A Religious Education Symposium was organised by Faith NSW at NSW Parliament House on 12th November 2024. At the Symposium, the Department of Education launched to the faith communities their new religious bullying helpline. This has been set up to support students, families and teachers who experience or witness religious bullying in schools.
Faith NSW and Education subcommittee of Faith Affairs Council co-chaired by Murray Norman and Surinder Jain has been working with the Department of Education for many months to bring about this helpline.
The Education Minister said, I am really proud that we were able to launch a helpline to assist students, families and staff who experience or witness religious intolerance. This helpline is here not just for students and their families but also importantly to help our school staff … who are also managing very challenging situations, so they can receive the right support at the right time.
The Hon. Matt Cross MP, Shadow Assistant Minister for Education representing Shadow Education Minister Sarah Mitchell who was unwell said, I welcome the announcement of the helpline for students and parents to report religious tolerance, so thank you to the Department of Education and the Minister. I encourage all of you to promote this helpline for both students and their parents to use it.
The faith leaders are pleased to see the Department supporting religious communities in this way, and we encourage all communities to make themselves and their families aware of this service and make use of it as needed. The number to call is 1300 679 332.
Both Mr Norman and Mr Jain thanked the Education Department team headed by Paul Wood for their pro-active co-operation in ensuring that the helpline is established and manned properly.
