Edmund Rice Education Australia Touchstone

Liberating Education

As a Catholic School in the Edmund Rice tradition, we open hearts and minds, through quality teaching and learning experiences, so that through critical reflection and engagement each person is hope-filled and free to build a better world for all.

Exciting Research Findings: Impact of Catholic School Attendance on Post-School Outcomes

A recent study has investigated the impact of attending a Catholic school on various post-school outcomes. This research is part of the HILDA Survey, where respondents indicate the type of school they attended, allowing for a detailed analysis of their post-school achievements.

What Did the Research Investigate?

The study examined a wide range of post-school outcomes, including:

• Labour Market Outcomes: Employment status, wages, industry of employment, occupation type, and sector of employment.
• Health and Wellbeing: Happiness, life satisfaction, mental and general health, body mass index, alcohol consumption, smoking, and physical activity.
• Community Participation: Charitable giving, volunteering, discussing current affairs, and satisfaction with the community.

What Were the Findings of the Research?

The research found ‘positive average Catholic school effects’ for many of the post-school outcomes that were analysed. In other words, after controlling for a comprehensive set of alternative explanatory factors, attendance at a Catholic school was found to have a positive effect upon many outcomes.

Key Findings:

Compared to people who attended government schools, people who attended a Catholic school were found, on average, to:

• Be more likely to be employed
• Have higher life satisfaction
• Have better general health
• Be more likely to donate to charity
• Earn higher wages
• Be more likely to be working in an industry or sector that directly benefits the public

Many of these findings also hold in comparisons against those who attended independent schools.

Detailed Findings:

Labour Market:

• More likely to be employed (99% confidence)
• Higher wage (99% confidence)
• More likely to be working in an industry (99%) or sector (95%) that directly benefits the public

Health and Wellbeing:

• Higher life satisfaction (90% confidence)
• Better general health (99% confidence)

Community:

• More likely to donate to charity (90% confidence)

For more detailed information, you can access the full report at www.vcea.catholic.edu.au/lifelongbenefits. We encourage all parents to review this insightful research to understand the potential long-term benefits of Catholic education.

Proposed Change to College Sport Uniform in 2026 – Year 7

The College is planning to introduce a new Sport Uniform for Year 7 students starting in 2026. The reasons for this change are:

1. To foster a stronger sense of house spirit within the College.
2. The current sport shirt fabric is heavy and uncomfortable for students during sports activities.
3. The new design will be more contemporary, incorporating First Nations artwork and introducing a native animal as house mascot for each house in line with the College murals.

Parents at the meeting fully supported this change, which will be implemented in 2026 for Year 7 students, based on the following principles:

1. The new Sports Uniform will be available for the Year 7 cohort in 2026.
2. Families of students in older years are not required to purchase the new uniform, although it will be available for them.
3. New students entering the College will be assigned to the same house as their older siblings.
4. The new Sports Uniform will be able to be purchased at Midford the College Uniform supplier at approximately the same cost as the current sport shirt.

Year 7 to 12 Student-Led Conferences

I would like to remind families that the Year 7 to 12 Student-Led Conferences, commence tomorrow Friday 28 March. These conferences will take place in person at St Edward’s College from 9:00am to 3:00pm. Teachers will be located in designated rooms across the College. A map with room details will be sent out prior to the event. On the day, students from the Prefect body will be available to guide parents and carers around the College. As teachers will be engaged in Learning Conferences throughout the day no classes will be scheduled.

The second opportunity for parents and carers to participate in Learning Conferences with their son’s is on Wednesday 2 April. These conferences will take place from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm and will be held online via Microsoft Teams. Teachers will connect with students at the scheduled time via their Microsoft Teams account. We recommend students use their school laptop for the best experience.

2026 Enrolments

The College is now accepting enrolment applications for Year 7 2026. The enrolment process is completed online via the College website at: https://www.stedwards.nsw.edu.au/enrolment/

The enrolment information clearly outlines the enrolment criteria. Applications received after Friday 19 May, will be processed as late applications. Current families who are aware of family or friends who wish to apply for their son to attend St Edward’s, are asked to encourage them to visit the College website for information about the College and the process of enrolment.