At least three schools have been burnt to the ground, in Marysville, Middle Kinglake and Strathewen. Many more schools have been closed due to fire, smoke or contamination. Chaplains supported by ACCESS Ministries have experienced personal losses in the fires of Marysville and around Kinglake. Others work in school communities where for example there are six reported deaths, 15 lost homes, and 15 people still unaccounted for.
Evonne Paddison, CEO of ACCESS Ministries, has been with some of her local chaplains today in the fire-affected areas. She witnessed the huge scale of the devastation; the stories of family reunions and of family losses: "No sector of society has been left untouched by this disaster. However, we are standing by the young people of Victoria; we care, and we are there."
"Chaplains are helping young people, who are reeling, to cope with the enormity of events. Many have lost family or friends, homes, classmates, schools, as well as a general sense of security. Pastoral care offers no pat answers, just practical support one day at a time."
These chaplains specialise in helping children, families, teachers and school communities to cope with trauma and grief. In many of these fire-affected school communities the chaplains are already there at work and in the community.
ACCESS has been exploring, and has now already received, offers for the temporary release of school chaplains in other States to provide further support for fire-affected young people and school communities within Victoria.
For over 60 years ACCESS ministries has been in the unique position of being actively involved in the school community throughout Victoria. With 270 schools currently participating in ACCESS ministries Chaplaincy programs over 20,000 children accessed the services of their chaplain in the first semester of 2008 alone.
On the Web: www.accessministries.org.au/
Source: ACCESS Ministries