Information about various concepts the Buddhist Council of Queensland is working on, or supports.

Projects Worth Noting for the Future

Schools

A Dhamma School for Primary Students in Queensland

A project to establish a special Independent Primary School in South East Queensland has begun!

Based on England's Dharma School in this school the national curriculum will be taught by Teachers who are Buddhist practitioners as well as fully qualified and registered teachers. In this way children will learn about Buddhism and how to apply it in everyday life whilst undertaking formal education.

Are you interested?

A significant interest in the establishment of a Dhamma School in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast has been shown. If you are living in either of these locations and this unique school sounds appealing - somewhere you would sincerely consider enrolling your children in the near future - your expression of interest would be of great assistance in determining our location. So please inform us of your interest via the contact details below.

Also please contact us if you are:

  • A Principal, registered teacher, or studying to be a teacher, who is walking on the path of Dhamma and want to share the Dhamma with children,
  • Able to lend your professional skills such as: accountancy, legal advice, building and construction advice, etc.
  • Interested in contributing to this project in other ways,
  • Interested in being part of the Steering Committee,
  • Sangha interested in contributing to the school's development and management.

Funding

Our intention is to create a non-profit, minimal fee paying organization.

Finances will be sought from:

  • Government and non-Government bodies;
  • Charity and Buddhist organisations; and
  • Private donors.

The steering committee welcomes people to assist the establishment of the school, in areas such as:

  • Fundraising – writing applications etc.
  • Formulating the Educational Program
  • Promotion of the Dhamma School in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast
  • Researching Viability and Financial Planning of the School
  • Assisting with legal documentation

If you are able to contribute your time, skills and/or experience, we would be very interested to hear from you.

You can email your support to thedhammaschool@yahoo.com.au

You can learn more by clicking here: http://dhammaschool.tripod.com/


Also a Dhamma School for New South Wales - at Lismore!

In the meantime, a new project with the same goals has taken its first infant steps towards a successful sprint into Australia's education system - the Siddartha School, located at Lismore in northern New South Wales, Australia.


And Another Dhamma School in Perth, Western Australia is also being planned!

Another proposed school is also on the drawing boards, to be commenced in Perth from 2008. This initiative is hoped to eventually either link up with other dharma schools in other states, or even commence similar schools in other states under the one banner. Much work still needs to be done and success, as with all the other ventures, will only be realised by the local and broader support of their respective Buddhist communities.


Prison Chaplaincy

Buddhist organizations within the general community are always available to assist society whenever the need arises. The undertaking of this role can be seen in ever increasing areas of involvement, which also illustrates the diversity of talent within the Buddhist community. The Buddhist Council of Queensland is currently making arrangements with the Department of Corrections so that it will be able to offer chaplaincy facilities to those who are seeking contact.

It is intended that the B.C.Q. will be working closely with the few members of the Buddhist community who are already involved in this activity, as well as the clergy from the various denominations. The need for close and harmonious relationship with all groups will ultimately result in a much wider offering within the service generally. Worthwhile direction in the provision and development of this project will additionally come from the observation and discussion with other groups engaged in this role, both in Australia and overseas.

The role of the B.C.Q. in the area of prison chaplaincy could best be described as a co-ordinator between the Department of Corrections, the Chaplaincy Board and the Buddhist volunteers from the various Buddhist traditions. It should not be perceived to be promoting one tradition ahead of another, but rather as the means to directing the appropriate tradition to the right area of service.

Guidelines and Requirements for Prison Chaplaincy

1. The Security clearance:

Each person wishing to visit a prisoner must first obtain a security clearance. To do this it is probably best to first ring the Chaplains office at the appropriate centre, and check that the process there aligns with what I'm indicating here. It does vary somewhat from centre to centre, especially at low security centres. Also, information is not normally transferred from centre to centre, and you may need to apply separately at each centre you wish to visit. Normally you could anticipate that you will need to provide the following information:

  • Full name
  • Date and place of birth
  • Full address
  • Home and work Phone numbers (include mobile if you have one)
  • Drivers licence and or passport - a certified true copy will need to be provided.

Australian citizens with no police record are usually processed in 6 to 8 weeks. If checks need to be made overseas then the process can be quite protracted. Once obtained a security clearance must be renewed every 12 months.

It is possible to make "ordinary" visits to a prisoner. However, such a visit counts on the prisoner's record of visits, and so could prevent a family member or friend from visiting. Also such visits are in the normal visits area with all other visitors. Religious visits are counted separately to general visits, and usually mean you will be provided with an interview room with just the visitor and the prisoner in the room. You will be permitted to take in limited Buddhist scripture or teaching material not permitted in the general visits area. Not all centres have the ability to offer interview rooms, so again you will need to take it on a centre by centre basis.

2. Making a visit:

Once a security clearance is obtained then a "Religious visit" may be booked. Officially the prisoner should request visits by an appropriate person of his faith, but if you have a list of the prisoners of Buddhist faith you may be able to write to them and suggest that they do so.

The visits process does vary from centre to centre, but the usual point of contact is the Chaplains office. Chaplains don't spend a lot of time in the office, as they try to circulate around the centre, but if you have difficulties ring the centre and ask to speak to the Visits booking officer and explain the problem. Normally visits need to be booked around 3 or 4 days ahead, but check each centre's requirements.

When presenting for a visit, remember to arrive at least 30 minutes early and report to the visits area of the centre. You will not be permitted to take in articles such as mobile phones, car keys, wallets, purses, food items, any metal objects etc. Lockers are usually available to store these. You may be subjected to a check by the drug-sniffer dogs, and you will normally pass through metal detectors as well. Most shoes do contain metal strips and you may need to take then off and pass them through the x-ray machine (similar to at airport.)

Once in the interview room you will may be locked in with the prisoner, and you will need to remain there for the whole visit period (usually one hour). There are often consecutive visiting periods, so it is often possible to visit two or three inmates in the one morning or afternoon.

This information is supplied by:
Rev lan Sexton
Chair
State Chaplaincy Board for Corrections, Queensland.
The State chaplaincy Board acknowledges funding by Queensland Government, Department of Corrective Services