We know you love your chaplains. You see the positive and powerful impact they make in your schools and in your communities.
Naturally, you want to tell the world about their great work so they can spend less time fundraising and more time serving.
SU QLD’s Media & Communications team are currently pulling together a comprehensive “Style Guide” to help you communicate the heart of chaplaincy to your local community.
For now, we’ve pulled together some facts and key messages to save you the trouble of wondering what you should say on that flyer, email, or letter that you’re working on to raise vital funds for your local chaplains …
FACTS AND KEY MESSAGES
- SU QLD is Australia’s largest employing authority for school chaplains. Across Queensland, over 600 chaplains support 850 school communities.
- Chaplains provide social, emotional and spiritual support for students, staff and parents/carers within the school community.
- School chaplains provide a non-judgmental listening ear to children and young people in need.
- SU QLD chaplains have been supporting Queensland school communities since 1990.
- School chaplains’ work in the areas of early intervention and prevention, and promote positive behaviours.
- They provide social, emotional, spiritual and practical support for students and help them find a positive way to deal with issues ranging from family breakdown, to bullying, friendship and peer complications.
- Chaplains are employed in schools at the request of each individual school community who have identified a need for a chaplain to work as part of their student support team.
- Chaplains are required by government to hold a Certificate IV in Youth Work, however 90% of SU QLD chaplains exceed this minimum qualification requirement with Diplomas, Bachelor degrees and higher in related fields such as Human Services, Education and Theology/Ministry.
- A chaplains’ work is designed to complement, rather than duplicate, the work of other school-based support staff. They work in a support role, rather than a counselling or case management role, referring complex issues onto other professionals and specialists when identified.
- Spirituality permeates all aspects of a chaplain’s role, and they play a specific role in helping students to explore issues of faith and spirituality through voluntary conversations, groups and activities.
- Chaplaincy is financially supported by the Federal and State/Territory governments and by community donations.
TRAITS OF A SCHOOL CHAPLAIN
- They hold to Jesus’ greatest commandment – ‘to love your neighbour as you love yourself’.
- They desire to protect and care for others
- They are compassionate and generous
- They are fun and have a passion for life
- They love helping young people discover their true potential and to see value in themselves
THINGS TO AVOID
- Say children and young people – not kids
- Chaplains are not counsellors (despite many having a background in trained counselling) but they do work collaboratively with counsellors to support children and young people in need
- Be careful when praising your chaplain’s efforts in the school to not unintentionally harm a school’s reputation. For example:
- Chappy Matt helps students at XXXX State School who are suffering from bullying, substance abuse and domestic violence.
While the statement may be true, a school principal would understandably be concerned over how their school will be perceived in the community. So it may be better to say instead:
- Chaplains like Matt help children and young people right across Queensland who are struggling with serious social issues, including bullying, substance abuse and domestic violence.
When in doubt, always check with your school’s principal to ensure they’re happy with how you’re describing their school.
APPROVALS
For all collateral you produce, your first port of call is always your region’s Field Development Manager. They will be the best person to flag anything that needs to be escalated to our Media & Communications team.
For any media enquiries you receive, or great stories you want to share about your local chaplain please contact us at stories@suqld.org.au.
Alternatively, if you would like us to assist you in the production of your communication materials, we would love to look over anything before it’s sent.
We hope you find this information helpful. Stay tuned for full guide in 2018.