Funding

Catholic schools receive funding from both State and Federal governments as well as contributions from parents via the payment of school fees.

• In the 2002-2003 financial year, the Federal government allocated 67% of its education budget to non-government schools (including Catholic schools). The remaining 33% was allocated to government schools. ⁺
  This meant that Catholic schools received more Federal funds than government schools.
  
  
• In the same period, the NSW State government allocated 7.3% of its education budget to non-government schools. The remaining 92.7% was allocated to government schools. ⁺
  
  
• This meant that government schools received more State funds than Catholic schools.
  
  
• When Federal and State funding are combined, the average student in a government school receives considerably more funding than a student in a Catholic school.
  
  
• In the 2003-2004 financial year, NSW government schools received $8,227 per student from Federal and State sources. By contrast, NSW Catholic systemic schools received $5,933 per student from Federal and State sources (2004 calendar year). (Schools owned and operated by the Religious Orders are funded using a different formula.)
  
  
• In other words, each NSW Catholic systemic school student received, on average, $2,294 less in government funding than a student in a government school. This gap is partly offset by fees, building levies and other charges paid by parents, as well as by support from parishes.

+ Source: Productivity Commission (Australia), Review of Government Service Provision, Report on Government Services 2005, Volume 1, Part B ‘Education'. Report published 28 January 2005.