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Catholic school students would receive a more balanced view of important social and political issues in class than at unregulated, non-educational events, Catholic Schools NSW (Catholic Schools New South Wales) said today.

Catholic Schools New South Wales Chief Executive Officer Dallas McInerney says Catholic education supported students becoming more informed about the world and their role in its future.

“These matters are important to all young people and many Catholic schools have discussions with their students about these issues in a supervised school setting,” Mr McInerney said.

“We believe students should discuss these issues in class where there is a responsibility on teachers to present information on important, contentious issues in a balanced and factual way.”

Mr McInerney also said that Catholic education supported the National Day of Action Against Bullying and Violence, which is being held this Friday.
“This event directly involves the behaviour and safety of all students. Participation in this National Day of Action sends a clear message that schools and students won’t tolerate bullying.

“The theme for this year’s National Day of Action is Bullying. No Way! Take action every day.

“It gives schools the chance to take action and empower young people to be part of the solution when addressing bullying in their school community.
“More than half the nation’s schools have registered to participate.

“Catholic school students are asked to attend school on Friday to show support for their fellow students who may have experienced bullying in the schoolyard or online.

“We note the planned strike day – but unregulated protests of this type are outside the control of our schools and therefore cannot receive our endorsement.

“Attendance at such activities outside of school hours is a matter for students and their families; this event, however, is being held during school hours and we remind Catholic school students of the compulsory nature of school attendance.”

Council of Catholic School Parents Executive Director, Peter Grace, added that while it is encouraging that young people are passionate about global issues, they are best served by learning about these issues from their teachers and each other at school and from their families at home.
“Our Church has a long tradition of Catholic social teaching, at the centre of which is the dignity of the human person and the common good,” Mr Grace said.

“There’s no better way for students to express the principles of Catholic social teaching than to stand together with their peers and teachers at school on Friday in support of the National Day of Action.”

Catholic Schools NSW (Catholic Schools New South Wales) said the NSW Government’s capital funding boost gives the non-government schools sector the certainty it needs to plan and meet its share of enrolment growth.

The NSW Government today announced it would triple its capital grants to the 944-strong non-government schools sector – which educates one-third of NSW students – to $500 million over four years, the largest single increase ever provided.

Catholic Schools New South Wales Chief Executive Officer Dallas McInerney said the Catholic education sector, with almost 600 schools, expects its share to be at least $75 million per annum.

“All school children should learn in safe, comfortable and modern surroundings,” Mr McInerney said.

“Catholic Schools New South Wales supports the NSW Government’s $6 billion, four-year capital funding program for the state’s 2200+ government schools.”

Mr McInerney said Catholic Schools New South Wales prioritises its capital funding from government to the Catholic schools in need and with the least ability to raise project funds themselves.

“This brings a focus to needy schools serving low socio-economic communities, schools in fast growing areas and schools with an urgent need for new or improved learning facilities.”

Archbishop of Sydney, Anthony Fisher OP, welcomed the government’s commitment saying it recognises the role Catholic schools play in educating more than a quarter of a million NSW students.

“School education is a partnership between the state and federal governments and education providers such as the Catholic Church, which has educated Australian students for almost 200 years.

“This funding increase will help Catholic education build the new classrooms we need to meet our share of expected student growth.
“We are especially pleased that the NSW Government has locked in this support for the next four years,” Archbishop Fisher said.
Mr McInerney said Catholic education has relied on parents and school communities to fund some 90% of capital works in NSW Catholic schools.
“That commitment from our hard-working and dedicated parents will continue; this additional government funding will support more projects and bring them online sooner.

“Last year, 41 NSW Catholic schools lodged funding applications for capital works worth $158 million – but Catholic Schools New South Wales could only partially support 24 projects because we only had $58 million in State and Federal Government capital funding to distribute. To put that into context – $58 million does not cover the cost of land and construction for a new K-12 school in outer suburban Sydney.”

Mr McInerney said government funding has helped expand Catholic schools in growth areas such as Edmondson Park, Marsden Park, Austral and Medowie, just outside Newcastle as well as upgrade learning facilities in Nyngan, Oran Park and Port Macquarie.

