Written by Scott Clegg - Business Manager

2025 Federal Election

We trust that you participated in the recent Federal Election, as your vote counted towards determining the leadership of Australia for the upcoming term.

The Catholic education sector works with all levels of governments to provide affordable, high-quality education for families that choose a Catholic school. It is important in the 2025 federal election to understand where political parties stand on supporting Catholic education.

In Queensland, more than 162,000 students attend Catholic schools, and more than 820,000 are enrolled nationally. Students come from various socio-economic backgrounds and have different abilities, and Catholic schools are open to all who seek a Catholic education.

The sector is also a significant employer with over 112,000 employees nationally, contributing more than $17 billion to the Australian economy.

The goal is to continue working constructively with the government to contribute to education across Australia. This can be achieved through a collaborative approach from politicians.

The priorities for the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) and the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC), are as follows:

1. Ensure Affordability and Choice

Catholic schools save taxpayers billions of dollars and decrease pressure on government-run schools. To remain sustainable, continued policy stability and funding certainty from the government are necessary.

Political leaders are requested to:

• Guarantee funding certainty with no adverse changes
• Ease cost of living pressures by reviewing the funding model to ensure fair and affordable parental contributions
• Support Catholic schools in employing staff who uphold their ethos
• Ensure equal access to programs such as national teacher training initiatives.

2. Address Hardship, Wellbeing, and Disadvantage

Every student deserves access to quality education and the appropriate support, regardless of their background.

Political leaders are requested to:

• Expand mental health and wellbeing programs in schools
• Increase support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, including Indigenous Boarding and Closing the Gap initiatives
• Improve funding models for students with disabilities, rural and remote schools, and disadvantaged communities.

3. Build and Innovate for the Future

As demand for non-government schooling and early childhood education grows, investment must keep pace.

Political leaders are requested to:

• Ensure fair funding for early childhood and vocational education, including new early childhood centres on Catholic school sites
• Increase infrastructure funding through the Capital Grants Program
• Support Catholic schools in leading national education reforms.

We look forward to continuing to work with our government as they lead our nation for the next term.