Catholic primary and secondary schools in the Diocese of Cairns provide an affordable option for parents seeking a faith perspective for their children's education. Research on why parents enrol their children at Catholic schools indicates they value the religious ethos of Catholic schools, including the personal and social values that are advanced within them. They also appreciate the quality of teaching provided, pastoral care of students, standards of behaviour expected of students, and the sense of community and belonging that characterises Catholic schools.

The need to charge fees arises from the policy of successive governments over the years that lower per capita grants are provided for students in non-government schools compared to students at government schools.

As can be seen from the diagram, Catholic school communities need to provide substantial funding to meet the shortfall between the basic costs of running a school and the amount provided by governments.

A reasonable fee structure is essential for Catholic schools to operate and provide high quality education. It also ensures Catholic schools are able to maintain some independence as a system and achieve the ideals of the Catholic Church in operating schools.

Schools strive to keep fees and levies as low as possible. 

Although Catholic schools must charge fees to fund the education provided, it is important that families who want to access Catholic education for their children are not excluded because they do not have the means to pay fees.

If a family experiences personal financial hardship in meeting school fees, they are invited to discuss total or partial exemption from school fees with the Principal or Parish Priest, who will treat the matter with understanding and sensitivity.

Discounts apply for families with more than one child attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Cairns. In primary schools, a 30% discount on tuition fees applies to the second child, a 50% discount for the third child, and the fourth and subsequent children attract no tuition fees.

In Catholic secondary colleges, a 15% discount on tuition fees applies to the second child, 30% to the third child, and 100% discount for the fourth and other children. Families with children at both primary and secondary Catholic schools also receive a discount even though the children are at two different Catholic schools.

Ten primary schools in the diocese attract a further discount because of their rural location and/or having limited access to a Catholic secondary college.

School Fees also comprise levies, which vary from school to school, and may include items such as a Building Levy, Subject Levies and General Purpose Levy.

The average cost of a Catholic primary school education over a 40 week school year is about $26 per week (or $20 weekly for a 52 week year). For a secondary education, the fee average ranges from $42 per school week ($32 weekly over a 52 week year) for lower secondary to $52 per school week ($40 weekly over a 52 week year) for higher secondary. Levies in secondary colleges add approximately $5 per week. These approximations are before subsequent child and rural location discounts. Direct debit and other payment facilities are available.

Enrolments remain open at most Catholic primary and secondary schools, however some schools have reached their full capacity and have formed waiting lists. Parents considering a Catholic school for their children are invited to contact the school of interest to them as soon as possible to enquire about enrolment procedures.