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Christianity has always been a major influence in Australia, not just now but since the early times of development of Australian society. It has greatly influenced all aspects of our heritage and has helped to develop areas that play a major role in our lives today. These areas include education, an area which is thoroughly important in society today, the law, which provides us with morality and justice, healthcare, which enables good health and care, and social welfare, something that a lot of people rely on for help and support. These four areas were all developed under the influence of Christianity and it is through this that each of these four areas has been able to successfully help and guide people on through the journey of life. Education From as early as 1825, the majority of children did not attend school due to the decisions made by their parents. This was mostly due to the fact that they didn’t want their children to be put under the influence of other religions, in particular, the Church of England. From this, Governor Bourke introduced legislation in 1836 to establish a single education system. In this, schools would receive government funding, the general education given would not be connected with any particular church, therefore being secular, and children would be under religious instruction by ministers from their own denominations. Unfortunately, from this, most people opposed the legislation. The majority of the opposing were from the middle class who did not want their children associating with anyone of a lower class or any child of a convict or criminal, as they believed it would destroy their morality. Sectarianism between Catholics, Anglicans and Protestants delayed all attempts to introduce a single system of education. As a result, a system of both state a denominational schools emerged. In 1839, Governor Gipps set up the Board of Education and with that, new conditions were laid down for government aid to denominational schools. No school could receive government funding unless 100 pounds was subscribed towards its first establishment.
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