Queensland's Q150 - 150th Birthday Grant Project

July 2009 marked the 150th anniversary of the formation of the State of Queensland. In celebrating this epoch in history, the government offered grants for special projects to the state's communities and the Buddhist Council of Queensland was successful in obtaining a grant of $4,800 to produce a useful reference book on the history of Buddhism in this state.

The funds permitted the Council to also complete an up to date directory of centres of dharma study and practice in this state, combining the two into one useful reference book.

In addition, funds also provided for the significant revamp of the Council's website, which you are now accessing. This now permits member groups to access, update and add content about their own organisation as well as place details of events that may be on interest and benefit to others too.

This project has brought not only expanded information on Buddhism's history in Queensland, but it has also provided the opportunity for centres to explain their own histories as well.

This project could not have been completed without the concentrated efforts of many individuals, who gave freely of their time and/or made financial contributions to deliver the total project cost that was over $17,000. The Q150 contribution of $4,800 represented less than 30% of that total.

It is hoped that when further funds become available, we may be able to revise this reference, adding more information about even more centres, and include additional information on buddhism and teaching programs that are available.

In the interim, however, all groups can log into this website and make all changes on-line, so the most complete data should always be accessible from this website.

Should you or your organisation like to receive copies of this publication, please contact us and we will be pleased to forward them to you. While the books are complimentary, there is a small postage&packaging cost that applies.

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