Catholic schooling in Queensland has a long and proud history. The first Catholic school opened in 1845 on a site in Brisbane currently occupied by the Myer Centre. Nonreligious or lay teachers, Mary and Michael Bourke, staffed the school.

During the 1870’s, education acts passed in the various colonies meant that education in Australia became compulsory, secular and free in state schools. All government financial assistance to Catholic schools was withdrawn. With the emergence of government-run education systems, Catholic schools became largely staffed by members of religious orders (priests, religious sisters and brothers). Catholic schools were able to continue to operate because of the contributions of these religious orders and as a result of the fees paid and donations received from the Catholic community.

Over the next 100 years, various priests and religious orders, with the support of the Catholic community, established schools to serve communities across Queensland; in Brisbane and regional centres as well as the more remote areas of the state. The men and women from these religious orders played a crucial role in laying the foundation for the significant contribution made by Catholic schools to the education of young Queenslanders.
Since the 1960’s government funding has once more been provided to Catholic schools. As the numbers of those entering religious orders declined, increasing numbers of lay teachers and principals were appointed. Contemporary Catholic schools are once again staffed, almost completely, by lay teachers committed to the goals of Catholic education. 

Structure

There are five dioceses in Queensland – the Archdiocese of Brisbane and the dioceses of Cairns, Toowoomba, Rockhampton and Townsville.

In total there are 24 Catholic school employing authorities in Queensland: the five Catholic Education Offices in the dioceses and the archdiocese; Edmund Rice Education Australia (Christian Brothers); and 16 other religious institutes (or religious orders).

The Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) serves as a peak body whose principal goal is the co-ordination and advancement of Catholic education in Queensland. Among the key responsibilities of the Commission are the negotiation and distribution of government funding, advocating the position of Catholic education to government and other bodies, communicating and responding to media issues of a statewide nature, facilitating collaboration between employing authorities in areas such as employee relations and curriculum as well as researching and managing relevant statistical and financial data.
QCEC exercises certain statewide responsibilities in respect of Queensland’s Catholic schools. Many of these are administered by the five autonomous Catholic education authorities in each diocese (region) headed by a Catholic Bishop. Direct responsibility for setting policy in each diocese resides with an education council or board. An Executive Director of Catholic Education implements that policy and administers schools on behalf of the diocesan authority.
In addition, the Commission has identical responsibilities towards the Catholic schools which are accountable to their sponsoring religious institute rather than these diocesan authorities. These Religious Institute schools are owned and administered by various orders of religious sisters, brothers and priests.
The unique governing arrangements which apply to Queensland’s Catholic schools are products of the relationship between our schools and the Church. This is evidenced in the autonomy enjoyed in individual dioceses and also in the autonomous nature of Religious Institute schools. This decentralised approach is a feature well suited to Queensland; Australia’s most decentralised state. It is also a further example of the diversified nature of Catholic schooling provision in Queensland.
 

Statistics

In 2008, there are 286 schools in Queensland (195 primary, 71 secondary and 20 P-12). These schools are based in rural and metropolitan areas, provide co-educational and single gender schooling options and offer boarding facilities for more than 2,000 students from remote regions.

More than 125,000 students attend Catholic schools in Queensland. This number represents around 17% of all Queensland students and 60% of the students in non-government schools.

More than 3,000 indigenous students attend Catholic schools in Queensland.

School locations range from Thursday Island in the north to Currumbin Waters in the south and Longreach in the west.

There are almost 15,000 staff in Queensland Catholic schools with over 8,000 teaching staff, more than 4,000 administrative and clerical staff and the remainder principals, senior executive staff and maintenance staff.

There is a number of schools/school programs which have been set up in response to special student needs.  Edmund Rice Education administers five Flexible Learning Centres across the state that cater for students who have disengaged from learning in the traditional classroom. There are schools which focus on the needs of indigenous students and programs which cater for students with hearing impairment. Full service schools provide access to a range of community services in order to provide support and pastoral care to the members of their community.

Quick Facts

1. The first Catholic school in Queensland was opened in 1845, near where the Myer Centre now stands in Brisbane city.

1. There are five dioceses in Queensland - the Archdiocese of Brisbane and the dioceses of Cairns, Toowoomba, Rockhampton and Townsville.

1. There are 24 Catholic school employing authorities in Queensland: the five Catholic Education Offices in the dioceses and the archdiocese; Edmund Rice Education Australia (Christian Brothers); and 16 other religious institutes (or religious orders).

1. In 2008, there are 286 Catholic schools in Queensland (195 primary, 71 secondary and 20 P-12).

1. More than 125,000 students attend Catholic schools in Queensland (17% of all Queensland students and 60% of the students in non-government schools).

1. School locations range from Thursday Island in the north to Currumbin Waters in the south and Longreach in the west.

• There is almost 15,000 staff in Queensland Catholic schools.