Youth and Children's Ministry Unit

RE Teacher Training

Are you looking for fresh ideas for your RE class? Do your volunteer R.E. teachers need some encouragement?

Dealing with the Tough Stuff is the theme for the 2008 RENEW Conference for all RE teachers, school chaplains and children's workers.

Guest speaker Pam Faro from the UK will help us explore how biblical tales illumine and enrich each other and the communities who share them.

RENEW Conference is on Friday 17 October 2008 at Broadwater Rd Uniting Church from 8.45am - 3pm. Cost for the day is $45 and includes all workshops, morning tea and lunch or only $38 if you BYO lunch. A special discount available for groups of 5 or more. Registration forms are available from the Youth & Children's Ministry Unit Ph 3377 9866 or downloadable from www.yacmu.com.au

Registration is free for the first 50 registrations from country participants (ie those living in postcode areas 4380-4399; 4406-4499; 4580+). The Conference is arranged by the RENEW R.E. network in partnership with the Qld Children's Ministry Network.

Download the promo flyer!

You can register online at www.ycm.org.au/renew . This facility is generously provided by the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane. Unfortunately you cannot pay online. For more information please contact Paul Yarrow Mob 0418 765 712 Email Paul.Yarrow@yacmu.ucaqld.com.au

EQ Employees teaching Religious Instruction (RI) in schools

Can an Education Queensland teacher teach Religious Instruction during non-contact school time?

The answer is YES for teachers who are already teaching RI but they need the permission of the Principal
The answer is NO if this teacher moves to a new setting and wants to teach RI.
The Answer is NO if a teacher has not taught RI before and now wants to teach RI.

Basically EQ are phasing out the practice over time.

The following Interpretation has been provided by Education Queensland to help provide some clarity. This advice was privded to the Members of the Religious Education Advisory Committee on the 18th of June and is available for general distribution.

"EQ Employees teaching Religious Instruction (RI)

Although religious instruction (RI) is not part of the formal approved curriculum that our state schools have a responsibility to deliver, the Department is supportive of the provision of RI.

Although some Education Queensland (EQ) employees currently provide this instruction during their non-contact time, the primary responsibility of EQ employees is to perform work specifically related to the approved curriculum. Nevertheless, an EQ employee, if present in the classroom during RI for supervisory purposes, may assist in the conduct of the RI class.

Full time EQ employees who currently teach RI during paid time may continue to do so at their current school provided that it is undertaken in a voluntary capacity, has the approval of the principal and does not impact on the operations of the school (e.g. the need for students not participating in RI to engage in other supervised activities in a separate location as mandated by the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006).

If EQ employees teaching RI are transferred or retire, another EQ employee is not to undertake these duties nor are these employees to undertake the role in a new context.

Part-time EQ employees may conduct RI during their own time when they are not being paid by the Department."

Michael Jeffrey

YACMU 2009 Holy Land Tour

For Active Adults and Young Adults
When: 16-28 March 2009
Cost: approximately $5000.00

In 2008 a group of 24 active adults from 23 – 67 years of age went on the YACMU Tour of The Holy Land. It was such an amazing experience that we all agreed that we must help others to have the opportunity to visit Israel too. It is so beautiful, inspiring and thought provoking. And so plans are under way for a 2009 tour. We need at least 25 enthusiastic people to come on board for this adventure. If you are an active adult or young adult, you are invited!

For more details go to:
http://www.yacmu.com.au/modules.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=46

NCYC 2009

National Christian Youth Convention (NCYC)
3-9 Jan 2009
Melbourne!

Don't delay. Get registered today ( www.ncyc.org.au ).
Contact YACMU to find a tour. If you would like to organise a tour, let us know. We will be happy to help you get one launched!!

P.S. If you are looking for a fundraiser to get your group to NCYC, check out the fundraiser page under the "Ministry" column to the left and click on "fundraising ideas". If you have any ideas to share around, let us know and we will post it.

National Youth and Young Adults Ministries

Introducing the new National Youth and Young Adults Ministries website!!

Attention all Queensland Youth Workers!! You now can promote what you are doing in your congregations nationally on the Uniting Church in Australia's new National Youth and Young Adults Ministries website.

Check it out: http://www.nyyam.org

If you are interested in posting something, contact:
Rev Sandy Boyce
National Faith Development Consultant
Uniting Faith and Justice, Uniting Church in Australia

PO Box 506

, Marleston SA 5033
Ph +61 (0)8 8297 2145
Mobile +61 (0) 409 283 004
sandyb@nat.uca.org.au
NEW! http://www.nyyam.org (National Youth and Young Adults Ministries)