Be part of your child’s education
Our schools are welcoming and supportive communities where all students and their families belong and where families are valued partners in their child’s education.
Together with families, our schools create nurturing environments where every child can flourish and reach their full potential.
We encourage all parents and carers to engage in their child’s learning and to actively participate in the life of the school community, strengthening the connections that help children thrive.
Parent–school partnership
In Catholic education, we recognise that parents and carers are the first and most important lifelong educators of their child. When you enrol a child in one of our schools, you become an important partner with the school in your child’s educational journey.
Families and schools have interlocking responsibilities for a child’s learning, wellbeing and development. Through open communication, mutual respect and shared responsibility, we work together to ensure every student is known, valued, and supported to reach their full potential.
Engagement and involvement
There is a difference between being engaged and being involved. Both play an important role in supporting your child’s learning and development.
Engagement with learning
Being engaged with your child’s learning is one of the most valuable things you can do as a parent or carer. It doesn’t require special skills, extra resources, or being at school; it can happen anywhere – at home, in the car, at the shops, on holiday or during everyday family life.
Engagement happens through the conversations you have with your child, the questions you ask, the things you notice together, and the way you encourage their curiosity and interests. It includes reading together, sharing experiences, having conversations and helping your child make sense of the world around them. These everyday interactions build confidence, strengthen learning, and support your child’s growth and wellbeing.
Involvement in school life
Being involved in the life of the school community is different. While some involvement is an important part of being a school parent, families can choose the level of involvement that best suits their circumstances.
Some involvement is essential, like:
- keeping up to date with school emails, newsletters and announcements
- attending parent–teacher conferences and asking questions about your child’s progress and what you can do to support further growth
- communicating with the school about your child’s needs and any circumstances (including non-school things) in your child’s life that may affect their learning and wellbeing
- asking the school for information you were expecting but haven’t received.
You might also have the opportunity to:
- volunteer to help in the classroom with things like reading groups, art projects or science activities
- volunteer as a regular helper in the canteen
- participate in School Community Council working groups
- help with fundraising and organising school community events.
Engagement with your child’s learning
We see education as a partnership between schools and families. We encourage all parents and carers to be actively engaged in their child’s learning.
You are your child’s first and most important educator. Your support has a powerful influence on their learning, wellbeing and future success.
Why family engagement matters
Research shows that when parents and carers engage with their child’s learning, children achieve better educational outcomes. They are more likely to attend school regularly, enjoy learning, and continue into further education.
Engagement in learning supports more than academic achievement; it’s also important for your child’s growth as a whole person. It affects their wellbeing, spiritual life, social skills, and ability to make the most of their unique gifts and talents. Your own level of education, background or experience does not determine your ability to make a positive difference. Every parent and carer can play an important role in their child’s learning.
- What engagement looks like
- Family engagement
- School Community Councils
- Archdiocesan Parents Council
- State and territory and national councils
What engagement looks like
Engagement in learning doesn’t mean being an expert in schoolwork or spending hours helping your child with homework. It means having positive conversations with them about learning, showing interest in their learning, and communicating your understanding that education is important.
Some practical examples of how you can engage with your child’s learning are:
- reading together regularly, regardless of age
- creating a positive environment for homework and study
- talking with them about school subjects and topics
- encouraging reading, creativity and other non-screen activities
- speaking positively about their school and teachers
- having high but realistic expectations for their learning and achievement.
By doing these things you’ll strengthen the connection between home and school, which will help your child thrive both at school and in life.
Parent councils
The main groups that represent families of children in our schools are individual School Community Councils, and Catholic School Parents Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
Research has consistently shown that when schools and families work together, this significantly increases children’s achievement, wellbeing and future opportunities. The benefits include:
- improved academic achievement
- improved school attendance
- greater motivation, confidence and engagement in learning
- more positive attitudes to school and learning
- improved behaviours and social skills
- higher levels of wellbeing and self-esteem
- increased likelihood of continuing into further education.
Families and schools working in partnership is one of the most effective ways we can support every child to flourish and reach their full potential.
School Community Councils
When you enrol your child in one of our schools, you automatically become a member of the School Community Council. School Community Councils bring parents and school leaders together. They create opportunities for families to share their skills, insights and experiences to enrich the school community. They are led by an elected or appointed executive and are often supported by various working groups.
Taking an active part in the School Community Council is a way to contribute to your child’s Catholic education and help shape the environment where they learn and grow. School Community Councils play an important role in school life by:
- being part of important conversations that lead to thoughtful and informed decision-making
- sharing insights on issues that affect students and families
- supporting school events and celebrations
- making the school community stronger and more connected with the wider parish.
