Eight new chaplains have just started work in the Inverell district’s schools after successful applications for funding by the schools in conjunction with local committee, Sapphire City Schools Ministry.

The Federal Government has awarded funding totalling over $150,000 for the employment of the chaplains.

The local committee applied on the basis of their expertise over the past six years in placing Christian workers in three local schools, and this community-supported work is also continuing.

Chris Badman has worked for more than four years at Inverell High and Amelia Paton has served for a similar length of time at Macintyre High, while a day a week has been funded by the Ashford community for a secondary youth worker at Ashford Central School.

The chaplains, or pastoral care workers, are also a fixture in many primary schools in the district, and small schools such as Gilgai, Delungra and Gum Flat have also been successful in attracting funding.

An official launch of Sapphire City Schools Ministry will be held early in the new academic year.

© 2007 Inverell Times

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