FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who can enrol?
Does my child need to be Catholic?
Do we need to be Catholic?
If my child isn’t Catholic, will they feel left out?
How much Religious Education is there?
What can a Catholic school offer my child?
Are Catholic schools expensive?
Why are there fees?
Who can enrol?
Catholic school communities recognise and value the uniqueness and individuality of students and families, and the human dignity of each person. In their outreach role, our schools are welcoming to all and serve the needs of families who will benefit from their service.
Does my child need to be Catholic?
No, your child does not need to be Catholic to enrol at a Catholic school. While preference is given to students of the Catholic faith, particularly those active in their parishes, students in our schools are from a variety of religious backgrounds. Catholic schools are welcoming to all who seek and support their values.
Do we need to be Catholic?
No, the parents or guardians of a student do not need to be Catholic for the student to attend a Catholic school.
If my child isn’t Catholic, will they feel left out?
Not at all. All religious education which includes the classroom teaching of religion and the religious life of the school, is respectful of all learners and is based on the foundational belief in the dignity of every person.
How much Religious Education is there?
It is a requirement that a minimum of 2.5 hours per week of religious teaching is provided in both primary and secondary schools from P-12.
The Religious Education Curriculum P-12 enables students to progressively develop a deeper understanding of the Catholic Christian tradition and an empathetic understanding of the major world religions, as well as be respectful of how believers of various religions live out their respective religious beliefs. This approach respects learners and promotes critical thinking so that students are able to relate it to their own life and positively contribute to building a civilisation of love.
What can a Catholic school offer my child?
Catholic schools are known for their high standards, the quality, faith and values-based education they provide, and the broad range of academic and vocational outcomes available to secondary students. Catholic schools focus on a holistic education to provide an educational foundation for the full development of each student – intellectually, spiritually, socially, emotionally and physically. Our schools are welcoming, inclusive, and connected communities where respect for self and others is paramount. The resulting good behaviour is conducive to creating favourable environments where quality learning and teaching can take place. Catholic schools seek to provide a genuine, safe and caring experience for those who are part of their community. Students are encouraged to value diversity, develop a sense of social justice and become valued, contributing members of society.
Are Catholic schools expensive?
Catholic schools remain an affordable option for most families, and Catholic schools in the Cairns Diocese are surprisingly more affordable than some may realise. Catholic school fees are comparable with, if not less than, kinder fees and compare very favourably with other non-government / private schools in Far North Queensland (and also Catholic schools in other parts of Australia). If your family can afford kindergarten fees you can afford Catholic school fees. Fee discounts for siblings and country areas apply and there are generous, automatic fee concessions for those in genuine financial difficulty. Find out for yourself by arranging a visit to your local Catholic school and discovering the Catholic school difference..
Why are there fees?
All students in Australia are entitled to a government supported education. By having the freedom to choose a Catholic school for their child, Catholic school parents are effectively helping the government to fund their child’s education, through the school fees and levies they pay. These fees and levies are necessary to make up for the shortfall in government funding that is provided for a child in a Catholic school, compared to funding for a child in a State school. The cost to the government of funding the education of a child in a Catholic school is therefore less than if that child were to attend a government school.
Catholic schools face the complexity of balancing the cost of providing the quality, faith-based education for which Catholic schools are known, with the need to keep fees as affordable as possible, so that those who wish to choose a Catholic education for their child, can do so.
The core value of the Catholic Church to support the poor and disadvantaged means no child is refused a Catholic education because of genuine financial difficulty. Generous concessions are provided in those circumstances, however this outreach must be balanced with the need for those who can afford to contribute, to do so. As a result, Catholic school fees are significantly less than those of private schools.