Every family’s voice matters. If you’d like to get involved in your School Community Council, contact the school.
Archdiocesan Parents Council
Catholic School Parents Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn (CSAPCG) provides a representative voice for parents/carers across all Catholic schools in the Archdiocese. It brings together the voices of school communities, enabling parents to share ideas, advocate on issues that matter to families, collaborate with Catholic education leaders and contribute to the future of Catholic education at local, diocesan, state and national levels.
CSPACG meets a minimum of four times a year to discuss topics of interest to families. We often ask the Council to provide parents’ views on issues that affect Catholic school families. CSPACG also contributes to the work of the state or territory and national Catholic parent councils. These councils give direct input to government discussions about issues that are important to Catholic schools and parents.
State and territory and national councils
The Council of Catholic School Parents NSW (CCSP) is the peak body in NSW recognised to provide leadership, advocacy and support for parents and carers of children and young people in all NSW Catholic schools. CCSP consists of parent representatives from all 11 dioceses and the congregational schools in NSW.
Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA) is recognised as the national peak body representing and advocating for the parents and carers of the children and young people who attend Catholic schools across Australia. CSPA consists of two representatives from each state or territory. It works in collaboration and consultation with the National Catholic Education Commission and the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference.
Family engagement in faith
We warmly welcome families of all faith backgrounds who support the mission and values of Catholic education. Our schools provide a Catholic education with faith and religious education at the heart of all learning and community life. This supports each student on their journey to a meaningful, hope-filled and flourishing life.
Many of our students are from families of diverse faith traditions and backgrounds. We respect and value this diversity. Our schools are inclusive communities where everyone is welcomed, respected, and encouraged to belong. Catholicism is welcoming to everyone, of any faith.
Understanding Catholic faith in our schools
Some helpful resources for understanding the Catholic faith and how it’s expressed in our schools are:
- the Parent Engagement in Faith resources developed by CSPA
- Our Catholic Faith: A Handbook for Parents and Families of Students in NSW Catholic Schools.
While you don’t need to be Catholic to enrol your child in a Catholic school, you do need to support the school’s Catholic ethos and ensure your child’s participation in the religious life of the school. All children and young people enrolled in our schools participate in the religious life of the school, including prayer and liturgical celebrations, Mass, religious education, and opportunities to put faith into action through social justice and community outreach activities.
Attendance
One of the most important things you can do for your child is make sure they attend every school day unless there’s a good reason why they can’t. This is because school attendance is a legal requirement, and the more a student attends school, the more they get out of it.
- Parent responsibilities
- Our responsibilities
- VET training
- Absences
- Valid reasons for absences
- Learning and wellbeing
Parent responsibilities
Parents are legally required to enrol their children in school and ensure they attend for the hours the school is open. Under ACT and NSW law, students between the ages of 6 and 17 must attend the school they are enrolled in for the times required by that school, unless their absence is approved.
Exemptions can be granted for a range of reasons and there are different processes between the ACT and NSW. It’s important to discuss these exemptions with your child’s school to see if an exemption is possible.
Our responsibilities
We have a duty to keep track of all students who have enrolled in one of our schools. If a student aged under 17 leaves one our schools, we must follow up to make sure they attend another school.
In the ACT this is a legislated requirement. If your child moves from one school to another, the Student Movement Register for ACT schools requires you to tell the old school the name of the new school. This means that if you’re moving interstate you must let your child’s current school know the name of the future school they will attend.
VET training
If students want to leave school at 17, we help them transition to a vocational education and training (VET) pathway. VET will equip them to enter the workforce on a firm footing.
Absences
Parents must provide an explanation to the school for any absence. Your school can provide details of how to do this. It may be through the Compass app or by email to a specific person at the school. If possible, you should do this on or before the day your child is absent – and definitely no more than five school days after the absence.
Valid reasons for absences
The school principal decides whether to approve leave. They will approve applications for leave on a case-by-case.
Valid reasons include Sorry Business and other traditions of loss and grief, or health issues. The most important thing is to talk to the school as early as you can about the reason for taking leave and make sure you apply for it. You can talk to the principal, assistant principal, classroom teacher, front office staff – whoever you feel comfortable with.
You also need to stay in touch about when your child will be returning to school and how they will catch up on the work they miss. If you’re planning any extended leave for your child, please discuss options with the school first. It’s important to understand when and how leave is approved.
Learning and wellbeing
There is clear evidence that regular school attendance is important for both learning and wellbeing.
We know that not every child finds it easy to go to school every day. It’s normal to have phases where attendance feels harder.
If you have any difficulties with school attendance, please reach out to the school so that they can help you. The earlier they can intervene and provide support, the better it will be for your child’s learning and wellbeing.
