Below are some comments you might like to take into account in your response to some of the questions, though of course the survey wants to hear what you believe, in your own words.

Question: Why did you choose to be involved with a religious educational institution (if applicable)?

If it was because of the Christian values, character or beliefs of the school, please ensure that this is captured.  For those who are teachers, it may be because you sought an opportunity to teach according to your faith, and to model/live out your faith in your workplace.

Question: What do you see as the good things about religious educational institutions that you have been involved with?

I hope that there will be many good things you can identify!  The values and caring culture and environment are often identified, along with the positive examples of staff and the relationships within the school community.

Question: Do you see the creation of a ‘community of faith’ within a religious educational institution as important?

Schools are about more than just teaching maths and English – they are a learning community that shapes the whole person. That’s why schools teach sport, art and ethics. Parents choose faith-based schools because they want that learning community to also be a community of faith that shapes their child. Christian teachers who embody that faith are an essential part of this. In your answer, you might talk about how you have experienced the community of faith in your school or college, and how you value that as a part of education, and how Christian teachers provided a positive Christian role model. 

Question: What do you think about reforms to change the law so that religious educational institutions would not be allowed to discriminate against students on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or relationship status, or pregnancy?

Students should not be discriminated against on those (or other) ground, and student should be harassed or bullied for any reason. But this should be implemented in such a way that that ensures that religious schools are can teach their doctrines without this being labelled a discrimination, and can set codes of conduct for students that reflect the values of the school and the community it serves. 

Question: What do you think about reforms to change the law so that religious educational institutions would not be allowed to discriminate against staff on the grounds of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or relationship status or pregnancy?

It is reasonable that staff who work in faith-based schools and colleges could be required to share the values of the faith community, not only in their teaching but in their manner of living out their faith. Staff should not be directly discriminated against on the basis of their sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or relationship status or pregnancy,  but it should be permissible for a school to require that staff hold certain religious beliefs, even if this might indirectly discriminate where a teacher’s sexual conduct was inconsistent with the beliefs they were required to hold.

Question: In relation to the employment of staff and selection of contractors...

what do you think religious educational institutions should be permitted to take into account in preferencing members of the same religion?

what do you think religious educational institutions should not be permitted to take into account in preferencing members of the same religion?

Are there some factors that institutions should be permitted to take into account for particular employee/contractor roles, but not for other employee/contractor roles?

Each faith has its own requirements – some have restrictions on clothing, diet, and all kinds of behaviour. It is not appropriate – an indeed dangerous overreach – for a Government to decide which bits of a faith a religious school is allowed to require, and which bits are not. In your answer, you might talk about the need for religious groups to hold to their own faith and not be told what they are and are not allowed to believe. 

The survey must be completed by 24 February. Please complete this as soon as possible to ensure that you don’t miss out. It can be completed from the survey link here,  or by heading to: https://alrc.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3gw1k6J8iZBCpbE.

Thank you for your assistance in helping us to maintain Christian schools as authentically Christian.

Yours in Christ