Parents and Friends Association

The Parents & Friends Association is an integral part of Catholic schools in the Diocese and provides a formal structure for parents and others interested in the welfare of the students to plan and organise activities for the benefit of the school.

In particular, Parents & Friends Associations participate in Catholic schools by:-

a)  providing a medium of support, information and involvement of parents/carers
     in their children’s education and the school community

b)  developing collaboration between parents/carers and school staff

c)  promoting the principles of Catholic education

d)  fostering a distinctive Christian environment in the school

e)  providing a medium for parents/carers to participate at Diocesan,
     State and National levels.

While other groups may be active within the life of the school, no group, other than the Parents & Friends Association, can represent the interests of the whole parent body at any school.

The Diocesan Parents & Friends Council has responsibility for the Parents & Friends Associations in the Cairns Diocese and operates within a constitution approved by the Bishop.

School and College Boards

Boards of Catholic education in Queensland have grown in number and quality since their inception in the late 1970’s.  They were established primarily as a response to requests by parents to be more active participants in Catholic schooling.   Today, they are available to each Catholic education community in Queensland and provide a structure and process for genuine partnership in planning and decision making.

Board membership enables opportunities for educational and pastoral leadership.  Board members are called to a particular ministry which is both a privilege and an opportunity to serve all who seek a Catholic education.  The experience of board members over the last twenty years reveals that, far from being an onerous task, service on a Catholic education board has been an occasion for personal and community growth in faith, spirituality and understanding of the vision and mission of Jesus.

A document titled ‘Model Constitution and Commentary for Catholic Education Boards in the Diocese of Cairns’ is available as a resource for Board formation and function. All who serve, or are being served, through Board ministry are invited to consider this model constitution as a source of guidance and support.  It is through its application that Christ’s vision and our mission are nurtured.

Catholic Education has and continues to be a vital and dynamic ministry within the Local Church.  Board activities shape and give witness to this ministry so central to being and building the Kingdom vision of Christ.

»Model Constitution for Boards

Responsibilities:
School and College Boards in the Diocese of Cairns are constituted to enable collaborative practices to be employed:

• the ongoing development of the Catholic ethos of the school, which means promoting the school as a centre of evangelisation (in partnership, where appropriate, with a parish or other Church agencies) in fidelity to the teachings of the Church, diocesan authority, and the special spirituality that animates the school community;
  
  
• being consulted in relation to the appointment of a principal by the founding authority;
  
  
• supporting staff, especially the principal, who will have the day to day responsibility for maintaining and promoting the Catholic ethos of the school;
  
  
• exercising general oversight of the curriculum, but in accordance with any relevant requirements of Government and Catholic education authorities, and without trespassing upon areas of professional educational judgement;
  
  
• overseeing the prudent financial management of the school, particularly with a view to ensuring access to quality education for future generations, and including planning for the provision of future facilities;
  
  
• seeking to ensure that the school fulfils its potential as an option for the disadvantaged,
  including the poor;
  
  
• providing advice to the principal on any matters referred to it by the principal;
  
  
• developing policies on matters referred to it by the principal or by responsible Catholic education authorities; and
  
  
• facilitating the induction and preparation of board members, including ensuring that members understand the scope and extent of their role.

Membership:

Members do not represent any groups

• Members minister to the needs of all
  
  
• Members prepare, listen, discuss, reflect, discern and then decide
  
  
• For most boards, one member should be a member of the Parents and Friends
  Association and act as a Liaison between the two bodies