7 January 2019

Families with children at Catholic schools who have suffered in the bushfire crisis have been encouraged to speak to their principal about fee relief.

Catholic schools have a long history of responding to families in need, in times of natural disasters such as floods and bushfires as well as financial hardship and disadvantage.

Some Catholic schools in drought-affected communities in Queensland for example, have been offering fee relief to families for many years.

National Catholic Education Commission executive director Jacinta Collins said Catholic schools were at the heart of many bushfire-affected communities.

“Catholic Education has a strong and long tradition of supporting families in need, particularly in times of crisis,” Jacinta said. “The NCEC encourages families with children in our schools who are experiencing financial hardship to approach their principal so schools can respond to their needs confidentially and in a pastoral way.

“This is a time of tremendous hardship, grief and suffering. Our extensive network of Catholic schools and communities is there, for the long-term, to journey with families faced with such enormous loss.

“As back-to-school approaches in a few weeks, schools will also provide counselling for students and families and join with parishes and Catholic and non-Catholic agencies to offer other help and support as required.”

Catholic schools are the nation’s largest provider of education outside government with our 1746 schools teaching one in five (764,000) students and employing more than 96,000 staff.

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Catholic schools offer help and support to families affected by bushfire crisis

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