Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) has released its Closing the Gap Report 2026, detailing efforts to enhance educational equity, community engagement, and cultural capability across its 80 schools in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. The introduction of fee-free education for First Nations families is a particular highlight, resulting in a 14% increase in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander enrolments.
CSPD Chief Executive Officer Jack de Groot said the report demonstrates how CSPD continues to measure progress, identify opportunities for growth, and share the impact of its reconciliation journey.
"Education has the power to transform lives, strengthen communities and create opportunities for future generations. For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, culturally responsive education is fundamental to fostering a strong sense of identity, belonging and achievement while supporting lifelong learning and success beyond school," Jack said.
The 2026 Report highlights key initiatives and achievements across education, procurement, digital inclusion, and social justice advocacy:
- Enrolment Growth & First Nations Fee Offering: Enrolments have grown from 863 First Nations students in 2021 to 1,382 in 2026. The introduction of the fee-free education offering from 1 January 2026 directly contributed to a 14% increase in First Nations enrolments this year alone.
- Academic & Senior Retention Gains: More than double the number of students achieved HSC Bands 5 and 6 over the past five years, while Year 10–12 retention rose significantly from 44.4% in 2020 to 64.5% in 2025.
- First Nations Digital Inclusion Working Group: Established with representation across the Jarara Cultural Centre, Student Support, IT, Finance & Infrastructure, Growth, Communications & Engagement, and a parent representative, the group is working to address gaps in device access, home connectivity, and digital literacy.
- Inclusive Procurement & Economic Participation: CSPD contracted VDG Indigenous Services—a certified First Nations supplier—for cleaning services across multiple schools under a contract valued at approximately $1.5 million per annum.
- Advocacy for Justice (Raise the Age): CSPD officially signed up to the Raise the Age campaign in NSW, advocating for justice system reforms that support and nurture vulnerable young people through community-led solutions rather than criminalisation.
Cultural Safety & Wellbeing: Fostered culturally responsive environments through the Jarara Cultural Centre, embedding dedicated yarning spaces, cultural immersion opportunities, cultural groups such as Birraygal Pillars of Culture Boys’ Mentoring Program and Strong Sisters Cultural Leadership Program and targeted pastoral support to strengthen identity, belonging, and wellbeing for First Nations students and families across all schools.
Looking ahead, CSPD remains committed to sustaining this trajectory through the ongoing implementation of its Innovate RAP 2025–2027, the rollout of its organisation-wide Cultural Learning Strategy, and deeper collaboration with Aboriginal community-controlled organisations.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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21 Aug 2026
From Facebook
We were so excited to come back to school after the holidays and see our St Angela’s House Board installed. Huge thank you to our Year 6 Class of 2025 for donating this awesome new addition to our school. 👏
20 Aug 2026
From Facebook
A huge congratulations to our Year 5 & 6 Dance Crew on their wonderful 2nd Place at the Hawkesbury Eisteddfod today! 🥈 We are so proud of the way they represented St Angela’s, with such pride and joy, letting their light shine! 🌟
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21 Aug 2026
From Facebook
We were so excited to come back to school after the holidays and see our St Angela’s House Board installed. Huge thank you to our Year 6 Class of 2025 for donating this awesome new addition to our school. 👏
20 Aug 2026
From Facebook
A huge congratulations to our Year 5 & 6 Dance Crew on their wonderful 2nd Place at the Hawkesbury Eisteddfod today! 🥈 We are so proud of the way they represented St Angela’s, with such pride and joy, letting their light shine! 🌟
20 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Yesterday, our Kindergarten students enjoyed a wonderful incursion with Brewongle. We explored a range of traditional Aboriginal tools and learned more about how Aboriginal Peoples have used the natural environment for many different purposes. They especially loved heading outdoors to create their own beautiful artworks using ochre! It was a fantastic hands-on learning experience that helped bring our learning about Aboriginal culture and connection to Country to life 🌿🎨
20 Aug 2026
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10 Aug 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to our students who received the Learning Excellence and St Angela's Awards from last week. Keep letting your light shine!
08 Aug 2026
From Facebook
🎨 Celebrating Mrs Nettleton on Principal’s Day 🧩 Yesterday, our school community came together to celebrate Mrs Nettleton for Principal’s Day! Our student leaders set up a fun scavenger hunt around the school, sending her to collect pieces of a mystery artwork created by our students. The hunt led to a special assembly featuring a performance by our Dance Crew, a student poem, and the reveal of the completed puzzle wall. Following the celebrations and a morning tea, Mrs Nettleton shared a message of thanks: "Thank you everyone for such a beautiful day at school today. I feel thoroughly spoiled and am amazed at the gestures from staff and students. Thank you for the beautiful morning tea, fun challenge, amazing assembly with Dance Crew and Poem and of course the revealing of the wonderful puzzle on the wall." Thank you, Mrs Nettleton, for your leadership and dedication to our school community! 💙
07 Aug 2026
From Facebook
🦁 History Comes Alive at Sydney Zoo! 🌿 Our Year One students had a fantastic day exploring Sydney Zoo yesterday to support their History learning this term! The students enjoyed taking their learning beyond the classroom, discovering rich connections to Country, native wildlife, and heritage in a hands-on, interactive way. It was a wonderful day of discovery, curiosity, and outdoor learning! A special thank you to our parent helpers who assisted throughout the day, and to our Year One teachers for organising such a memorable excursion.
06 Aug 2026
From Facebook
🦸♂️ 100 Days Smarter & Super-Powered! ⚡✨ Our Kindergarten superheroes had an absolute blast celebrating 100 incredible days of school on Wednesday 5 Aug! We kicked off our action-packed day with a beautiful liturgy to give thanks, followed by a cozy outdoor rug reading session on our school grounds. The fun kept going with heaps of superhero-themed 100-day activities, before wrapping up with a wonderful family picnic! 🧺🥪 A massive superhero thank you to our amazing Kindergarten teachers for powering up our classrooms every day, and to all our dedicated parent helpers and families who joined our hero headquarters to help out and make this milestone so special. We are so proud of how much our youngest learners have grown, learned, and soared! 🌟
02 Aug 2026
From Facebook
So many bright smiles at MacKillop Catholic Care today! 🎶 Our students loved visiting the residents, sharing some songs, and spending time together. A huge thank you to the parent volunteers Mrs Ballantine, Mrs Conde, Mrs Iskandar, Mrs Low & Mrs Rendon who helped with driving today, we couldn't have done it without you! 💙
31 Jul 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to our St Angela's Award and Learning Excellence Award recipients this week!
28 Jul 2026
Action and Progress: Western Sydney Catholic Schools release 2026 Closing the Gap Report
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) has released its Closing the Gap Report 2026, detailing efforts to enhance educational equity, community engagement, and cultural capability across its 80 schools in Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
25 Jul 2026
From Facebook
🚜 Highlight of Week 1: Year 2 Steps Back in Time at Rouse Hill Farm! 📜 What a fantastic way to kick off the new term! The highlight of our first week back was Year 2's excursion to Rouse Hill Farm, where our young historians put their detective skills to work. 🌾 As part of their History unit on communication and evidence from the past, students got hands-on with real artifacts, old buildings, and historical clues. It was incredible watching them ask big questions and compare life then and now! 🕵️♀️✨ A huge thank you to our wonderful parent helpers who assisted on the day, we couldn't have done it without you! ❤️