From our Principal 

Victorian State Election: Catholic Education and Our Community

On Saturday 28 November, Victorians will have the privilege and responsibility of participating in our democratic process. Elections give each of us an opportunity to consider the kind of community we want to build and the priorities we believe governments should pursue.

There will, of course, be many issues influencing how each person votes. Cost-of-living pressures will understandably be an important consideration for many families. The capacity of households to meet everyday expenses has a very real impact on the health and wellbeing of individuals and families. Education, health, infrastructure, community safety and many other issues will also form part of the considerations that individuals bring to the ballot box.

As Principal, it is certainly not my role to tell members of our community how to vote. That is a personal decision. My responsibility, however, is to ensure that our families are informed about issues that may have a direct impact on Catholic education and, in particular, St Peter’s College.

As we approach the election, parents may also wish to consider the commitments being made by the major political parties to Catholic education.

Why government funding matters to St Peter’s

While the majority of our government funding comes from the Commonwealth, funding from the Victorian Government remains an important part of the College’s financial position. Approximately 85% of our funding comes from federal and state government, so decisions made by governments ultimately matter to families. Where sufficient funding is not available, schools face difficult decisions about expenditure, services and, potentially, the level of fees required from families.

Government decisions also have significant implications for the remuneration of our teachers and educational support employees. Our staff are at the forefront of one of society’s most important responsibilities: helping to shape the hearts and minds of young people. The anticipated salary increases for school staff are, in my view, deserved and overdue. It is important, however, that funding arrangements appropriately support staff working not only in government schools but also those serving students and families in Catholic schools.

A particularly important principle has been the 25% linkage funding, under which Catholic schools receive funding linked to that provided to government schools. This means that for every $100 funding to a state school student, the Victorian government commits to providing $25 for the education of a Catholic school student. Maintaining this commitment linkage provides greater certainty for Catholic schools as they plan staffing, programs and facilities. Not all political parties have committed to this linkage funding.

Five priorities for Catholic education

The Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) has identified five important issues for consideration in the State Election:

1. Recurrent funding certainty: protecting the 25% funding linkage, retaining its current calculation and avoiding future funding cuts or caps.

2. A strong commitment to capital funding: supporting new Catholic schools in growth corridors, creating additional student places and upgrading existing facilities.

3. Payroll tax: seeking the abolition of payroll tax on non-government schools.

4. Planning reform: protecting land for future Catholic schools and improving planning and development processes so that schools can be delivered where growing communities need them.

5. Early learning infrastructure: continuing access to capital support for Catholic schools seeking to establish or expand early learning facilities.

    

Further information about the VCEA’s election priorities is available on the VCEA State Election website.

What does this mean for St Peter’s?

For St Peter’s College, the first, second and fourth priorities are particularly important.

Recurrent funding certainty assists us to plan responsibly and provide quality educational opportunities while remaining conscious of the financial contribution asked of families. Capital funding is also tremendously important for a growing College such as ours. As our local communities continue to develop, our facilities need to keep pace with the educational needs of our students.

Planning reform is a pressing issue for St Peter’s College. With waiting lists already in place for Year 7 in 2027 at both campuses, the need for additional Catholic secondary school places in our rapidly growing region is clear. Our plans for a third campus are about responding to that demand and ensuring that families who choose a Catholic education have genuine access to one. Governments therefore have an important role in identifying and protecting suitable land for schools and ensuring that planning and approval processes support, rather than delay, the development of essential educational infrastructure.

Payroll tax is not currently an issue affecting our college, while early learning provision, although something that may warrant consideration in the future, is not presently one of our highest priorities.

Having your say

Casting a ballot is not the only way to participate in democracy. Parents who are passionate about Catholic education can contact candidates and political parties and ask them directly about their commitments to Catholic schools. In particular, families may wish to ask whether candidates will protect recurrent funding arrangements and support the capital investment necessary for Catholic schools in rapidly growing communities.

Ultimately, each of us will weigh many different issues when deciding how to vote. Catholic education should not be the sole determinant of anyone’s vote, but for families who have chosen Catholic education for their children, it is reasonable that government policies affecting our schools form part of that consideration.

My role is to ensure our parents understand the issues that can directly affect their local Catholic secondary school. I encourage you to become informed, ask questions of candidates and parties, and then exercise your democratic right according to your own values, priorities and judgement.

Contact a Political Candidate

Casting your ballot is not the only way to participate in our democracy. If you are passionate about Catholic education and concerned about how future government decisions may affect Catholic schools, I encourage you to make your views known to all those candidates contesting the state election. I have provided a list of candidates and their contact emails for the two parliamentary seats within which our families reside.

You may wish to ask what commitments their party will make regarding recurrent funding for Catholic schools, capital funding to accommodate enrolment growth, and planning reform to enable new Catholic schools and campuses to be established in growing communities.

Thank you for considering adding your voice to this important conversation and helping ensure that the needs of our students, families and community are heard by those seeking to represent us.

Mr David Hansen

Principal