New England MP Barnaby Joyce has announced $247 million is on offer to eligible schools in the electorate for chaplains, as long as they’re religious.

Public schools in NSW aren’t forced to take part in the chaplaincy program, but for rural and regional schools struggling for support, the extra body is often better than nothing.

Armidale Teacher’s Association president Michael Sciffer has a post graduate degree in psychology and works as a school counsellor.

Despite the rule chaplains must not attempt to convert or preach to students, he believes there are a lot of cases where chaplains use their position to pursue a religious agenda.

“A lot of schools in rural areas feel pressured to take whatever opportunities they can to get extra support, but secular public schools should be free from specific religious institutions having chaplains in them,” he said.

“We have such high suicide rates among young people in our country towns and a lot of that has to do with sexuality and the pressures around identity growing up in small communities.

“You need specialist training to work with young people who are suicidal and people who are discovering their identity and sexual orientation.”

School chaplains aren't required to have qualifications in teaching, psychology or counselling.

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But, all chaplains paid for by the program must be recognised through formal ordination, commissioning, religious qualifications or be endorsed by a religious institution, according to the NSW Department of Education.

At a minimum, they need to have a Certificate IV in Youth Work or Pastoral Care.

While qualified school counsellors are in such high demand in rural NSW that the state government offers rental subsidies of 50 to 90 percent, $5000 for each year the counsellor stays for up to five years and additional personal leave.

The NSW Department of Education has specifically identified Armidale, Tamworth and Moree as areas where school counsellors are scarce.

Counsellors are bound by professional practice, confidentiality, lines of supervision and recognising issues they aren’t qualified to confront – it’s not clear whether chaplains must conform to the same practices.

Mr Sciffer said the government could better use the money to fund welfare programs with a strong scientific base.

“There’s all of the evidence to say psychology makes a difference in kids’ lives and teachers make a big difference, where’s the evidence chaplains make any difference?” he said.

“There’s certainly anecdotal evidence they’re creating harm for kids in schools.

“I’ve had a lot of young people come to me with mental health concerns, dealing with self-harm, family breakdown and suicidal thoughts – when I’m supporting those students I’m using what I’ve learned both in my studies as a teacher and psychological training.

“Which is all based on scientific evidence that it actually works.”

Secular youth workers are actively excluded by the program, which has twice been ruled invalid by the High Court.

But, New England MP Barnaby Joyce said the government’s 2018 to 2019 budget extends the program.

“There’s 34 schools across the New England that will benefit from this funding boost so that chaplains can continue their vital role supporting the health and wellbeing of young people,” he said.

“Our schools funding and school chaplains programme will deliver a quality education so that every student in every school in New England is given every opportunity to succeed and thrive.” 

The faith’s of school chaplains aren’t recorded for the government, and parents must consent before providing services to a child.

However, parents have shared concerns that religious views on same-sex marriage, gender identity and suicide may be spilling into state schools.

New England Parents and Citizens Association president Rachel Sowden has a child who identifies with the LGBTQI community, and has attempted suicide three times.

“The holes in this system are so big you could drive a Mack truck through it,” she said.

“There’s no psychological training required, that’s why I would be concerned them being left one on one with vulnerable students.

“Let’s see some data that they’re actually making a difference for our kids, public schools would be less against it if we could take a secular worker.”

Ms Sowden said using public funding for a religious program creates a two-tiered system, where state schools are missing out on extra support because parents would prefer to close the door on religious chaplains.

“At least if they made it secular it would be a less controversial system for everyone,” she said.

Participating schools can receive up to $20,000 a year, with an extra $4000 available for remote schools.

The program is offered to schools in Glen Innes, Armidale, Tamworth, Walcha, Tingha and Inverell.

Mr Joyce declined to comment on opposition to the program.