A video aimed at raising community support for religious instruction in state schools, made by its main provider, Access Ministries, has sparked heated discussion after being posted on YouTube.

The video – hosted by Access Ministries CEO Dr Evonne Paddison – has fuelled debate on social media about religious education and the school chaplaincy program.

In the two-and-a-half-minute video, Dr Paddison argues: ‘‘[children] deserve to know that Jesus is a person, not just a swear word’’

Despite an Essential Poll this week finding just 5 per cent of Australians support the Abbott Government’s decision to fund only religious chaplains in non-religious schools, Paddison urged viewers to sign a petition in its support.