Ensuring the highest standards for student welfare
A parliamentary inquiry, currently taking place, into bullying and discrimination in schools in Tasmania has provided the opportunity for Catholic Education Tasmania to present a robust submission confirming that our schools are proven as safe places for students and able to provide a healthy environment in which students learn and grow.
Catholic Education Tasmania operates 38 schools in every corner of the state, educating 17,000 young Tasmanians per year and employing over 4,000 staff.
When enrolling students we do not discriminate on the basis of religion, sex, race or status. This is reflected in our present enrolment profile which includes: 33 per cent Catholics, 17 per cent other Christians, 29 per cent no religious affiliation and 21 per cent other or unknown religious affiliation.
We are proud of the role that we play in Tasmanian society, by providing a cost-effective option for Tasmanian parents who choose to have their students educated in our faith-based environment.
We are also proud of the fact that many of our schools are located in parts of Tasmania that might be categorised as ‘less well off’, providing the opportunity for families to choose to help their children to get ahead through the power of education, including those from non-English speaking backgrounds.
The Archdiocese of Hobart and Catholic Education Tasmania take bullying and discrimination extremely seriously. School Principals and the staff of our schools work hard to ensure the quality of the environment that enhances the best possible outcomes for all students.
As the authoritative PISA Report has shown, our students, by comparison with their peers in the State system, Australia-wide, have a greater sense of well-being, feel more valued and supported by their teachers, and are six times less likely to experience bullying.
A report of research commissioned by Victorian Catholic Education Authority and undertaken by the Centre for International Research on Education Systems at Victoria University revealed that Catholic school graduates, on average, are more likely to be employed, earn higher wages and have higher life satisfaction and better general health compared with those from the government sector.
Commenting on these findings VCEA chief executive officer Elizabeth Labone said, “By educating the whole person, Catholic schools seek to support the development of well-rounded individuals who will succeed and be happy and confident in the world during and after their schooling, whatever path they choose through life.’’
She added, “Parents are increasingly looking for this kind of holistic approach, which is why a growing number of families are choosing one of the affordable Catholic schooling options available across the state.’’
These results in Victoria would be mirrored in Tasmania.
A core principle in our schools, inspired by our Catholic faith, is that each student is respected and our schools are committed to uphold the dignity of every student. The Church has recently confirmed the importance of fostering the unique dignity of every person in a declaration entitled, Dignitas Infinita.
Relevant State and Federal legislation, including the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Act (1998) and the Federal Sex Discrimination Act (1984) recognise that in a just society faith-based schools should be able operate in accordance with their religious tenets and beliefs. In this way the law seeks to balance necessary protection for the vulnerable with the universally accepted right to the free exercise of religion.
Nobody should be surprised that the underpinning of education in our schools is the Catholic faith. Catholic Education Tasmania has experienced enrolment growth of more than two per cent, year-on-year, for the past five years. It is clear from this significant enrolment growth that parents welcome, accept and understand that it is the Catholic faith that ensures the high quality of our formation of students.
This doesn’t mean that we force our religion and our beliefs on our students or our staff; rather it means that the Catholic faith underpins our day-to-day operations.
Everyone would accept that an organisation would choose leadership that supports and advances the ethos of their organisation. Any political party would choose leaders whose beliefs reflect the ideals of the party. So, it should not be surprising that a Catholic school would choose leaders that advance the mission of the school.
One of the great strengths of our state’s education system is the choice it offers to parents about what type of schooling they choose to give their students.