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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18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Filling Baskets, Warming Hearts! Our wonderful Year 1 students are learning all about kindness and community spirit this week! They are currently on a mission to collect 100 items for the St Vincent de Paul Food Drive. As part of their learning, our youngest students are discovering how their own small actions and generosity can make a massive difference to local families in need. We are so close to our goal! 🥫❤️ #CommunitySpirit #StVinniesFoodDrive #GenerosityInAction #Year1 #KindnessCoun
18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
❤️ A Heartfelt Thank You ❤️ We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Wickramanayaka family, especially Elena and Aidan, for their incredibly generous donation of sleeping bags and inflatable mattresses to support our St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. As the colder months settle in, many members of our community are facing the harsh reality of homelessness and financial hardship. These donations will provide warmth, comfort, and dignity to those who need it most during winter. Elena, Aidan and their family’s kindness and compassion are wonderful examples of how every act of generosity can make a significant difference in the lives of others. We are so proud to see young people actively supporting those in need and helping to build a more caring community. Thank you, Wickramanayaka family, for your generosity and for helping us make a positive impact this winter. Your support will bring comfort and hope to many people in our community. ❄️💕 #WinterAppeal #StVincentDePaul #CommunityKindness #MakingADifference #GivingBack #ProudSchoolCommunity
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18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Filling Baskets, Warming Hearts! Our wonderful Year 1 students are learning all about kindness and community spirit this week! They are currently on a mission to collect 100 items for the St Vincent de Paul Food Drive. As part of their learning, our youngest students are discovering how their own small actions and generosity can make a massive difference to local families in need. We are so close to our goal! 🥫❤️ #CommunitySpirit #StVinniesFoodDrive #GenerosityInAction #Year1 #KindnessCoun
18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
❤️ A Heartfelt Thank You ❤️ We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Wickramanayaka family, especially Elena and Aidan, for their incredibly generous donation of sleeping bags and inflatable mattresses to support our St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. As the colder months settle in, many members of our community are facing the harsh reality of homelessness and financial hardship. These donations will provide warmth, comfort, and dignity to those who need it most during winter. Elena, Aidan and their family’s kindness and compassion are wonderful examples of how every act of generosity can make a significant difference in the lives of others. We are so proud to see young people actively supporting those in need and helping to build a more caring community. Thank you, Wickramanayaka family, for your generosity and for helping us make a positive impact this winter. Your support will bring comfort and hope to many people in our community. ❄️💕 #WinterAppeal #StVincentDePaul #CommunityKindness #MakingADifference #GivingBack #ProudSchoolCommunity
18 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🌟 Year 4 are bringing the energy! 🌟 Our amazing Year 4 students had an absolute blast participating in ZING! It was fantastic to see them putting their teamwork, focus, and coordination skills to the test through so many fun, high-energy challenges. Everyone showed incredible sportsmanship and gave it 100%. Check out some of the action shots below! 📸👇 #Year4 #Teamwork #ActiveKids #SchoolPride
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Our Year 5 scientists have been investigating mixtures, chemical changes, and the properties of materials through a range of exciting hands-on experiments. Students explored density using oil, water, and food colouring, observed the colourful movement of liquids in the Magic Milk experiment, and compared different material combinations to determine whether they formed mixtures or new substances. Through predicting, observing, recording results, and discussing their findings, students developed their scientific inquiry skills while discovering how scientists explain the world around them. 🔬🧪 A fantastic week of curiosity, investigation, and learning!
