F.A.Q.
When does SRE Accreditation training need to be done by?
All current Primary SRE teachers will be required to complete Accreditation Training by January 1, 2012.
How long do new teachers have after 2012 to do their training?
From 2010, all new primary SRE teachers will be required to complete Accreditation Training within six months of being authorised to teach SRE.
Do high school volunteers have to do any training?
Training will be required for high school volunteers by 2012. It will commence at the beginning of 2011 and more details will be coming soon.
Will teachers who have completed the primary SRE accreditation process will be accredited to teach in high school?
Yes. High School and Primary SRE have the same accreditation requirements and run courses in parallel but the content of the courses are context specific. Irrespective of the training completed, a teacher will be accredited to teach in both primary and high schools.
Do other denominations have to do our training?
We are working towards having every teacher appropriately accredited. At this time we encourage Anglican SRE Coordinators to support and encourage all their teachers, including other denominations, to do the training.
How much is the training?
Accreditation training is currently free but participants will be asked to consider donating to Youthworks and financially partnering with us to support SRE. From term 2 of 2012 there will be a cost of $15 per module for training run by Youthworks advisors, or booked through us.
Where can I register for available training sessions?
Click here to go to our online registration site where you can register for a training session that is convenient for you.
I have been observed teaching a lesson in the past by a Youthworks staff member and/or my rector. Can I be exempt from the Observation stage of the Accreditation process?
No, exemption from Observation is granted to those who are theologically trained at Diploma level or above. The only other exemption is for those who were observed as part of the older SRE Accreditation Pathway (e.g. observed when attaining the Children’s Ministry Certificate). If you are not in one of these categories, you must complete Observation as part of the Accreditation process.
What is a Senior SRE Accreditation Trainer?
Senior SRE Accreditation Trainers (SSATs) are a number of children’s ministers and SRE teachers who are supporting the training by running the modules in their church on behalf of Youthworks as well as observing local SRE Trainers.
What is a Local SRE Accreditation Trainer?
The local church can have an appropriate person trained as an SRE Trainer for both Primary and High School SRE. This person would be qualified to teach all the SRE Accreditation courses in their home church or for the teachers of the schools in which their parish is involved. Click here to visit our web page with more information on becoming a local trainer.
What expectations and guidelines does the government have for Special Religious Education Providers?
Information about the expectations on Special Religious Education providers in NSW government schools can be accessed by downloading "The Guide: Being An SRE Coordinator" PDF booklet published by Youthworks or visiting the NSW Department of Education and Training website.
In the case where an SRE teacher attends one parish (Parish A) but is teaching SRE in a school in another parish (Parish B) and where Parish B coordinates SRE, which Rector shouold authorise the teacher? The rector of Parish A who knows the SRE teacher or the rector of Parish B whose parish coordinates SRE?
An Anglican teacher is authorised on behalf of the Anglican Diocese by the church they are currently attending. The teacher can teach SRE in a school outside the parish boundaries by agreement with the local parish within which they will be teaching. The teacher would be working under the coordinator of the local parish within which they will be teaching and that parish would have the right to discontinue that teacher’s involvement with SRE in the school as they are working within that parish’s boundaries. The teachers name would appear on the cross authorisation form because they would need to be endorsed by each of the churches participating in the combined SRE arrangement.