Goonawarra Primary School is seeking help to retain a welfare chaplaincy position.
Principal Alan Fairweather said the Sunbury school had continued to pay for the $28,000-a-year position since federal funding expired in 2014.
He said the school had been unable to attract external support since chaplaincy became a state responsibility.
‘‘We value the program so much that we’ve worked hard to find ways to cover it ourselves,’’ Mr Fairweather said.
Relying in part on money raised by a local committee and various fundraising events, the school continues to ensure the chaplain is available two days a week.
‘‘It’s always a burden, but it’s valued,’’ Mr Fairweather said. ‘‘They deal one on one with students where there’s issues.
‘‘Kids with social problems at school or within the family, grief and loss, family breakdowns, blended families … sometimes they just need someone to talk to who’s not a teacher or principal.’’
Mr Fairweather said feedback had been enormously positive, but money being spent on the program was needed elsewhere.
‘‘The chaplain’s also available to parents and staff,’’ he said.
Speaking in Parliament on May 24, Western Metropolitan Liberal MP Bernie Finn called on the government to step in.
‘‘Goonawarra is an area that historically has suffered a number of social problems,’’ he said.
‘‘[The position] has worked wonders in helping many children facing difficulties.’’
