Each denomination is responsible for the authorisation, training and support of its Special Religious Education (SRE) volunteers. The aim of the authorisation and training is to better equip SRE teachers both in their knowledge of the Bible and in how to teach it to children in a classroom setting. The training offered for SRE teachers consists of seven modules, including class management, preparing and delivering lessons, understanding the development of children and child protection or safe place training.

It is mandatory that Safe Place training, along with Modules 1 and 4 of the SRE training, is completed before the SRE teacher can be authorised. The remaining modules must then be completed within the first 12 months of commencement.

The Seventh-day Adventist church in Greater Sydney does not have the necessary resources to provide training to its SRE teachers. We have therefore affiliated with other denominations such as the Baptist and Anglican Churches who regularly run SRE training throughout New South Wales.

For details on this training, you can visit their website at www.godspace.org.au/training or www.youthworks.net. For more information on Safe Place training, you can go to www.ncca.org.au or safeplaceservices.org.au/training.

The curriculum used by Seventh-day Adventist SRE teachers will also be provided by these affiliated groups. The curriculum provided will depend on the affiliated denominational group coordinating in your area. For details of the curriculums, used in schools you can visit the Inter-Church Commission on Religious Education in Schools (NSW) Inc website at www.iccoreis.asn.au.

For more details or information about becoming an SRE teacher in Greater Sydney, please contact us on sydney@adventist.org.au or call (02) 9868 6522.