What state? I thought Howard's chaplaincy programme was nation wide?
I did a google to see what other states do (I'm in Vic, you have to opt out of RE in primary school here) and I found this:
Queensland state schools support religious diversity by allowing for three distinct programs:
* Bible Lessons * Chaplaincy Services * Religious Instruction.
The ridiculous thing about the chaplaincy service is that my school has a counselor and not a chaplain, but they had to do some creative accounting with a charity to get a non-religious welfare person with the chaplaincy money.
Re: Being Pagan, and Australian
I did a google to see what other states do (I'm in Vic, you have to opt out of RE in primary school here) and I found this:
Queensland state schools support religious diversity by allowing for three distinct programs:
* Bible Lessons
* Chaplaincy Services
* Religious Instruction.
The ridiculous thing about the chaplaincy service is that my school has a counselor and not a chaplain, but they had to do some creative accounting with a charity to get a non-religious welfare person with the chaplaincy money.