Commemorations, Religious Observances and Multi-Faith Services in Schools

Commemorations, such as Education Week, Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and school centenaries often contain religious elements. These commemorations should be the product of consultation with the school community and parents/caregivers should be notified of the nature of the ceremony.

Schools are permitted to conduct religious observances as part of GRE to celebrate special occasions such as festivals associated with particular religions.

Parents/caregivers are to be notified of the nature of these services and reminded of their right to object to the inclusion of their child in such observances. Schools will provide alternative activities for students not participating.

Providers of SRE may be invited to participate in particular commemorations and observances.

When schools consider a multi-faith service, religious groups and individuals should not be pressured to compromise their faith for the sake of holding the service.

To assist schools in planning religious celebrations, including Education

Week religious services, the Department has developed the following advice:

The Department of Education and Training will continue to produce a service for Education Week. This will be an interdenominational Christian service, in recognition of the fact that the majority of students in New South Wales schools still come from a Christian background. It will be designed to be adapted by regions, churches and schools to meet their specific needs.
Where there are students who are not permitted by their parents to participate in this Christian service the school could arrange alternative services in conjunction with the appropriate religious leaders.

Multi-faith services

Where there is a desire to bring together people of different religions the following principles should apply:

If a multi-faith service is considered appropriate, all religious leaders in the local community should be invited to participate from the very beginning in the preparation of the service.
Since school populations differ widely in their cultural compositions, multi-faith services are best held in the local school. The broader the area of participation, the more likely it is that there will be pressure on the religious integrity of the individual and the community. Therefore, a local approach is more appropriate than a broader one.
Any local committee set up for the purpose of developing a multi-faith service by the Department of Education and Training should have adequate representation from all relevant religious groups.
The word "worship" may create barriers to participation on such occasions. A better title would be "Multi-Faith Order of Service".
Individual religious groups should not be pressured to compromise their beliefs for the sake of holding such a service. If compromise is necessary, it indicates clearly that the service should not be held.
Parents should be fully informed of any planned service and where an objection is made these students are to be supervised in another area of the school.

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NSW Department of Education and Training

Commemorations, Religious Observances and Multi-Faith Services in Schools