On this page you’ll find answers to frequently asked questions about ethics programs. If you need further help, please get in touch with our Helpdesk.
Ethics Classes
Our classes are taught using a ‘community of inquiry’ with between 8 and 22 children. Experience has taught us that more than 22 children in this format is not viable in a 30 minute lesson as active participation is a critical component of the lesson.
It’s not a requirement that every ethics class needs a supervising (school) teacher. The Department of Education’s Special Education in Ethics (SEE) Procedures summarises as follows:
Class teachers are not required to attend classes in SEE, but may, with the agreement of the teacher of SEE or at the request of the principal, remain in the classroom to assist with and monitor student behaviour. This is at the discretion of the principal and should be negotiated with the SEE provider.
We do not currently have specific resources for children with special needs, however the school is encouraged to work with the ethics teacher to make sure any additional information or resources (such as a teacher’s aide or special equipment) is made available for the class.
Volunteers will find an online short course in My Training in EVIE about teaching children with additional or special needs.
Our curriculum is written and approved for children in the same learning stages as they are taught the standard curriculum. Early stage one is kindergarten only; stage one is years 1 and 2; stage two 2 is years 3 and 4, and stage three is years 5 and 6. Classes may be composed of children from the same stage but in different years – for example a stage 3 class may include both year 5 and 6 students.
A curriculum for stage 4 (years 7 & 8) has been successfully launched and is now available in several high schools. Please contact us for more information or to discuss starting a new ethics program in a high school.
Primary Ethics is keen to offer online ethics classes for remote students or for students in smaller schools where numbers are too low to form a class across an educational stage. This possibility is funding-dependent and we are keen to talk to organisations or potential sponsors who could assist us in making this a reality. We also have some digital animated lessons available that could be used in remote schools. Please contact our Helpdesk and ask to speak to someone about Bites.
If there are many more than 22 children opting to do ethics, children may be put on a waitlist until an additional class can be formed. This usually depends on getting more volunteers. Waitlisted children will take part in ‘meaningful activities’ in the meantime.
This is the responsibility of the principal or a member of the school staff delegated to coordinate Scripture and Ethics classes. Our Primary Ethics coordinators liaise directly with this staff member regarding permission notes and enrolment information.
The Department of Education has developed a participation letter which lists all SEE and SRE options on the same form. This should be provided to all students upon enrolment, regardless of whether ethics teachers and rooms are yet to be allocated to that stage.
If ethics classes are already available at your school, you will need to let the school know in writing that you would like to opt your child out of their current enrolment in Scripture (SRE) and that you would like them to attend ethics classes. If there is a place available, your child will be placed straight into an ethics class, otherwise they will be placed in alternative ‘meaningful activities’ and onto the ethics waitlist. If your school does not yet provide ethics classes, let the school know you would like this option for your child and contact us about starting a program there.
You may change your preference at any time by requesting a change in writing. See this excerpt from Special Education in Ethics Procedures:
A parent/caregiver may at any time notify the school in writing that they do not wish their child to attend SRE/SEE or to change their nomination. Students are to continue in the same arrangement as the previous year, unless a parent/caregiver has requested a change.
Our curriculum framework is available on our website, including the objectives of each topic. The actual lessons used within each topic are only available to the NSW Department of Education and for use by our volunteers. To assist parents in understanding and engaging with our curriculum, we send @Home once a term – a newsletter for parents which provides curriculum outlines and updates.
If there are volunteers available to teach ethics, then classes can start at any time during the school year. New ethics programs sometimes start in Terms 2, 3 and even 4. Principals must strive, in coordination with Primary Ethics, to make the option available to parents who ask for it.
No. Principals must allow time for Special Education in Ethics (SEE) where the approved provider – Primary Ethics – has volunteers available. The Education Act 1990 was amended to allow ethics as an option for children whose parents have withdrawn them from special religious education.
No. The principal is to inform the school community on enrolment as well as via the school website and school newsletter if ethics is available at the school and that parents have the right to the option of ethics for their child. If there is a change to the program – such as a new class – this should also be communicated via the same channels.
School websites should have a section on SRE/SEE with a link to the Primary Ethics website. New kindergarten students – in fact all new students of any stage – should be given a letter of enrolment for SRE/SEE. Ideally, even if there is not yet an ethics program at your school, the school should make it clear to parents that ethics is an option and work with Primary Ethics to start a program when there are trained volunteers. Read more about starting ethics at your school.
