Queensland became the final state in Australia to sign on to the Better and Fairer Schools Agreement with the Commonwealth this week. This announcement marks the finalisation of the federal government’s school funding agreements with states and territories. After extensive negotiations, this is a significant step forward in ensuring all Australian schools are funded to the schooling resource standard—a development we welcome in Catholic education.
We were also pleased to see the $1 billion allocation in the federal budget this week to establish the Building Early Education Fund. This fund is focused on increasing access to high-quality early childhood education, particularly in high-need, underserved areas. One of the key priorities is co-locating services on school sites, which is great news for many Catholic schools, especially those in regional and outer suburban areas where childcare access has been limited. Co-location will help ensure continuity in children’s learning, reinforcing our commitment to accessible, quality education for all families.
With the federal election campaign approaching, NCEC and Catholic education leaders across the country are continuing to advocate for the needs of our students, families, and school communities, engaging with the major parties and the Teals to demonstrate the ways in which Catholic education benefits all Australians.
I’d like to say thank you to everyone is our community that has expressed interest in participating in our Australian Catholic Education Conference in Cairns later this year. We’ve received an overwhelming number of speaker applications, showcasing the passion and commitment of our Catholic education community. It’s shaping up to be a truly inspiring event, and we encourage you to register soon to be part of this transformative experience. We’re sharing further opportunities to become involved through the Staff-led Conference Prayer Program and Student Art Submissions.
As we approach Easter, I wish all in our Catholic education community a blessed and joyful holiday. This sacred time reminds us of the hope and renewal the resurrection brings and provides an opportunity to reflect on our shared mission to nurture the spiritual, academic, and personal growth of our students.
Wishing you all a wonderful Easter! I look forward to sharing my next update with you in Term 2.
Jacinta Collins
Executive Director
National Catholic Education Commission