Religious instruction
Queensland state schools embrace a multitude of cultural, religious and non-religious beliefs. Under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006, schools are to provide Religious Instruction (RI) if approached by a faith group seeking to provide RI and students of that faith attend the school.
RI informs students about the beliefs and values of a particular religion. It is delivered by volunteers of a faith group using instructional materials approved by that faith group. RI is required to be consistent with legislation and Department of Education policies and procedures.
All RI instructors must hold a blue card and participate in compulsory Student Protection and Code of Conduct training. RI instructors are only entitled to deliver the RI program outlined below. A school staff member will be present during the delivery of RI.
Participation in RI is not compulsory. Any student (except Prep students) may participate in RI if a parent has provided written instructions to the school.
Students are allocated to RI based on information provided by parents on the completed Application for student enrolment unless other written instructions have been provided to the school.
Note: This consent remains in effect unless the parent informs the school otherwise in writing.
A description of the RI available is provided below.
Catholic Religious Instruction
Authorised program: Getting to Know Jesus
Aims and goals:
- To provide an environment where young children may come to know Jesus and develop a relationship with him.
- To learn about personal union with God, and their membership of a church established by God.
- To learn how to become like the person of Jesus – in the home, in school in the parish and in the world.
- To have Christian virtue and Christian truth as the foundation for the whole of life.
Lesson structure: Lessons are delivered by approved instructors, 30 minutes per week.
For further information, including module and/or lesson descriptors visit: https://ccd.sydneycatholic.org/publications/curriculum-resources/
Combined Religious Instruction
Participating faith groups:
Anglican
ACC – Australian Christian Churches
Cairns Baptist Church
Mulgrave Community Baptist Church
Cairns Community Church Christian Brethren
Elevation Church International Network Church
Cairns Family Church CRC Churches International
The Lakes Church
Presbyterian Church
Emmanuel Uniting Church
North Church Cairns UCA
Northpoint Church International
Salvation Army
Trinity Baptist Church
Citywide Christian Fellowship
Victory Life International
C3 Church Cairns
Wesleyan Methodist
Living Gospel Church
Uniting Church Mossman
Free Reformed Church
Seventh Day Adventist
Authorised program: Beginning with God, GodSpace, Big Questions.
Aims and goals:
- To provide a place for children to engage with God's word and respond, learning how to talk to God, sing to and for Him, and experiencing God's love.
- To build the foundational truth that knowing God is more than knowing Bible stories. Knowing God is about relationship.
- To provide Bible based, relationship building, relevant and engaging lessons introducing Jesus to children.
- To take children on a journey from little understanding into a deeper experience of God and his love for us and all people.
Lesson structure: Lessons are delivered by authorised instructors 30 minutes per week.
For further information, including module and/or lesson descriptors visit: https://godspace.org.au/ : https://cepconnect.com.au/bw : https://cepconnect.com.au/bq
Parents of students participating in these programs will be advised if a faith group requires funds to cover the expense of materials used in RI.
Other Instruction
Students who are not participating in RI will be provided with other instruction in a separate supervised location. Other instruction must relate to part of a subject area already covered in class and may include:
- personal research and/or assignments
- revision of class work such as creative writing or literacy and/or numeracy activities which could include online programs currently accessed by the students of that school (i.e. Mathletics, Reading Eggs)
- wider reading such as independent reading appropriate to the student
- Social Emotional Learning – Positive behaviour for learning program
Parents will be advised of any changes to the RI and other instruction programs to ensure they are able to make an informed decision on their child's participation.