Contributing to Stronger WA Communities

Foreword
BY DR DEBRA SAYCE
Executive Director CEWA
Catholic schools have been an important part of Western
Australia’s education landscape since 1844. As the second
largest education provider in the state, the Catholic
education system provide educational options and quality
school opportunities for 18% of the State’s total school
student population, including 23% of all secondary
school students.
In 2019, more than 76,000 students were enrolled at 162
Catholic schools located from Wyndham in the state’s
north to Albany and Esperance on the south coast, and
inland to Kalgoorlie. Catering for families from a spectrum
of social and economic backgrounds, Catholic schools
provide educational choice for all families seeking a Catholic
education for their children, regardless of their individual
circumstances or their capacity to financially contribute.
For more than 175 years, as long as some of the State’s
oldest Catholic schools have served their local communities,
WA parents have exercised their freedom to choose schools
that articulate the values they believe are important to their
children’s intellectual, spiritual and social development.
In fostering these values, Catholic schools recognise
that a quality education is built on a strong home-school
partnership. Catholic schools support, and are supported
by, effective parent and community relationships that give
direction and purpose to their pastoral roles.
Parents in Catholic schools make a significant contribution
to their children’s education, saving the Federal and
State governments millions of dollars annually. In 2019,
this resulted in a net saving of $262 million to Federal
Government and $611 million to State Government in
recurrent costs alone.
In addition to the significant financial savings for the
State and Federal governments, Catholic schools make
a far-reaching contribution to the WA economy. In 2019,
independent analysis undertaken by Ernst & Young
estimated that Catholic Education Western Australia (CEWA)
supported approximately 11,000 full time teaching and
non-teaching jobs resulting in an estimated Gross Value
Add of $1.64 billion.
CEWA values the State Government’s commitment to
ensuring all students – regardless of where they live –
receive a high-quality education. To ensure all schools,
including Catholic schools, can better support the growing
student population in contemporary, world class facilities,
CEWA is seeking a commitment from the major political
parties for continued support and recognition of a diverse
and strong non-government schooling sector, enabling
choice for WA families. Parents, who are prepared to
financially invest in their children’s education, expect
Federal and State governments to support their
legitimate educational choices through equitable funding
and supportive policies for all schools – government
and non-government.
This report highlights the significant role of Catholic
education in Western Australia, evidenced not only In the
financial contribution to the economy but more importantly
in preparing children and young people to positively
contribute to society well into the future.
'Partners in our State's future' wraps up the report, outlining
the key challenges facing Catholic schools as CEWA calls
for renewed Government support for fair and equitable
investment for students attending Catholic schools.
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