National Student Wellbeing Program
Find out what the National Student Wellbeing Program could offer your school and apply for funding.
All schools in the ACT can apply for Australian Government funding for the National Student Wellbeing Program (NSWP).
The program provides schools with funding for either a:
- wellbeing officer
- chaplain, in some Catholic and independent schools.
Wellbeing officers and chaplains support the wellbeing of students.
The ACT Government is responsible for administering the funding in the ACT.
Who can apply
Both government and non-government schools can apply for funding.
How to apply
Applications opened in 2023 for the 2023-2027 funding period.
If any schools withdraw from the program or funding becomes available, we will invite schools to apply.
We assess applications based on the:
- needs of students and communities
- benefit that we expect a chaplain or student wellbeing officer will provide to the school community.
After you apply
A Cross Sector Panel considers applications for the funding. It includes representatives from the ACT Education Directorate, Australian Independent Schools and Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn. Read the Terms of Reference for the Cross Sector Panel [PDF 182 KB].
Required training and qualifications
The program requires all chaplains and wellbeing officers to:
- meet minimum qualification requirements (a Certificate IV or higher in Mental Health, Pastoral Care or Youth Work)
- complete required training.
Read more in the NSWP Guidelines [PDF 472 KB].
Chaplains and wellbeing officers must follow the NSWP Code of Conduct [PDF 78 KB]. This is in addition to:
- mandatory and voluntary reporting requirements
- conduct that the school, sector or the ACT Government expects of all staff.
Complaints
Each school that's part of the program is required to have a:
- comprehensive risk management plan
- complaints handling process.
If you have a complaint about a chaplain or wellbeing officer, contact your school principal.
If your complaint is about how the program is administered, contact us by email EDUClinicalPractice@act.gov.au.
More information
Visit the Australian Government's website for more information on the National Student Wellbeing Program.