Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) has released its first annual Closing the Gap report. This report outlines its contribution to improving socio-economic outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, particularly students and their families.
CSPD Chief Executive Officer Jack de Groot said the report reflects the dedication of CSPD’s 6 500 staff in fostering reconciliation and equity through the organisation’s 80 outstanding school across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains.
“We’re strongly committed to great outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students through education grounded in excellence and inclusion,” Jack said. “Our Catholic tradition puts people in need first and there is still so much more to do to Close the Gap for First Nations people in Australia, including in our Catholic schools.”
The annual report is an additional commitments CSPD has included in its forthcoming Reconciliation Action Plan. While not exhaustive, the report highlights some of the meaningful efforts being made through CSPD schools and services across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Some highlights include:
- a year-on-year increase of approximately 7.5% enrolment growth for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students (bringing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to 1,217 total)
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students maintained an attendance rate above 87% in both 2023 and 2024, compared to 85.1% in 2022
- increasing HSC participation with 65 HSC candidates in 2025, in contrast to 10 HSC candidates in 2016
- steady improvement in HSC results, with the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students achieving top-band awards rising from 7.69% in 2016 to nearly 30% by 2024
- achievements in Vocational Education and Training such as St John Paul II Catholic College Schofields student Tataya Curry-Jones being named NSW Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Student of the Year and St Agnes Catholic High School Rooty Hill student Jewel Osborne won the prestigious Aurora Award at the Western Sydney and Blue Mountains Region at the 2024 NSW Training Awards.
The report celebrates the strengths-based work of the CSPD Jarara team based in Mount Druitt and Family Liaison Officer Aunty Roz Webb, an Aboriginal Elder embedded within CSPD’s Student Support Directorate. Other successful initiatives include the Murama Youth Ambassador Program, cultural learning programs such as Sky Country Dreaming and the Up and Go Bus that provides students with transport to school (and brekky on the road), an initiative to support student attendance.
Looking ahead, opportunities to increase CSPD’s contribution to national efforts to close the gap include considering scaling the Family Liaison Officer model, expanding transition support, and strengthening vocational pathways will be key priorities. Deepening partnerships with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community-controlled organisations, universities, and employers while increasing access to targeted wellbeing services will further enhance student outcomes. By refining exisiting programs and fostering strong community collaborations, CSPD can continue to make a contribution to sustained progress towards parity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au
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10 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to our fantastic Students of the Week and Best Classes for Weeks 6 & 7! Your hard work, positive attitude, and commitment to learning have made you wonderful role models in our school community. We are so proud of your achievementsโkeep up the great work!
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From Facebook
๐๐ช Sound Investigation in Year 2! ๐ช๐ In Year 2, students have been investigating how different materials and actions can affect the volume and pitch of sound. Using bottles brought from home, students added rice and a variety of pasta to design and create their very own musical instruments. Through hands-on exploration, students discovered that high-pitched sounds are created by fast vibrations and higher frequencies, while low-pitched sounds are produced by slower vibrations and lower frequencies. There was so much excitement, curiosity, and music-making as our young scientists explored sound in action! ๐ถ๐ต๐คฉ
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10 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Congratulations to our fantastic Students of the Week and Best Classes for Weeks 6 & 7! Your hard work, positive attitude, and commitment to learning have made you wonderful role models in our school community. We are so proud of your achievementsโkeep up the great work!
09 Jun 2026
From Facebook
๐๐ช Sound Investigation in Year 2! ๐ช๐ In Year 2, students have been investigating how different materials and actions can affect the volume and pitch of sound. Using bottles brought from home, students added rice and a variety of pasta to design and create their very own musical instruments. Through hands-on exploration, students discovered that high-pitched sounds are created by fast vibrations and higher frequencies, while low-pitched sounds are produced by slower vibrations and lower frequencies. There was so much excitement, curiosity, and music-making as our young scientists explored sound in action! ๐ถ๐ต๐คฉ
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02 Jun 2026
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๐๐ Year 2 Liturgy of the Word โ Caring for Godโs Creation ๐๐ On Wednesday 29th April, our Year 2 students gathered in the hall for a beautiful Liturgy of the Word focused on Caring for Godโs Creation. This special celebration was the culmination of their Religion learning, exploring the question: โHow can we show empathy to care for Godโs Creation?โ Through prayer, singing, and bringing the Scripture of the Creation Story to life, students reflected on how we are called to be the Church by caring for our common home through our words and actions. Thank you to the many parents and friends who joined us for this meaningful celebration of faith, community, and solidarity. We are so proud of our Year 2 students for sharing their learning and living their faith so beautifully. ๐โจ๐
01 Jun 2026
From Facebook
๐โ๏ธ Year 1 Scientists Exploring Shadows! โ๏ธ๐ Today, our Year 1 students became scientists as they investigated shadows and the movement of the Sun through hands-on inquiry learning. Using chalk, students traced their shadows before midday and then returned after 1pm to observe and compare how the size and direction of their shadows changed throughout the day. Through this investigation, students explored how the Sunโs position in the sky changes during the day and affects the length and direction of shadows, helping deepen their understanding of Earthโs relationship with the Sun and how our planet experiences day and night. There was so much excitement, curiosity, and rich discussion as students made observations, asked questions, and discovered science in action right in our playground! ๐โจ
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From Facebook
๐ญโจ Congratulations to Year 6 student Gabriele, who is performing in this yearโs Cumberland Gang Show production, *Electrify*! โก๐ถ ๐ Gabriele has been working hard as part of the cast, and we are proud to celebrate his involvement in this exciting extracurricular opportunity. ๐ญ๐ We wish him every success as he takes to the stage. โญโจ ๐๏ธ If you would like to support Gabriele and enjoy a fantastic family theatre experience, ticketing and production information can be found via the link https://gangshow.asn.au/electrify2026. ๐ Best wishes, Gabriele! โญ๐ญ๐
28 May 2026
From Facebook
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From Facebook
Inviting all of our families to this event! You will also see the video created showcasing the work of our students and teachers in Year 1 during the English block. Donโt forget to register via the link.