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Tasmanian government schools are secular, with religious instruction not being part of the school curriculum. Under Section 34 of the Education Act 1994, individuals or groups are able to visit schools to provide religious instruction with the approval of the Secretary of the Department of Education.

The Act was reviewed in 2003 and it was determined that guidelines were required to fulfil the Secretary’s requirements.

In 2004 a steering committee, with membership from key stakeholder groups, developed guidelines to govern the provision of religious instruction in state schools. These were endorsed by the Minister for Education and forwarded to schools. The guidelines come into effect for programs from 2006.

The guidelines determine that:

• programs to be run by religious organisations during any time which students are required to attend school, must have approval of school associations;
• parents must be fully informed and give their permission for their child to attend any religious instruction; and
• organisations applying to provide religious instruction must be treated fairly and equitably.

The guidelines provide an application and reapplication framework.

Applications

In making application, individuals and organisations are to provide the required materials and information mentioned below, in addition to details of the content and delivery methods proposed for the program.

Principles

Applications to provide religious instruction in state schools must be compliant with the following principles:

1. Religious instruction programs will be compatible with the codes and practices of the school and the framework of values and purposes on which the school curriculum is based.
2. The application and approval process for religious instruction programs will be non-discriminatory and equitably applied to all religions and denominations.
3. Religious instruction programs in schools will respect and recognise the diversity of individuals’ beliefs.
4. Religious instruction programs will be non-discriminatory.
5. Whilst providers of religious instruction programs may convey personal beliefs, they will not proselytise.

Providers

Individuals providing religious instruction in state schools must provide evidence of compliance with the following requirements (see Guidelines section 4a Program Requirements):

• Must be a member of the clergy or another person, authorised to do so by the religious body to which that member or person belongs” as per section 34 (2) (a) of the Education Act 1994;
• Must have written authorisation from the religious organisation they represent.
• Will be required to undergo a good character check by the Department of Education which will involve a record of conviction check, an identity check and may involve checks on any relevant disciplinary action in employment.

Program content and delivery (Guidelines section 4b)

• School principals must be provided with information of content and delivery methods to be used.
• They should also be informed of processes in place to ensure consistency of provision by nominated representatives of religious organisations.
• Principals will then determine whether the content of the program and delivery methods, are consistent with, and supportive of values and practices of the school.
• They will also ascertain whether delivery of the program is possible within the organisational and management resources of the school.

Upon receipt of applications, school associations must adhere to the principles and requirements of the guidelines, and note the appeal process should an applicant or member of the school community express dissatisfaction with the outcome of an application process.

Student participation

It should be noted by principals and those wishing to provide religious instruction, that students may participate in a program only if their parents/carers:

• have been fully informed of the content of the program;
• understand that it is not a part of the school curriculum;
• are aware of the activities available to their child if they do not participate; and
• have provided permission for their child to attend.

Permission is valid for no more than one school year, and may be withdrawn at any time.