SCHOOLS REQUIRING A TEACHER
According to the Religious Education Policy of the NSW Department of Education and Training and under the Education Act 1990 Section 32 there is a legislative requirement that "In every government school, time is to be allowed for the religious education of children of any religious persuasion".
Schools are required to provide religious education of two distinct types: General Religious Education (GRE) and Special Religious Education (SRE).
The Buddhist Council of NSW is approved to provide Special Religious Education (SRE) in NSW Government Schools. Please see this link for the current list of providers:
http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/policies/religion/providers/index.htm
The Buddhist Council of NSW is also a member of the NSW Department of Education and Training Director-General's Consultative Committee on SRE.
The authorisation of personnel to teach SRE is the sole responsibility of each individual religious persuasion. The Buddhist Council of NSW is not to authorise any person as a Buddhist SRE teacher who has not signed a prohibitive employment declaration or who has a criminal conviction for: a crime against a minor; or violence; or sexual assault;. or the provision of prohibited drugs.
The Buddhist Council of NSW has an SRE Program which trains and supports its SRE teachers. Whilst we have many dozens of volunteer SRE teachers we currently have a waiting list of schools requiring a Buddhist SRE teacher.
Schools requiring a Buddhist SRE teacher should email to education@buddhistcouncil.org providing contact details of the school, and an estimate of the age group and number of children who wish to attend a Buddhist SRE class.