After a three year struggle to gain official recognition for Christian chaplains from TAFE NSW, the Rev Craig Blacket is now hopeful of Government action after the Christian Democrats raised the issue in State Parliament.

The Rev Dr Gordon Moyes of the CDP has asked the Education Minister John Della Bosca whether he is ‘aware there were no multi-faith chaplains in TAFE colleges, whereas there are chaplains present in NSW universities’.

Although the education minister could respond saying this ‘was the first time’ the idea of TAFE chaplaincy had been put to him, Craig Blacket described the development as the culmination of his 20 years in ministry amongst ‘working class’ Australians. 

Mr Blacket says that if TAFE NSW adopts the proposed policy, ‘we are conceivably… on the way to creating the Scripture Union or AFES of TAFE across the country’.

“If the model was working in TAFE NSW this would give us a great opportunity to establish our ministry across the nation.”

Rejection by TAFE NSW

Mr Blacket, under the umbrella of Anglican Youthworks, first approached TAFE NSW in August 2004 to recognise his ministry in TAFE colleges.

It was not until September 2006 that he received an official reply rejecting the need for a NSW-wide policy.

This meant that, in order for a local chaplain to become an ‘Authorised Religious Representative’, they were required to apply to each Metropolitan Institute Director individually.

The result of these individual approaches has been extremely discouraging.

“The absence of any visible Christian fellowship at TAFE colleges has made it easier for TAFE NSW to dismiss the need for a state-wide multi-faith chaplaincy policy,” Mr Blacket says.

TAFE students unserved

Mr Blacket says TAFE campuses are ‘virtually unserved by Christian ministry’ despite the many Christian staff and students involved in these institutions.

He knows of only two TAFE colleges with a chaplaincy policy.

One - Nirimba at Quakers Hill - is attached to a university.

The other - Ultimo TAFE - is where Mr Blackett is Anglican Chaplain.

Mr Blacket says that Mr Della Bosca’s comments merely highlight the failure of the churches.

“His response highlights that TAFE is overlooked, considered second-class and has been off the radar of Christian concern. Yet it is the largest tertiary institution in the country, double the size of the universities.”

“I am not saying there are not already industrial chaplains and Christians in the union movement… but our absence from this sector of our community has made God irrelevant and remote for many non-university-trained working people.”