On 15th August Mr Karl Rodrigues (CSPA Chair), Ms Carmel Nash OAM (Deputy Chair) and Mr John O'Brien (CSPA Executive Officer) met with Federal Education Minister, Simon Birmingham to discuss recognition of CSPA as the national peak parent representative and advocacy body for parents of children in Catholic schools nationwide. The meeting was also timely as the Minister makes his way across the country consulting with Catholic education authorities and stakeholders to determine final arrangements for non-government school funding.

CSPV anticipate that the meeting will be a positive step forward in recognising the contribution of parents to the national Catholic education sector and the determination of the parent representative council to ensure parents continue to have the choice to send their children to Catholic schools throughout the country.

The next CSPA meeting will take place in Sydney at the end of August where we look forward to hearing guest speakers, AITSL CEO Lisa Rodgers and National Plenary Council facilitator Lana Turvey-Collins.

CSPA continue to work through several key strategic priorities and developing a valued presence in the national political landscape. CSPA is in the process of developing a nationwide, cross-sectoral parent engagement toolkit along with Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY) and the University of Southern QLD following completion of the research phase of the project in 2017. The research findings will be made public towards the end of 2018.