THE downpour has come

School chaplaincy has exploded in an incredible way in Queensland, with more than 500 school chaplains working in 600 schools around the State. This is a 200 percent increase in total chaplaincy numbers in just one year!

The big jump in numbers is due to the Federal Government’s National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP) which was introduced last year and which now totals $165 million.

Awesome. But there's more to the story.

It would take decades to expand the reach of school chaplaincy like this through organic growth, yet the NSCP funding has made it possible virtually overnight.

However, due to the way the program has been structured, the funding will go directly to schools to employ new chaplains. There is only limited provision for employing authorities like SU QLD to provide critical infrastructure which the system relies on. This infrastructure includes recruiting, training and supporting school chaplains to ensure they can do their jobs in the most effective way possible.

This means that helping this deluge of school chaplains come online successfully is going to really stretch SU QLD’s resources.

Ironically, it could even put our long term future in jeopardy, because if we can’t equip and support our school chaplains properly, we run the very real risk of the quality and integrity of this unique service being compromised.

This is the last thing we want to see happen.

That's why we need your help.

For years now, we’ve been patiently but persistently making the case for government funding to put more chaplains in schools. And all of sudden, those calls have been answered.

SU QLD has been given the chance to place chaplains in over 600 schools, impacting as many as 300,000 children and young people across the state. It’s imperative that we take advantage of this opportunity now by setting up the infrastructure to support school chaplaincy well into the future.

We are in the middle of restructuring our organisation to maximise the benefi ts of this 200 percent growth — 30 new chaplaincy support workers have been employed, our training department has expanded to accommodate 200 students, a major upgrade of our IT equipment is required, and other experts in human resources, finance, and project management have been employed.

This step of faith, which is necessary for the ongoing sustainability of school chaplaincy, will leave us with a $2.7 million shortfall in our budget. We are therefore taking the bold step of asking our supporters for an increased commitment to SU QLD.

We hope you can help us grasp this miraculous opportunity, so that we can begin a whole new season of growth and effectiveness for school chaplaincy in Queensland. Through this special service, we can touch a whole generation.

School Chaplaincy and SU Qld

Since 1990, when SU QLD’s fi rst school chaplaincy commenced, our chaplains have provided a frontline defence for students against sometimes overwhelming situations.

Today, our dedicated force of over 500 chaplains plussupport staff — and more than 1,500 volunteers — assist young people right across the state through arange of programs.

School chaplains are in the prevention and rescue business — helping students fi nd a better way to deal with issues ranging from family breakdown and loneliness to drug abuse, depression and suicide. They provide a listening ear and a caring presence for kids in crisis and those who just need a friend.

Your support for SU QLD’s chaplaincy work will have an immediate and long-term impact on the lives of young people throughout Queensland.