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Bronte and Bryleigh's grandma, who has generously crocheted and donated 50 beautiful blankets for the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal. Our Winter Sleepout will take place this Thursday for students in Years 4–6. As part of the experience, students are invited to donate blankets and warm accessories to support people in our community during the colder months. Bronte and Bryleigh's grandma's incredible handmade blankets are a wonderful contribution and a fantastic example of kindness, generosity and community spirit. There is still time for families to donate blankets, beanies, scarves, gloves and other warm accessories, even if their child is not participating in the Winter Sleepout. Donations can be left at the school office. Thank you to Bronte and Bryleigh's grandma for helping us support the St Vincent de Paul Winter Appeal and make a difference in the lives of others this winter. ❤️
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Year 3 have been exploring the fascinating world of printmaking, using a variety of textured materials to design and create their very own printing plates. From corrugated cardboard creating bold stripes to bubble wrap making patterned circles, students experimented with different textures to bring their ideas to life. Using planning sketches, hands-on materials, and plenty of creativity, our young artists carefully arranged, glued, and constructed unique artworks ready for printing. It was wonderful to see students problem-solve, collaborate, and express themselves through this exciting artistic process.
16 Jun 2026
From Facebook
15 Jun 2026
From Facebook
In music 🎶 this term, Year 2 has been learning about the relationship between beat and rhythm in music compositions. They have explored the techniques of dynamics (volume) and tempo (speed) in music and the impact these techniques have on the listening audience. Each week the students have practised using a tambourine, triangle and clapping sticks, working on using correct technique. Additionally, the students are beginning to learn how to understand, read and compose musical compositions using musical notation concepts. This has allowed students to compose their own compositions in groups, and play them using the three instruments for an audience. 🎶
12 Jun 2026
From Facebook
Year 5 have been working hard in English, upgrading their writing with adjectival clauses, stronger verb groups, and more precise vocabulary. They’ve been swapping out simple words for sharper synonyms and discovering that every word has a job to do. Their sentences are growing in depth, detail, and confidence. Through oral construction with partners, students have been rehearsing and refining their ideas before writing, discussing different ways to strengthen sentences and selecting the most effective language. This collaborative talk has helped students develop greater confidence as writers while deepening their understanding of how language choices can engage and inform the reader.
12 Jun 2026
From Facebook
🏀⭐ Ball Skills in Action! ⭐🏀 Our Kindergarten students have been having a fantastic time participating in Zing Learning Ball Skills! Through fun and engaging activities, they have been developing their coordination, balance, teamwork and confidence while learning important fundamental movement skills. From bouncing and catching to throwing and rolling, every session has been filled with smiles, laughter and lots of active learning! 🎉 We are so proud of the enthusiasm, perseverance and positive attitudes our students have shown as they challenge themselves and celebrate their successes. Well done, superstars! 🌟👏 Click here for more photos https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1QnHlU5aa2Ipo3tODGPpueJcES0zkoyGf?usp=sharing
11 Jun 2026
From Facebook
This week in Religious Education, our Year 6 students read and unpacked two foundational pieces of scripture to explore how God works within us. We unpacked Galatians 5:22-23 and 1 Corinthians 12:8-10 to learn the difference between the Fruits of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit. To help us remember the difference, we talked about it like this: The Fruits of the Spirit are the qualities that grow inside our hearts when we follow God- like love, joy, peace and patience. They shape who we are. The Gifts of the Spirit are special talents and abilities God gives us to help others and build up our community and church- like wisdom, faith and healing. They shape what we can do. To bring these concepts to life, Year 6 designed beautiful, creative artworks in their RE books. Take a look at their amazing work samples below to see how they visually captured the difference between a fruit that grows and a gift that is shared! Click below for more photos https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eox1sUnN4qB8NPEjfB009wgjWgPv3Q0U?usp=sharing
09 Jun 2026
From Facebook
📝 Boosting Our Literacy Skills: Becoming Thoughtful Writers and Readers! Our students are working hard to level up their writing by learning how to join ideas together using connecting words like and, but, so, and because. They are discovering that while these longer sentences help their writing flow smoothly, each part of the sentence can often make sense all on its own! To make their stories more engaging for the reader, our learners are now using a mix of short and long sentences alongside very thoughtful word choices. They are also becoming "language detectives" by identifying descriptive words in the books they read, which helps them understand how authors add detail and meaning to a story. By noticing how professional writers use sentence structure and vibrant language to grab an audience's attention, our students are developing into insightful readers and creative writers! 🌟 #SchoolLiteracy #WritingSkills #YoungWriters #NSWPrimarySchools #LearningTogether