Commitment to Close the Gap clear for Western Sydney Catholic schools

3 CSPD students wearing Traditional Aboriginal Paint

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

03 Feb 2026
From Facebook
We are so excited to welcome our 2026 Kindergarten students tomorrow for their very first day! 🌟 We are ready for you and can’t wait to meet you. Please come with a big smile, we are so excited to see you! 🌈📚 Just a reminder: The children need to wear their full summer uniform and hat. Please pack crunch and sip (fresh fruit or vegetable sticks), recess, lunch and a water bottle into their school bag. Morning Please arrive at the front of the school between 9:15am and 9:25am (park on Reservoir Road, not in the staff car park) and proceed to the green gates near the Infant’s Quad. The children need to collect their name badge from the tables. Parents and carers may wait until their child’s teacher assembles them into their class lines and takes them to the Kindergarten classrooms for the first session. Afternoon Please return to the green gates near the Infant’s Quad between 2.15 and 2.25pm to collect your child. Parents will again need to park at the front of the school (Reservoir Road) as the gates at the back of the school (Orwell St) will be locked. Please consider the busyness on Reservoir Road at this time of day and allow sufficient time to find parking and collect your child. The Kindergarten Teachers will dismiss the children from inside the gates at 2:30pm. Please be prompt to pick up your child as it can be upsetting for some children who are left waiting for an extended period of time.

02 Feb 2026
From Facebook
Students have kicked off the term in drama by exploring the art of mime, learning how to use facial expressions, body language, and movement to tell a story without words. Using familiar Australian landmarks like the Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Opera House as inspiration, they’ve been creating imaginative scenes that show climbing, exploring, and performing through mime. These activities are building confidence, creativity, and a strong understanding of how stories and emotions can be communicated through physical performance alone. 🎭