Principals support SRE and SEE by making adequate facilities available, including learning spaces. Consultation and regular communication will assist in equitably allocating learning spaces for the delivery of SEE. Ensure that all possibilities have been explored – library, school hall, music rooms, before-and-after-school care buildings, even playground spaces with roofing. Classroom allocations are based on common sense and cooperation and we work with the schools to find a solution on a case by case basis.
This is from the Department of Education’s Frequently Asked Questions:
Schools determine the Alternative Meaningful Activities and include their plan for Alternative Meaningful Activities in general information to parents/caregivers on their school website and in other forms of communication.
Currently, SEE can be offered at schools even if SRE is not. However, if at some time in the future the legislated requirement to hold regular SRE classes during school time changes, Primary Ethics would offer alternative delivery methods to NSW schools.
Volunteering for Primary Ethics
To ensure continuity for children and schools we do ask for a commitment to the end of the current year and preferably for 12 months from new volunteers. While Primary Ethics does have volunteers who teach ethics on a casual basis, they are ethics teachers who have already taught for over a year.
Yes, we have quite a few teachers who elect to teach at two schools. If you’re considering teaching at more than two schools, contact us to discuss.
We’re here to help! Many of our teachers are new to managing a class full of children and we understand it can be a bit of a culture shock. We offer plenty of support options:
- training in behaviour management and child protection
- access to our classroom support team (via Help&Feedback in EVIE)
- telephone support with our volunteer managers
- assistance from your school
- our Chatter discussion forums on EVIE and private Facebook group often cover many issues you might face as a teacher.
An ethics coordinator can undergo both ethics teacher and ethics coordinator training if they’d like to volunteer in a combined role. Discuss with your hiring manager to see if it would suit your situation.
A link to the application form for the National Police Check is provided as part of the volunteer induction process.
If you are able to provide a copy of the original certificate document, it is less than 12 months old and it has a check type of ‘Healthcare and Vulnerable Persons’, we are happy to accept it. Please note that these are the only criteria under which we will accept a pre-existing certificate.
For part time or casual teachers this is possible, however full time Department of Education teachers are not allowed by the terms of their employment to volunteer during their working hours.
All roles with Primary Ethics require an interview as part of the recruitment process. It is preferable to meet with someone face-to-face where feasible, however we appreciate that this is not always possible. We are happy for your interview to take place by phone or online.
Ethics Teacher Training
There are two phases of training for volunteer ethics teachers:
Phase 1: online learning introduces the required knowledge components to prepare you for the training workshop
Phase 2: You can choose either an intensive two-day (9.30am – 4.30pm) face to face training workshop OR an online training course.
Once you are an active volunteer, we provide ongoing online courses and workshops to further develop your skills. We also provide telephone assistance and ongoing access to the classroom support team.
The online and face to face components of training cover:
- Overview of the philosophical framework for the curriculum
- Understanding the community-of-inquiry approach to learning and the role of the teacher as facilitator
- How to use the lesson materials
- Facilitation skills, including non-verbal communication, procedural questioning, neutral responses, managing dominant and timid group members, managing small groups and running activities
- Behaviour management strategies and practice
- Child protection
- Primary Ethics policies and requirements
- Department of Education policies and requirements.
We hold online training workshops throughout the year, at different times of the day and evening to suit most schedules.
Regular face-to-face training is held in various locations around Sydney. We also hold training in regional centres on demand once we have sufficient numbers.
Training is provided free of charge to approved volunteers.
Bookings are essential. There are a number of online and compliance pre-requisites for the workshop. All of our training is copyright protected and may only be delivered to inductee teachers who have undergone our recruitment process. The training is restricted to enrolled persons only.
Primary Ethics - the Organisation
We are a registered charity and the sole authorised provider of special education in ethics to the NSW Department of Education.
Primary Ethics is funded entirely by donations from individuals and foundations.
There is no cost to schools, families or children. The provision of classes costs Primary Ethics approximately $25 per annum per child. This is funded through the generosity of individual and organisational donors.
We would be most grateful if you did! It costs Primary Ethics approximately $25 per child per annum to provide ethics classes. We would welcome your support.
Primary Ethics runs on volunteers – ethics teachers, school ethics coordinators or being in the Classroom Support team.