CHIPS’ Chaplaincy service commenced at the start of 2008 in four schools, as part of the Department of Education Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) National School Chaplaincy Program. In 2012 CHIPS was asked to provide Chaplaincy and Student Welfare services to a further seven schools as part of the expansion round of DEEWR’s National School Chaplaincy and Student Welfare program. In 2015 CHIPS was again asked to provide Chaplains for fourteen schools under the National School Chaplaincy Programme (NSCP), with a further two school’s funding the program themselves due to missing out on the Grant.
CHIPS abides by the NSCP Guidelines by providing the service on a voluntary basis to all school families, regardless of their own religious or non-religious backgrounds. CHIPS Chaplains support the emotional well-being of students by providing pastoral care services and strategies which support the emotional well-being of students and the broader school community.
CHIPS’ Chaplaincy program is unique as it is a “team model” of Chaplaincy. As a result, CHIPS provides Chaplains and programs which are tailor-made to suit each individual school’s needs. During crisis times (such has fire, floods or death) the Chaplaincy team, community groups and various volunteers associated with CHIPS, help to provide food parcels, respite care and home support. Included in our Chaplaincy team are various animals, such as our trained Therapy Dog, Molly, our two bearded dragons, Kobi and Chevy and a bird called Paulie! All the programs, services, seminars, camps and support listed on the CHIPS website are available to our Chaplaincy schools.
CHIPS’ Chaplains have various qualifications ranging from Cert IV in Pastoral Care through to Counselling, Teaching, Psychology and Social Work degrees. All of CHIPS’ Chaplains are dedicated to serving their school communities and are passionate about helping children realise they are of intrinsic value to their family, school and the wider community.