What We Do

Catholic School Parents Australia advocates for families with children and young people in Australian Catholic schools.

  • Canvasses the views of parents/carers for reporting to government and education authorities.
  • Represents these families to education authorities such as the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) and the Australian
  • Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) and federal government forums.
  • Supports and provides national leadership to the State and Territory Catholic parent bodies who work with Catholic schools.
  • Consults and collaborates with the NCEC, the Australian Catholic Primary Principals Association (ACPPA) and Catholic
    Secondary Principals Australia (CaSPA) in all matters pertaining to parents as partners in Catholic education.
  • Works with such agencies as the Australian government, the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) and various universities to support, explore and promote Parent Engagement as an influence on student learning and wellbeing.

Each member parent body plays an advocacy role for families through their Parents & Friends associations at the local Catholic school level.

CSPA Member State and ACT authorities also work in close liaison with their Catholic education authorities at a diocesan level and with their State/Territory Catholic Education Commissions.

The Role and Function of the CSPA Council

The role and functions of Council is to ensure that the CSPA carries out its objects and in particular to:

  • Promote and foster Catholic identity of CSPA in supporting Catholic education in Australia;
  • Provide prayerful reflection and faith development opportunities for Council members;
  • Develop relationships with the ACBC through the Bishops’ Commission for Catholic Education and the National Catholic Education Commission and other relevant bodies to work collaboratively to further the mission of the Church;
  • Be recognised as the voice for Catholic school parents at a national level;
  • Have the general control and management of the administration of the affairs, property and funds of the CSPA;
  • Have authority to interpret the meaning of this Constitution and any matter relating to CSPA on which this constitution is silent;
  • Actively seek representation on key national committees and reference groups and be consulted on issues related to national educational matters;
  • Formulate advice for consideration by the CSPA on any issue involving new policy or a significant deviation from existing policy;
  • Monitor national policies and agencies for their impact on Catholic schools;
  • Undertake political advocacy for funding equity;
  • Support the increasingly complex and diverse need of families with children in our Catholic schools;
  • Support the long term viability and accessibility of the Catholic education system;
  • Be involved in the development and implementation of national programs related to families and education;
  • Formulate submissions and advice to national Catholic authorities, government and non-government agencies and authorities, formal inquiries and reviews, committees and working parties on educational issues as they affect Catholic school families;
  • Engage with other national peak bodies including parent, principal, statutory authorities;
  • Inform current research pertinent to parent engagement in schools and educational decision making;
  • Promote parent partnerships and collaboration in the interest of Catholic education;
  • Promote and strive for social inclusion and to assist the marginalised in their choice of schooling; and
  • Develop and implement a communication strategy to execute the role and functions of the CSPA effectively.