Christian Religious Instruction:
Religious Instruction (RI) is the time set aside in state schools where parents/carers can consent for their children to be educated in the faith of their choosing.
Participating Faith Groups:
The Maryborough area Christian Churches come together collectively to offer Christian RI on a cooperative and non-denominational basis to local schools.
Title of Authorised Program:
The providers of Christian RI use authorised program resources and are committed to best-practice programs that have been reviewed by independent curriculum experts.
The most popular Christian RI program resources in use in Queensland state schools are: Connect, Beginning with God, and Big Questions (all published by Christian Education Publications) and GodSpace (published by Burst Christian Resources).
Beginning with God, Connect and GodSpace curriculums are currently authorised for use in the local area by the Maryborough Ministers' Fellowship.
Accredited Instructors:
Volunteers are endorsed by local church ministers and all undertake accreditation, including Working with Children checks, Student Protection and Code of Conduct training, and school induction processes. A school staff member will also be present during the delivery of RI.
Outline of Aims and Goals:
The aim of Christian RI is to inform students about the basic beliefs of the Christian faith, centred on Jesus Christ, from a non-denominational perspective. RI is one way of promoting the spiritual development and wellbeing of young Australians. RI provides children with an opportunity to question, explore and discover faith and Christian values for themselves as a part of a holistic education.
Outline of Lesson Structure:
Christian RI may involve a variety of up-to-date teaching methods including storytelling, music, drama, craft, activity books, prayer, games, quizzes, video clips and puppet shows.
Program resources are written by professional educators and are age-appropriate.
Lessons are typically 30 mins in length.
Other Instruction:
Students who are not participating in RI will be provided with other instruction in a separate supervised location. Other Instruction must relate to part of a subject area already covered in class.
Parents will be advised of any changes to the RI and other instruction programs to ensure they are able to make an informed decision on their child's participation.