanian government school must not conduct religious services or ceremonies or lead students or staff in religious observances unless agreed to by the Principal.
Where can I get more information?
Talk to your child’s teacher or Principal.
Tasmanian government schools – National Student Wellbeing Program 2024-2027
- Bagdad Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Bayview Secondary College
- Beaconsfield Primary School
- Brighton Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Brooks High School – Scripture Union Australia
- Burnie High School
- Clarendon Vale Primary School
- Collinsvale Primary School
- Cosgrove High School
- Cressy District High School
- Cygnet Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Deloraine High School
- Devonport High School – Devonport Chaplaincy
- Devonport Primary School
- Dodges Ferry Primary School
- Don College
- East Devonport Primary School
- East Tamar Primary School
- Edith Creek Primary School
- Elizabeth College
- Exeter High School – Scripture Union Australia
- Fairview Primary School
- Forth Primary School
- Franklin Primary School
- Geeveston Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Glen Dhu Primary School
- Glen Huon Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Glenorchy Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Goodwood Primary School
- Hagley Farm Primary School
- Hellyer College
- Hillcrest Primary School
- Hobart City High School
- Huonville High School – Scripture Union Australia
- Invermay Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- JRLF – East Derwent Primary School
- JRLF – Gagebrook Primary School
- Kempton Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Kings Meadows High School – Scripture Union Australia
- Latrobe High School
- Latrobe Primary School
- Launceston Big Picture School
- Longford Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Margate Primary School
- Miandetta Primary School
- Montello Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Montrose Bay High School
- Moonah Primary School
- Mowbray Heights Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- New Norfolk High School
- New Norfolk Primary School
- Newstead College
- Parklands High School – Scripture Union Australia
- Penguin District School
- Port Dalrymple School
- Port Sorell Primary School
- Prospect High School
- Punchbowl Primary School
- Queechy High School
- Ravenswood Heights Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Reece High School
- Riverside High School – Scripture Union Australia
- Riverside Primary School
- Romaine Park Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Rose Bay High School – Scripture Union Australia
- Rosetta Primary School
- Scottsdale High School
- Scottsdale Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Smithton High School
- Smithton Primary School
- Sorell School – Scripture Union Australia
- South George Town Primary School
- Spreyton Primary School
- St Helens District High School
- St Leonards Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- St Marys District School
- Summerdale Primary School
- Swansea Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Tasman District School
- Triabunna District School
- Ulverstone Primary School
- Ulverstone Secondary College
- Waverley Primary School
- West Launceston Primary School
- West Ulverstone Primary School
- Westbury Primary School
- Westerway Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
- Windermere Primary School
- Winnaleah District High School
- Woodbridge School
Yolla District SchoolPlease note – providers are only added to this table when Official Orders have been received. This information is current as at 21 March 2024.
Tasmanian government schools – National Student Wellbeing Program 2024 Only
- Bracknell Primary School
- Cambridge Primary School
- Dunalley Primary School
- East Ulverstone Primary School
- Lindisfarne Primary School
- Nixon Street Primary School
- Snug Primary School – Scripture Union Australia
Tasmanian Catholic Schools – National Student Wellbeing Program 2024
- Corpus Christi Catholic School
- Guilford Young College
- Holy Rosary Catholic School
- Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School
- John Paul II Catholic School
- Larmenier Catholic School
- MacKillop College
- Mount Carmel College
- Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School
- Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School
- Sacred Heart Catholic School Geeveston
- Sacred Heart Catholic School Ulverstone
- St Aloysius Catholic College
- St Brigid’s Catholic School New Norfolk
- St Brigid’s Catholic School Wynyard
- St Cuthbert’s Catholic School
- St James’ Catholic College
- St John’s Catholic School
- St Patrick’s Catholic School Latrobe
- St Patrick’s College, Launceston
- St Paul’s Catholic School
- St Peter Chanel Catholic School
- St Therese’s Catholic School
- St Thomas More’s Catholic School
- St Virgil’s College
- Star of the Sea Catholic College
- Stella Maris Catholic School
Tasmanian Independent Schools – National Student Wellbeing Program 2023
- Australian Christian College (Launceston and Burnie Campuses)
- Calvin Christian School
- Channel Christian School
- Circular Head Christian School
- Devonport Christian School
- Eastside Lutheran College
- Emmanuel Christian School
- Hilliard Christian School
- Launceston Christian School
- Leighland Christian School (Burnie and Ulverstone Campuses)
- Newstead Christian School
- North West Christian School
- Northern Christian School
- Southern Christian College
- Tamar Valley Steiner School
- The Hutchins School