Catholic School Parents Australia (CPSA) celebrated 10 years since it was founded as the national coordinating voice of Catholic parents at a special event in Sydney last week.
Past and present council members, partners and well-wishers came together to commemorate CSPA’s journey including Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney Danny Meagher, national Catholic education executive director Jacinta Collins, ACARA chief executive officer David de Carvalho, and the inaugural chair of CSPA Tony O’Byrne.
“Our journey of advocacy and engagement so far has been remarkable, but our gaze is firmly fixed on the horizon,” CSPA national chair, Andrea Obeyesekere, said.
“The next 10 years will be an exhilarating chapter of transformation, where our foundation will enable us to advocate respectfully and fervently with government and within Catholic education.”
Jacinta Collins said CSPA had made a remarkable contribution to Catholic education, empowering parents to take an active role in the education of their children and by encouraging family engagement with their child’s school.
“CSPA works in collaboration and consultation with the NCEC, an invaluable partnership with a shared vision of providing national leadership and advocacy for Catholic school communities.
“We recognise the contribution parent representation has made through the states and territories, school communities and dioceses for many years prior to CSPA being established.”
The CSPA council also took time to meet to reflect and collaborate on its continue journey as an important partner in education in Australia.
This included discussion of advocacy initiatives and parent engagement projects such as fostering positive home-school communication, student health and wellbeing, addressing vaping concerns, nurturing respectful relationships, navigating the impact of artificial intelligence, and managing mobile phone usage in schools.
CSPA national chair, Andrea Obeyesekere, national Catholic education executive director Jacinta Collins and CPSA Deputy Chair Siobhan Allen.