Religious education and special education in ethics
Direction and guidance on matters relating to general religious education, special religious education and ethics education in schools.
Audience
All schools, department officers and providers of special religious education and special education in ethics.
| Version | Date | Description of changes | Approved by |
|---|---|---|---|
V05.0.1 |
19/02/2026 |
Updated policy owner and contact role titles. |
Executive Director Equity, Multicultural and Inclusive ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø |
| V05.0.0 | 10/05/2024 | Under the 2023 Policy and procedure review program, this policy is consolidated with the Special ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø in Ethics policy and converted into new template. |
Executive Director, Curriculum and Reform |
Document history
2022 Jul 25 - updated section 4.2 of implementation document, Special Religious ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Procedure, to include changes to the Working with Children Check policy. Updated website links.
2021 Jul 15 - maintenance update to both implementation documents - updated links, minor formatting changes.
2021 Jun 22 - maintenance update to policy statement - position titles updated to reflect current department organisation structure.
2020 May 12 - updated contact details.
2020 Apr - updated contact details.
Superseded documents
Religious ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Policy PD/2002/0074/V03
Special Religious ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Policy (1995) (PD/2002/0074/V02).
School Manual on ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍøal Management, Revised 1995 DG 95.4095, Section 15.8, Procedures for SRE.
School Manual on ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍøal Management, Revised 1995 DG 95.4095, Section 15.7, Religious ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø.
School Manual on ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍøal Management. Revised 1995 DG 95.4095 Section 15.9, ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø week religious celebrations in schools (including multi-faith services).
Memorandum to Principals 91/067 (S.048) ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Reform Act (Section 26) Exemption from what is being taught on the basis of conscientious objection on religious grounds.
Memorandum 96/138 (S.132) School prayers
Memorandum 93/3316 Special religious education (SRE)
Memorandum DN10/00321 - Planning for 2011 Classes (Special Religious ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø).
- Policy statement
- Schools are to allow for both general religious education (provided as part of the NSW ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Standards Authority syllabuses) and special religious education (where the curriculum is developed and implemented by approved providers).
- For students whose parents have withdrawn them from special religious education, schools are to provide alternative meaningful activities. This may include the option of special education in ethics if it is requested by a parent and carer and an approved provider can provide trained volunteers.
- Context
- , sections 26, 30, 31, 32 and 33 and 33A.
- Rawlinson Committee Report Religion in ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø in NSW Government Schools (1980) recommendations 36-72.
- NSW Ethics Course Trial Final Report (2010) recommendations 1 to 5.
- Inquiry into ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Amendment (Ethics Classes Repeal) Bill 2012 Final Report.
- 2015 Review of Special Religious ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø and Special ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø in Ethics in NSW government schools recommendations.
- The following procedures support this policy:
- Policy contact
- Principal Project Manager - SRE and SEE
religion.ethics@det.nsw.edu.au
02 7814 2353
- Principal Project Manager - SRE and SEE
- Monitoring the policy
- The Executive Director, Equity, Multicultural and Inclusive ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø monitors the implementation of this policy, regularly reviews its contents to ensure relevance and accuracy, and updates it as needed.