The National School Chaplaincy Program/National Student Wellbeing Program (NSCP/NSWP) is an Australian Government-funded program to support the emotional wellbeing of students and the broader school community through the provision of pastoral care services in government, Catholic and independent schools.

The Australian Government funded the NSCP for the 2019 to 2022 school years.

The NSCP Project Agreement outlines the NSCP requirements and was signed by all states and territories. It is a requirement of the NSCP Project Agreement for Tasmania to establish a NSCP Cross Sector Panel to select and prioritise schools for funding.

The 2019-2022 NSCP had a greater focus on supporting students and school communities affected by cyberbullying. School chaplains were required to complete a cyberbullying professional learning package.

Throughout the 2023 school year, the NSCP will transition to the newly re-named National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP).

The NSWP supports the wellbeing of students and school communities through pastoral care services and student support strategies.

Information on the National Student Wellbeing Program including how chaplains can register for the cyberbullying professional learning package is available from the Australian Government Department of Education website. 

More information on the NSWP can be found in the NSWP Federation Funding Agreement

The provision of chaplaincy services in Tasmanian Government Schools must meet the following requirements:

• Chaplaincy Services in Tasmanian State Schools Policy
• Chaplaincy Services in Tasmanian State Schools Procedure

The Behaviour Standards and Code of Conduct for Chaplains in Tasmanian Government Schools applies to school chaplains while they are providing services in Tasmanian Government schools.

Further details on the Program are also available on the Department’s School Chaplaincy Carers and Parents Factsheet. 

From 2024, the new National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP) will open up the former National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP), giving schools the option to choose a qualified student wellbeing officer or chaplain.

For further queries around the NSCP in Tasmania please email schoolchaplaincy@decyp.tas.gov.au