Strategies

Reliance on God

We aim to follow biblical principles in all service delivery.

Working with Local Churches

• to enhance the effectiveness of local Christian work.
• to listen to the vision of local people and try to match our resources to their needs.
• to sow the seeds of ministry possibilities.

Local Responsiveness

• to decentralise our work
• to recognise local distinctions and respond to them
• to trust local people while seeking to maintain unity, quality and accountability

Voluntary Leadership

• to strengthen the volunteer base of our work
• to invest leadership in the volunteer members of our council and teams

Partnership

• to work in cooperation with all agencies with complementary goals
• to develop working partnerships whenever appropriate to fulfilling our aims
• to avoid duplicating the efforts of other like minded organisations

Honouring Families

• to always consider and seek to support the family of every child with whom we have contact
• to develop within all existing programs connections to a child's family
• to work within guidelines for follow-up

Resource Production

• to develop all programs in a way that enables them to of use to the wider community
• to publish materials through the Resources For Ministry Unit

Training

• to ensure that every volunteer is ready to participate in their activity (no deep ending)
• to provide training which is specific to our aims and local need
• to provide state wide training in our specialist areas as a service to other organisations

Mission and Camping

• to run children's and youth camps as are deemed necessary to fulfil our aims
• to resource short term holiday missions and clubs as required by local churches

Bible Use

• Wherever appropriate to do so to open the Bible in all programs and activities in
  ways that relate best to the context we are in
• wherever appropriate to do so, open the Bible in all programs and activities in ways that relate best to the context we are in
• to make available Bibles or portions to any interested children/young
• persons who request them
• to support Bible reading with appropriate Bible reading resources

Best Practice

• the care and safety of children
• risk management and Critical Incident Response
• teaching practice
• behaviour management
• pastoral care

Working in Schools

• to go to where the majority of children and young people are ie in classrooms
• to make an educationally valid contribution to the curriculum processes
• to offer resources that will enable schools to better meet the needs of students

Code of Conduct in Schools

• in language and action to always affirm the dignity and worth of the individual.
• recognise, respect and affirm the authority of the school community and will work in consultation with it.
• recognise the authority and responsibility of parents/care givers.
• to cooperate with local churches, minister's associations and the Commission for Christian Ministry in State Schools.
• we particularly recognise and support Christian staff, parents and students, while being present to provide support for the entire school community
• seek to identify and make contact with Christians already working with a local school before initiating any new activity.
• recognise that when working in a state school or college setting in comparison with church related settings, variations in style are essential. Therefore, in the school,
  1. seek to prevent our work from becoming a vehicle for the beliefs of any one group.
  2. avoid all forms of manipulation in sharing of faith (within appropriate contexts) and expectations of response
  3. we enter school communities with the understanding and appreciation that not all staff, parents or students will share our beliefs
  4. avoid using language which assumes students share beliefs.
• seek open evaluation of our work in schools by staff, parents, students and our professional peers.