Queensland Government considers plan for schools to use funding for chaplains instead of education State Government's school shutdown ASL spokesman Hugh Wilson said state schools should be secular and warned the move to boost chaplaincy services with discretionary funding would be "absolutely disgraceful." "There's little enough money given over for Education Queensland schools, that is why P & Cs raise money for motor mowers and janitor's utes and playground equipment," he said. QTU president Kevin Bates said state education should be "free, public and secular" and student welfare services should be delivered through fully trained and accredited school counsellors, guidance officers, psychologists and social workers, not chaplains. Scripture Union Qld CEO Peter James said they approached the State Government for increased funding for chaplains after the Bundaberg floods, because more students needed their help. He said chaplains were trained in youth work and pastoral care, which complemented psychologists and guidance counsellors. "A chaplain is in the playground and at the school gate," Mr James said. There is a lot of time that is needed to just chat and unpack that stuff, that isn't necessarily counselling.