Commitment to Close the Gap clear for Western Sydney Catholic schools

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.

Closing the Gap report

Written By

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
www.parra.catholic.edu.au

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15 Dec 2025
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15 Dec 2025
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What a truly special way to commence our end of year events for our 2025 school year at Holy Spirit Primary School! 🙏 Today, we gathered for our End of Year Mass, celebrating the start of Advent—a time of joyful anticipation and preparation for Christmas. We were honoured to have Father Peci share a beautiful Homily with our students and community, reminding us that we encounter Jesus in three wonderful ways: In History: We learn and reflect on the amazing story of Jesus’ birth—the very reason for our Christmas celebration! 🌟 In Daily Life: We encounter Him every day when we make room for Him in our hearts and actions. It's about living out His message of love and kindness. ❤️ Again (Second Coming): We hold the promise that Jesus will come again to make all things new! This gives us hope for the future. 🌍 This mass marks the official close of a fantastic 2025 where our focus has been centered on student growth and the overall wellbeing of every child in our care. We are so proud of the progress our students have made! Our last day of school for 2025 is Wednesday 17th December. Please join us, if you can, on Wednesday for our End of Year Assembly and Christmas Performance. We wish all our families a very safe, holy, and Merry Christmas. We look forward to seeing everyone refreshed in the new year!