“This is a great day for Catholic schooling in NSW; our parents and families considering a Catholic education for their children can have even more confidence in our sector.”

Paralympian swimmer Tim Hodge and world cross-country champion Ella Heeney have received the Vince Villa Award for most outstanding NSW Catholic school athletes in 2018.

Tim and Ella join past winners of the prestigious NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (CCC) honour which have included Olympian Jana Pittman and NRL stars Nathan Cleary and Campbell Graham.

CCC Chairman John Sparks said the awards are the pinnacle of the annual NSW Blue Awards, established in 1997 to recognise the outstanding achievements of NSW Catholic school athletes across all sports.

“Catholic schools have nurtured the careers of hundreds of professional Australian athletes, thanks largely to the dedication of volunteer teachers and well supported by parents,” Mr Sparks said.

Tim Hodge, of Patrician Brothers’ Blacktown, was recognised for his strong showings at 2018’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games and the Para Pan Pacific Games in Cairns.

Last year, Tim won silver medals in the 100m breaststroke and 100m backstroke Commonwealth events, before picking up four gold medals and a silver at the Para Pan Pacific Games.

In 2016, he competed in five events at the Rio Paralympic Games, placing fifth in the 200m individual medley and sixth in the men’s 100m backstroke – outstanding achievements for a school-boy athlete.

Mr Sparks said Tim was born with a lower leg deficiency and had his right foot amputated when he was four. He is also missing two fingers on his right hand and his right arm is shorter than his left.

“But none of these conditions stopped him from developing into an outstanding swimmer and backstroke specialist. Tim would regularly compete against able bodied athletes, just to get involved.

“He currently holds one world record and 114 Australian records in his swimming category (S9).”

Ella Heeney, from Mackillop College in Port Macquarie, won the World Schools Under 18s Female Cross Country Championship in France last year.
She also finished first in the NSW CCC, New South Wales All Schools and School Sport Australia events in 2018.

“Ella has been a member of the NSW Combined Catholic Colleges’ Triathlon Team in 2013, 2014 and 2015 and in 2017/2018 represented Australia at the World Cross Country event,” Mr Sparks said.

“Last year, she became the best female schools’ cross country runner in the world – a fantastic achievement for a student who was also completing her Higher School Certificate that year.”

Mr Sparks said Ella and Tim are both inspiring role models for their peers and are well respected by their respective school communities.
“Their athletic achievements are outstanding, yet they both maintained excellent academic results. We acknowledge their exceptional contribution to school sport.”

Almost 257,000 students will walk through the gates of nearly 600 Catholic schools across NSW this week, Catholic Schools NSW (Catholic Schools New South Wales) said today.
Catholic Schools New South Wales Chief Executive Officer Dallas McInerney said Catholic education supported a valuable feature of the NSW education landscape – school choice.
“Catholic schools educate one in five NSW students and are the biggest providers of school education outside of government,” Mr McInerney said.

“School education in NSW is a partnership between the Federal and State Governments and the providers of more than 3200 government, Catholic and independent schools.

“With the average cost of educating a student in Australia at some $13,000 per year, there is a dual benefit in governments supporting non-government schools, which collectively educate one in three NSW students.

“It reduces the cost to taxpayers – who would otherwise have to fully fund the education of every student – and it ensures parents can afford to send their children to a school that reflects their values and beliefs, a significant characteristic of a pluralist society.”
NSW Catholic school communities contributed almost $1.5 billion in fees, capital funding and other contributions in 2016, the most recent public data showed, Mr McInerney said.

He said Catholic schools are representative of their local communities and are open to students from all cultural backgrounds, faiths and abilities.
“NSW Catholic schools provide families with a quality, faith-based education that seeks to educate the whole child – intellectually, spiritually, physically, morally and emotionally.

“Parents choose a Catholic education for a wide range of reasons, knowing they will receive a quality, Christ-centred education in a caring, welcoming and supportive environment.”

Mr McInerney said Catholic schools were first established in Australia almost 200 years ago to educate those in most need – and that commitment remains strong to this day.