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.
At Maleny SS each of the instructors provide a Cooperative Arrangement Religious Instruction Program under the provisions of s.76 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006 (The Act) and the Education (General Provisions) Regulation 2017. They are only entitled to deliver Christian Religious Instruction using an approved Christian Education Publications Curriculum to students who have parental consent to participate in the program.
Participating faith groups: Anglican, Baptist, Australian Christian Church (COTR), Lutheran, Presbyterian, Uniting and Catholic churches.
Title of authorised program: Christian Religious Instruction using Christian Education Publications Curriculum (Beginning with God, Connect and Big Questions)
Aims and Goals of the program: To instruct students about the basic beliefs of the Christian faith from a non-denominational perspective, and to enable an understanding of foundational Christian ideas and values.
Amount of time for lesson: 30 minutes per week
‘Beginning with God’ for year 1
‘Beginning with God’ introduces the Christian faith to students, the one year program of 40 lessons assumes little prior knowledge. Lessons progress through seven main themes:
- God and the world he created
- A troubled world and god’s remedy
- Jesus, God’s son, is always with us
- Jesus cares for his people
- Responding to Jesus and God
- People in God’s unfolding plan
- God’s plan fulfilled
Different children learn in different ways and the Beginning with God curriculum is designed to reflect this. Children engage with the truths of the Bible week by week through music, drama, reading and writing, puzzle solving, drawing, and asking questions.
This curriculum is child-related. It is designed to engage minds and emotions as well as develop the skills needed to understand the Christian faith and how it applies to life.
‘Connect’ for lower primary and upper primary
The key themes of the Bible and the Christian faith are clearly explained in ‘Connect’. Week, by week, students are encouraged to make connections with the Bible’s teaching and apply the learning to their lives. Over a three-year cycle Connect lessons cover these main themes:
- God, our good Creator
- God’s big plan of salvation
- God keeps his promises
- God’s people living in God’s land
- Jesus teaches about his kingdom
- Followers of Jesus
- Living god’s way
- Easter and Christmas
- Special lessons: self-esteem, dealing with loss, caring for the environment, growing as a Christian, coping with change.
Different children learn in different ways and the Connect curriculum is designed to reflect this. Children engage with the truths of the Bible week by week through music, drama, reading and writing, puzzle solving, drawing, and asking questions.
This curriculum is child-related. It is designed to engage minds and emotions as well as develop the skills needed to understand the Christian faith and how it applies to life.
‘Big Questions’ for upper primary students in their final year of primary school
These lessons concentrate on god and Jesus, who they are, what they have done, what people have done in response to God and what this means for people today. Basic bible reading skills are introduced so the students can use the Bible to discover and apply biblical concepts for themselves. Students also look at what it means to be Christian. Jesus is examined as the model for Christian living and further Bible study skills are introduced. Students look at the story of the early church and consider how church is still relevant today. These lessons also deal with contemporary problems that the students face in today’s world. Students explore what the Bible says and provide suggestions for dealing with these problems when they arise. The responsibilities of Christians to show God’s love to others are also discussed.
For further information, including module and/or lesson descriptors visit: www.christianRI.org.au
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.