Children at risk: chaplains overstep the boundaries

Counsellors and psychologists have claimed that a taxpayer-funded chaplain program may be putting children at risk in public schools.

It is alleged that many school chaplains who have been hired to provide “pastoral care” were instead offering counselling and recruiting Christianity in breach of Government guidelines.

Some chaplains are also believed to be handing out literature claiming homosexuality is wrong and that condoms promote promiscuity and are not effective for birth control.

The chaplaincy program currently funds 2681 schools across Australia where chaplains or pastoral care workers provide students with advice, comfort and support.

This lack of training poses serious concerns to children dealing with mental health problems and sexuality issues.

Many argue that vulnerable children dealing with such complex emotional problems need to have access to qualified professionals rather than unqualified chaplains.

Tom asked David Stokes, Senior Manager of Professional Practise from the Australian Psychological Society, how important it is that mental health problems are treated by a qualified professional.

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Community outrage: Mission may be demolished

The Davenport Community is calling for a historic land site to be restored and memorialized rather than having the Umeewarra Mission bulldozed.

The Port Augusta Mission educated and was home to over people from the Stolen Generation between 1937 and 1995.

But, over the years it has suffered vandalism and it stands riddled with asbestos and termites today, marking the site for demolition by the The Aboriginal Lands Trust.

No plans for the future of the mission have been confirmed but the site is cordoned off because it has been evaluated to be unsafe, and the community is asking for the site to be restored not removed.

Today chairwoman of the Umeewarra Nguraritja Committee Lavene Ngatokora joined Tom to discuss her thoughts on these potential plans to bulldoze the Umeewarra Mission.

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Forget the jabs, eat it?

We are getting closer to developing a revolutionary vaccine that can be eaten instead of injected.

Clinical trials led by Nobel Prize winner Dr. Barry Marshall and a team of scientists are testing the viability of edible vaccines.

This means of vaccination could be advantageous in the future for long-term illnesses like TB or HIV or even short-term flu vaccines.

Edible vaccines could also open the door to having different strength vaccines for different purposes.

Today Tom was joined by a scientist on the project, Dr. Alma Fulurija to hear about edible vaccines and what they mean for us.

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Is it time to pull our troops out of Afghanistan?

Yesterday’s blatant night-time attack at Kabul’s Intercontinental Hotel in Afghanistan has killed at least ten civilians and injured several others. The Taliban has claimed responsibility for the attack on the high-end hotel, which was explained by witnesses as an extremely well-coordinated assault.

At least six gunmen wearing suicide vests stormed the hotel, which was hosting international guests visiting the city for a conference on the transition of power from the Americans to the Afghans. The attack ended when NATO helicopters flew over the roof of the hotel and allegedly killed the six suicide bombers.

This clearly isn’t the first time that such an attack has occurred in Afghanistan, but is this assault a final signal that perhaps it’s time for our troops to pull out of the war?

Associate Professor Felix Patrikeeff from the University of Adelaide’s School of History and Politics joined Tom Changarathil to discuss this question.

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UK: locals not happy about solar panel farm

This week on London Calling, our UK correspondent, Dermot Smyth joined Tom to tell him about the solar panel farm plans that have outraged locals.

Plans for a controversial solar farm have upset locals and bird watchers with fears that the panels will ruin the picturesque countryside and endanger birds. 

But first he told us about the bizarre features of a 100 million pound estate that’s up for sale.

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