ACT schools to rejoin chaplain program after religious element removed

ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry said the territory would opt back into the national chaplaincy program now that the religious requirement would be removed. Picture: Karleen Minney

The ACT public school system will opt back into the national chaplaincy program after the Albanese Labor government decided to end the compulsory religious component of the program.

The ACT had withdrawn from the program in 2019 because the chaplains had to be recognised or endorsed by a religious institution, despite being banned from evangelising or proselytising.