Concerns have been raised by the college about the future of the program, due to the possible loss of funding.

The concerns follow advice from Federal Member for Wannon, David Hawker, about plans by the Rudd Government to cease funding support for the National School Chaplaincy Program.

Mr Hawker said the government had refused to commit to continue the program beyond the life of current contracts, despite extensive positive feedback from local schools.

``Under questioning in Senate Estimates hearings, the minister representing the minister for education has refused to guarantee that the chaplaincy program will continue beyond this financial year,'' Mr Hawker said.

``Sadly, it looks likely that this very worthwhile and successful program will come to an end in the middle of next year.''

Stawell Secondary College principal Peter Hilbig said he had not been informed of any changes to the program which currently provides the school with funding on a three year basis.

Two years of funding have already been received, with the college entitled to a third year in 2010.

Mr Hilbig said the loss of chaplaincy funding would have a `significant impact' on the school.

``The funding provides one third of the cost of having a full time chaplain at the school,'' he said.

``We have had a chaplain for many, many years, even before government funding was made available. It was something the school council decided was worthwhile.''

The Stawell community also supports the chaplaincy program and is relied upon to contribute the remaining funds.

Mr Hilbig said he feared the chaplaincy committee would be unable to raise sufficient funds if government support was withdrawn.

``The funding has been of enormous benefit. If we lost it, we would have to rely on community raised funds,'' he said.

``The committee has struggled in the last few years because of the situation with the bushfires and the ongoing drought which have made it more challenging to raise funds for a chaplain.''