Religious Instruction (RI) is a program of instruction that is approved and provided by a faith group during normal school hours to eligible students (Years 1–12) for up to 1 hour per week by an approved religious instructor.
Queensland state schools embrace a multitude of cultural, religious and non-religious beliefs and encourage students to grow and develop as a whole person, in particular, in beliefs, values and attitudes. Queensland state schools provide Religious Instruction (RI) in accordance with Chapter 5 of the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006. Principals consider the applications from faith groups and, if there are students of that faith group at the school.
Participation in RI is not compulsory. Any student (except Prep students) may participate in RI if a parent has provided written instructions to the school.
Religious leaders approve the program of religious instruction to be used by their accredited representatives as religious instructors, the religious leaders are responsible for the quality of the religious instruction program that is to be delivered in schools and are required to screen their accredited representatives, provide them with ongoing support and training and ensure they are delivering only the authorised program.
Religious instructors are required to maintain accreditation with their faith group, have a current and valid Blue Card and deliver only the authorised program of the faith group.
The religious instructor is required to follow the advice and directives of the principal while on school premises.
At
Bedourie State School, one 60-minute session is conducted with eligible students each term under a cooperative arrangement with leaders of the REACH (Australian Christian Churches), Baptist Church, Uniting Church in Australia and the Salvation Army faiths of Longreach. The authorised programs used are Connect and Godspace.
The aims and goals of this cooperative arrangement are to:
- Provide Christian Religious Instruction based on the Holy Bible to the families of Queensland students in remote areas.
- Provide basic Bible teaching to students.
Students are invited to participate in these RI sessions based on information provided by parents in their Application for School Enrolment. Parents also provide written consent for their children to participate in the sessions. This consent is signed at the time of enrolment and remains in effect unless other written instructions have been provided to the school