The AEU said today that the changes in the Federal Government's chaplaincy program were a step in the right direction and would better assist schools to enhance the welfare support provided to students.

AEU Federal President Angelo Gavrielatos said: “This is an acknowledgement that the National Chaplaincy Program is fundamentally flawed. In addition to undermining  the secular traditions of our public schools it fails to recognise that the needs of students are best served by qualified professionals providing  vulnerable children with expert care and support.

“Beyond this program there remains a huge shortfall in the resources that schools have to employ qualified professionals such as counsellors and psychologists and this in an area that should be addressed as part of the current Gonski review of schools funding.

 “Research released by the Gonski review last week showed that public schools are overwhelmingly the ones who are educating students with the greatest needs such as those at risk, those from low income families, those who are indigenous Australians or have a disability and those who live in rural and remote areas.”