NSW public schools offer special religious education and special education in ethics, delivered by approved providers wherever available.
During enrolment, you can choose a special religious education option for your child from the school’s available approved providers. You can withdraw your child from special religious education by selecting alternative meaningful activities, or special education in ethics if it’s available.
You can update your preference by writing to the school or through the online form available at participating schools.
Visit the department’s website for more information about religion and ethics.
At Birrong Girls High School, SRE (Special Religious Education) is delivered in 60-minute lessons in a 5-week block each term on Fridays during Period 3 to timetabled year groups.
On enrolment parents/carers are given the SRE participation letter to complete and return. After the initial enrolment, notification of changes to a child's enrolment in SRE should be given to our Office Reception, in writing.
At Birrong Girls High School, SRE is provided at our school through the following providers:
§ Islamic Charities Projects Association
The Islamic Charity Projects Association (ICPA) is accredited by the NSW Department of Education to teach Islamic Special Religious Education in NSW public schools. The ICPA works under the guidelines of Darulfatwa - the Islamic High Council of Australia.
For more information about this provider, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence please visit the following sites:
§ Islamic Council of NSW
The Islamic Council of NSW is authorised through the Department of Education to provide Islamic Special Religious Education lessons in NSW Public Schools. ISRE teachers are provided with approved teaching materials and pedagogy.
For more information about this provider, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence please visit the following site:
http://www.isre.org.au/scope-year-7-year-12/
§ Combined Protestant Christian
Combined Protestant Christian Churches Special Religious Education (SRE) is being provided through BLAST (Bankstown Local Area Scripture Team). A number of Approved Providers of SRE that meet NSW Department of Education requirements have arranged to partner together to deliver a Combined Christian SRE curriculum.
The list of providers represent various Protestant denominations:
- Christian Community Churches of Australia
https://cccaust.org/ - Uniting Church in Australia (NSW Synod)
https://nswact.uca.org.au/ - Presbyterian Church of Australia (NSW)
https://pynsw.org.au/ - Australian Christian Churches
https://www.acc.org.au/ - Churches of Christ in NSW & ACT
https://ccnswact.org.au/ - Anglican Diocese of Sydney
https://sydneyanglicans.net/ - Baptist Union of NSW
https://nswactbaptists.org.au/
The name of the curriculum is called Think Faith. Information regarding the curriculum can be found at http://thinkfaith.com.au.
§ Buddhist Faith
The Hwa Tsang Monastery has been accredited to provide SRE in the Buddhist faith to primary and high schools for the NSW Department of Education since 1997.
For more information, including the authorised curriculum scope and sequence please visit the following site and selecting ‘Education’, ‘Special Religious Education’ and then ‘Syllabus and Approach’: