The South Australian Commission for Catholic Schools (SACCS) announced the formation of Catholic School Parents SA (CSPSA) as the new representative body of Catholic school parents in November 2020.
The new organisation aims to be an advocate for the families, parents and carers of children in Catholic schools, Catholic early learning centres and pre-schools.
Trish Jarvis was appointed as Executive Officer and began in the role in September 2021.
CSPSA aims to build an environment where parents can be empowered to take an active role as the primary educators of their children.
CSPSA is underpinned by a belief that school and family collaboration is essential for successful spiritual, academic and developmental growth.
The organisation’s objective is for all children to have the opportunity to access a quality education that allows each child to reach his or her potential. CSPSA will support this empowerment by providing resources, education and support to assist all families and parents in this role.
In working with parents and caregivers from the 103 Catholic Schools in South Australia, CSPSA is closely aligned with Catholic School Parents Australia. Catholic School Parents Australia is the national body representing and advocating for parents and carers of young people in Catholic schools across Australia and includes a broad representation of caregivers from South Australian Catholic schools.
A Parent Representative is being sought from each school as the organisation seeks to strengthen its links with schools into the future.
Engagement has begun with various metropolitan and regional schools with the Executive Officer planning many visits to schools in 2022.
The organisation is finalising a Parent Charter to outline partnership principles for schools and parents to work in collaboration and will run the first of a series of planned workshops in 2022.
