The National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP) supports the wellbeing of students and school communities through pastoral care services and student support strategies.
The National Student Wellbeing Program
The National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP) supports student and school community wellbeing in over 3,000 school communities each year.
The new NSWP opens up the former National School Chaplaincy Program (NSCP), giving schools the option to choose a qualified student wellbeing officer or chaplain.
It is administered by state and territory governments.
NSWP student wellbeing officers and chaplains work in collaboration with school communities to support the wellbeing of school students through:
- providing pastoral care
- organising volunteer activities within the school community
- running programs such as breakfast clubs and lunchtime activities
- coordinating excursions, school incursions and parent/carer workshops.
In their role working with school communities, NSWP student wellbeing officers and chaplains:
- do not provide religious instruction or religious counselling
- may be of any faith, or of no faith
- must not proselytise
- must respect, accept and be sensitive to other views, values and beliefs
- must promote a safe and inclusive school community
- must comply with state and territory laws and policies in relation to child protection matters
- must have relevant and valid state and territory working with children or vulnerable people checks
- meet the qualification requirements of the NSWP
- must undertake the cyberbullying Professional Learning Package delivered by the eSafety Commission.
Evaluation
A 2022 independent evaluation of the NSCP for the years 2019 to 2022 found that the program provided valued support for the wellbeing of students and school communities.
A previous independent evaluation of the NSCP in 2018 also found the program to be effective in supporting student wellbeing.
Funding
The NSWP is funded $61.4 million each year as an Australian Government contribution to the wellbeing of school communities. This funding is provided to states and territories who are responsible for administering the NSWP.
Schools that volunteer to participate in the NSWP are selected by each state and territory’s cross sector panel comprised of representatives from the government, Catholic and independent school sectors.
Participating schools can receive up to:
- $20,280 in metropolitan areas
- $24,336 in remote or very remote areas.
Participation in the NSWP
Schools interested in participating in the NSWP should contact their state or territory education department.
eSafety Professional Learning Package
All NSWP student wellbeing officers and chaplains must complete an online Professional Learning Package in responding to and preventing cyberbullying.
This Professional Learning Package is developed and delivered by the Office of the eSafety Commissioner.
NSWP student wellbeing officers and chaplains can register for the Professional Learning Package.
The Professional Learning Package should be completed within 3 months of commencing the NSWP service. The training session is 2 hours in length and must be completed every 2 ½ years. Once the training session has been completed (participants must be online throughout the 2 hours, on individual computers), participants will receive a short 15 min quiz after the training session to be completed within 24 hours. Once the quiz results and attendance are confirmed, then participants will receive a certificate of completion.
Frequently asked questions about the eSafety Professional Learning Package are available below.
Online eSafety Training available for all school communities
The Office of the eSafety Commissioner offers a separate training package on online safety to other school community members (including student wellbeing officers and chaplains not funded under the NSWP) and service provider employees.
You can access this free online eSafety Professional Learning Program, which provides participants with an understanding of the relevant issues and strategies available to support the safe, responsible and ethical use of ICT.
More information
Go to your state or territory’s education website to see how the NSWP is being delivered.