❓ Mr. Staltari questions the Minister for Education about ongoing funding for the principal chaplaincy program. The Minister acknowledges the program's importance and the challenges faced by principals but doesn't commit to future funding, citing ongoing negotiations.
AnsweredQoN 415Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
Principal chaplaincy program
415. Mr Liam Staltari to
the Minister for Education:
I refer to the principal
chaplaincy program that provides vital face-to-face wellbeing support to 249
public school principals in regional Western Australia, a program that the Cook
Labor government tried to cut last year. Will the minister confirm whether the
government will provide ongoing funding beyond 31 December this year for this
much-needed and much-loved program?
Mr Basil Zempilas: Good question.
415. Mr Liam Staltari to
the Minister for Education:
I refer to the principal
chaplaincy program that provides vital face-to-face wellbeing support to 249
public school principals in regional Western Australia, a program that the Cook
Labor government tried to cut last year. Will the minister confirm whether the
government will provide ongoing funding beyond 31 December this year for this
much-needed and much-loved program?
Mr Basil Zempilas: Good question.
AnswerView source ↗
The Leader of the
Opposition loves those questions. It is good to see. It is good that he is
cheering them on. I thank the member for the question and for the opportunity
to talk about what is an important program that supports principals and also
students in terms of their wellbeing. As the member would know, we have
supported the chaplaincy program for a very long time and increased funding
back in 2021. That $21.8 million boost allowed for an increase in school
participation in the school chaplaincy program from 521 to 748 schools.
More broadly, I
would like to answer the question in the context of what I am also hearing from
leaders within our schools. It is absolutely clear, and I have acknowledged it
everywhere I go, no matter who I am talking to, that the role of a principal in
our schools is a much more complicated and complex endeavour as a leader than
it was even a decade ago. This is not only in terms of
the increasingly complex needs of children, but also the challenges faced by
principals and schools in engaging with the school community and the expectation
that the communities have of principals. The role of a principal has never been
more challenging than now, and nor has it ever been more important. I value the
principals and leaders of our schools and the incredible job that they do. We
have a variety of initiatives that support the wellbeing of principals, whether
it is various collegiate principal programs or the principal chaplaincy program
to which the member referred. I am not going to pre-empt any decision on a
contract that gets negotiated by the Department of Education. It is not
appropriate—
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: It's illegal.
Ms Sabine Winton: Yes, it is unacceptable for me to be
doing that. Let us be clear: our government's investment in public schools,
particularly when it comes to the people who work in our schools, has been
unmatched over the last eight years, whether we are talking about an increase
in the number of teachers—3,500—or the increased number of
education assistants or the supports that we provide for principals. The
Department of Education supports the leaders in our schools through a number of
initiatives and in a number of ways.
Opposition loves those questions. It is good to see. It is good that he is
cheering them on. I thank the member for the question and for the opportunity
to talk about what is an important program that supports principals and also
students in terms of their wellbeing. As the member would know, we have
supported the chaplaincy program for a very long time and increased funding
back in 2021. That $21.8 million boost allowed for an increase in school
participation in the school chaplaincy program from 521 to 748 schools.
More broadly, I
would like to answer the question in the context of what I am also hearing from
leaders within our schools. It is absolutely clear, and I have acknowledged it
everywhere I go, no matter who I am talking to, that the role of a principal in
our schools is a much more complicated and complex endeavour as a leader than
it was even a decade ago. This is not only in terms of
the increasingly complex needs of children, but also the challenges faced by
principals and schools in engaging with the school community and the expectation
that the communities have of principals. The role of a principal has never been
more challenging than now, and nor has it ever been more important. I value the
principals and leaders of our schools and the incredible job that they do. We
have a variety of initiatives that support the wellbeing of principals, whether
it is various collegiate principal programs or the principal chaplaincy program
to which the member referred. I am not going to pre-empt any decision on a
contract that gets negotiated by the Department of Education. It is not
appropriate—
Ms Amber-Jade Sanderson: It's illegal.
Ms Sabine Winton: Yes, it is unacceptable for me to be
doing that. Let us be clear: our government's investment in public schools,
particularly when it comes to the people who work in our schools, has been
unmatched over the last eight years, whether we are talking about an increase
in the number of teachers—3,500—or the increased number of
education assistants or the supports that we provide for principals. The
Department of Education supports the leaders in our schools through a number of
initiatives and in a number of ways.
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