NSW public schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics, delivered by approved providers wherever available.
During enrolment, you can choose a special religious education option for your child from the school’s available approved providers. You can withdraw your child from special religious education by selecting alternative meaningful activities, or special education in ethics if it’s available.
You can update your preference by writing to the school or through the online form available at participating schools.
Visit the department’s website for more information about religion and ethics.
Special Religious Education SRE
Parents and carers in public schools have the right to have their child receive instruction in their preferred religious persuasion, where authorised teachers of that persuasion are available.
A Special Religious Education (SRE) program is available at Hurstville Public School and is run by authorised volunteers of approved religious persuasions. For details about the specific SRE programs, please see below. Alternatively, parents may choose for their child not to attend SRE classes.
At Hurstville Public School, the SRE program is delivered on Wednesdays from 12.30-1.00pm for K-2 students and from 2.00-2.45pm for Years 3-6 students, including students in Support Classes.
During the time that SRE classes are being held, there will be no academic instruction delivered or formal school activities. Children will therefore not be missing any class work by attending SRE classes. Students attending non-SRE classes will participate in meaningful activities such as reading, private study or completing their own work.
During the year, notification of changes to a child's enrolment in SRE classes should be given to the class teacher in writing.
In 2021, the following SRE classes are offered at Hurstville Public School:
Buddhist SRE provided by International Buddhist Association of Australia. More information about Buddhist SRE, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence, please visit the Nan Tien Temple website.
Catholic SRE provided by Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney. More information about Catholic SRE, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence, please visit the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney website.
Church Of The Living God SRE provided by Church Of The Living God. More information about Church Of The Living God SRE, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence, please visit the Church Of The Living God website.
Greek Orthodox SRE provided by Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia. More information about Greek Orthodox SRE, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence, please visit the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia website.
Islamic SRE provided by The Islamic Projects Association of Australia. More information about Islamic SRE, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence, please visit the The Islamic Projects Association of Australia website.
Combined Christians SRE provided by the Anglican Diocese of Sydney, The Presbyterian Church of Australia and The Australian Christian Churches. More information about Combined Christians SRE, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence, please visit the following websites; Anglican Diocese of Sydney, The Presbyterian Church of Australia and The Australian Christian Churches.
Additional information has been supplied by our SRE providers:
Catholic
Catholic Special Religious Education (SRE) is when Catechists (also known as Scripture Teachers) teach children about Jesus and his message in the Gospel. Children are taught a positive message that we are all created by a loving God who sees us full of potential and capable of being a force for good in our world. Children are encouraged to develop a relationship with Jesus to help them make moral choices and develop values. Classes provide a pathway for Catholic Sacraments such as Baptism, Holy Communion and Confirmation. Our Catholic SRE teachers liaise with St Michael's Church at Hurstville, our local Catholic Parish, to ensure students and their families are part of the Sacramental program. The Catholic SRE program is called "Christ our Light and Life" and is approved by the Archdiocese of Sydney in liaison with educational experts. Our Catechists are approved, authorised and trained to teach this program. The curriculum outline and the contents of our lessons can be viewed on the website of the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine Sydney at http://www.ccdsydney.catholic.edu.au/currRes.html. If you would like to discuss Catholic SRE, or the program, please contact St Michael's Church at Hurstville on telephone 9587-2166 or view our parish website at http://stmichaelhurst.org.au.
Islamic
The Islamic Charity Projects Association, under the guidelines of Darulfatwa, the Islamic High Council of Australia, offers your children the opportunity to learn about Islam within school time.
We cater for children of all Islamic backgrounds, teaching them the basic foundations common to all Muslims.
We are also trained in cultural and religious sensitivity, which helps us understand what topics to discuss within the diverse environment of the classroom.
One of our techniques in teaching Islam is to read stories to the class, from which children can learn a moral. Stories about the past can offer your children the chance to become well-behaved citizens of society.
The Islamic scripture curriculum is based around four main aspects:
- Islamic events
- Good manners
- Islamic practices common to all Muslims, and
- Living harmoniously within society while practising Islam in Australia
For contact information please ask the school and to view our curriculum please log on to www.icpa.org.au
Protestant
Spiritual development is vital to the nurture and education of young people and children, often leading to peace, sense of security and self, and emotional comfort later on in life. This is recognised and supported by the NSW government, schools and community. There are good reasons to enrol your child in Christian Special Religious Education ('SRE'), even if you are not a Christian:
1. Christian SRE provides a wonderful opportunity for your child to explore spiritual and life issues.
2. Christian SRE enables your child to find answers to spiritual and life questions as well as help to develop their ethical and moral framework.
3. Christian SRE provides a way for your child to be supported pastorally.
Christian SRE is taught by volunteers (from local churches and approved by the leaders of those churches) who have a passion for teaching children about Jesus. They regularly receive training in the teaching of children. They only use authorised material from curricula prepared by teaching professionals. You can find the curricula used by the teachers at:
Anglican - https://www.cepstore.com.au/connect
Baptist - www.godspace.org.au
Presbyterian - www.pynsw.org.au/sre
You can find out more about Christian SRE from http://www.whysre.com.au or you can contact the local Christian SRE co-ordinator for more information at St George's Anglican Church Hurstville on (02) 9580 1482.
Special Ethics Education (SEE)
Special Ethics Education (SEE) classes support children to develop a life-long capacity for making well-reasoned decisions about ethical issues. Through balanced argument students learn to disagree respectfully, to challenge ideas and to support their arguments with considered evidence.
Our volunteer SEE teachers use lesson materials which present a range of stories, scenarios and questions to generate discussion. SEE teachers are trained to impartially facilitate student discussions, helping students develop their critical thinking and collaborative inquiry skills.
SEE teachers support student learning by:
- showing genuine curiosity and interest in the questions being discussed
- staying neutral
- creating space for students to think, share ideas, give reasons and ensuring
Information on the curriculum and teaching methods / qualifications is available at primaryethics.com.au
If you want your child to do SEE, please complete the form and return it to the school.
Please note, however, that we can only provide these classes to students if we have sufficient volunteers willing to undergo the necessary teacher-training. If we do not have sufficient teachers to take groups, those students will attend Non-Scripture. If you are interested in doing this rewarding work, more information can be found here.