La Salle Academy in Lithgow and St Joseph’s primary schools in Portland and Oberon are among 13 Catholic schools within the Bathurst Diocese which will have their fees cut in 2019.
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All other Catholic schools in the region, including St Patrick’s Primary School in Lithgow, will see fees go up with a CPI increase of 2.1 per cent to cover increased costs.
The fees change was announced on Wednesday, November 14, affecting 10 primary schools and three secondary schools in the region.
Bishop of Bathurst, Michael McKenna, approved the reduction in fees for schools identified as having a socioeconomic status that allowed for further needs-based funding to be directed to the students of these communities.
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In a statement released on Wednesday, the Diocese stated the needs-based funding model was in accordance with the recent changes in funding provided by the Commonwealth Government introduced in 2018.
The Diocese stated the capital works levy for all schools would not be increased from 2018.
Bishop McKenna said he hoped this relief “goes some way to assist families in the Diocese”.
“However, if your family is suffering financial hardship for any reason and finding it difficult to pay school fees, please contact your school principal to discuss options of how we can assist,” he said.
“A family’s financial situation should never be a barrier to accessing or continuing a Catholic education in our schools,” he said.
