A report in The Age over the weekend claimed the future of opt-in religious classes in schools is in doubt.

The article said a drop in enrolments and uncertainty around state government funding would prove mortal blows.

The Coalition, who pledged $400K per year for ACCESS over the next five years recently lost the election to Victorian Labor.

However, ACCESS Ministries CEO Dawn Penney says while it’s yet to meet with new Labor Education Minister James Merlino, it’s hopeful it will receive some funding for ACCESS’ work in schools.

“We haven’t had a guarantee, but that doesn’t mean we’re not going to meet with the Education Minister with that in mind when we meet with him.”

During ongoing debate around SRI back in 2006, Mr Merlino spoke in support of giving parents the opportunity to send their kids along to SRI, which leaves ACCESS cautiously optimistic.

“Look, I’d be surprised if they matched the Coalition Government’s funding pledges, but the current funding commitment only represents 5 or 6 per cent of our total costs.

“We’re not dependent on government funding to do SRI.” ACCESS relies on private support for the remainder of its funding.

Dawn says despite the headlines, ACCESS is not in imminent danger, with more than 53,000 children currently enrolled in SRI and a new curriculum on its way for Term 2 in 2015.

“We will be there as long as parents enrol their children in the programme. We will be there to provide it.”

The new curriculum was supposed to be ready for Term 1, but has been held up. Dawn says once it’s been assessed as being in line with the Department of Education and Early Childhood’s policies and values it will be released in Term 2.

A clearer consent form and a new brochure on what ACCESS provides called “Exploring Christianity” will also be given to parents early next year.

ACCESS has been in the media spotlight over the last few years after being accused of proselytising and issuing inappropriate material. In the last six months it’s also been victim of a confusing consent form, as well as a ministerial directive which had to be retracted due to its anti-religious intent. The Liberal Education Minister later said his department had “over-reached” and issued a new one.

A number of school principals were reported to have dropped SRI amidst the mix-up, in what’s added up to a rough year for Access Ministries. But Dawn Penney says it’s nothing their supporters should be worried about.

“Someone once said there was no such thing as bad publicity. I’m not sure about. But for all the noise [parents against SRI] make, they’re a relatively small group…

“The middle of the year was a pretty tough time, but [that trend] has already shown signs of reversing. We’ve had several hundred schools already approach us or be in discussion with us about handing out SRI consent forms and flyers before or after Christmas. So I don’t think it is a permanent downward trend… I think we will see a change in the opposite direction.”