Chaplaincy programs could still exist in Australian schools despite a High Court decision ruling their federal funding model unlawful, a Christian group says.
The High Court has found the Commonwealth has no executive power to fund the program.
The challenge to it is the second brought by Queensland father Ron Williams, who believes there is no place in secular public schools for religious programs.
The National School Chaplaincy Association (NSCA) says the case is not about the validity of school chaplaincy but about the particular funding model.
"While the High Court has ruled against the current model, the court has acknowledged federal funding can continue for chaplaincy through state-territory grants," it said in a statement on Thursday.
It hoped the federal government would act swiftly to protect the program.
However, the Queensland Council for Civil Liberties has called on Canberra to axe the program, arguing it violates the principle of separating church and state.
"In our multicultural society it is important that the state does not alienate some of its citizens by favouring one religion over the other or those who have no religion by being seen to favour religion," the council's president Michael Pope said, adding secular services were available to provide the type of counselling and guidance chaplains aimed to.
"Yet this is precisely what successive commonwealth governments have chosen to do by this program."
The NSCA is addressing the media in Brisbane later on Thursday.
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