Fee Overview
Catholic schools are typically seen as great value for money, providing high-quality education supported by quality facilities and learning environments. It is the policy of the Catholic Schools Office that financial hardship should not prevent any child from attending a Catholic school and no child will be denied a Catholic education because of a family’s genuine inability to pay the required school fees. Any family experiencing financial difficulties is entitled to fee assistance; your local school Principal will be able to discuss this with you.
Together with parents, clergy and school staff, Holy Spirit is committed to offering students in the Kurri Kurri region access to schools in which their faith can be nurtured in outstanding learning environments. We seek to assist young people to realise their full potential, taking into account their unique spiritual, intellectual, physical and social needs.
The greater part of diocesan schools’ funding comes from State and Commonwealth government grants, but the commitment and continuing financial contribution of parents and parish communities is still essential to fill the gap between the funds provided by government and the actual cost of running our schools. School fees are comprised of three components – Diocesan tuition fees, individual school resource and service fees and Diocesan Family School Building Levy (DFSBL).
School fees are an integral part of our Catholic school system and parents are required to sign a fee agreement commitment form on enrolment. Fee arrangements may be considered in extenuating circumstances and in consultation with the principal. The annual fees are divided equally across three terms.
DIOCESAN TUITION FEES 2024
In 2024, the family discount on Diocesan Tuition Fees, full rate, will be:
- 1 child family - 0% - full rate to be applied
- 2 child family - 15% - each child
- 3 child family - 25% - each child
- 4+ child family - 50% - each child
Fees are levied annually.
SCHOOL RESOURCE AND SERVICE FEES
The resource fee is billed per child, it covers a range of costs including the supply of goods and services, such as textbooks, exercise books, technology or resources needed for particular KLAs. Some incursion/excursion activities are also included. School camp and Intensive Swimming program will be billed separately.
ENROLMENT FEE
A non-refundable enrolment fee is to be paid on acceptance of enrolment. The enrolment fee covers all administrative work involved in processing the application.
DIOCESAN FAMILY SCHOOL BUILDING LEVY (DFSBL)
The DFSBL is $1,638 per year and is charged to the oldest child for each family. The levy is pooled to contribute towards past, present and future costs for building projects across all existing and for new catholic schools, and the acquisition of land for school purposes.
The DFSBL rate is reviewed, recommended and approved in the same manner as mentioned earlier for the tuition fees and discounts.
If you have an older child at a Catholic primary or high school in the Diocese, he or she will be billed by their school.
The levies collected are used for building projects in all schools within the Diocese according to maintenance needs and building priorities developed by the FSBL committee administering the funds.
OTHER FEES
DIOCESAN PASTORAL CONTRIBUTION
A voluntary contribution of $300.00 per family ($100 per term for 3 terms) is being sought as a diocesan pastoral contribution. Funds support the ongoing pastoral works of the diocese.
The Building Levy and Resource Fee do not attract a reduction and will need to be paid by families enrolling their children.
If any family is experiencing genuine financial concerns, they should contact the Principal promptly regarding the payment of fees.
We value the opportunity to work in partnership with you, and thank you for your continuing support of Catholic education in our diocese.
SPECIAL FEE REDUCTIONS
To assist families with limited financial resources, Holy Spirit offers a lower tuition fee to means tested low income families such as Health Care and Pension Card holders. This rate is 50% of the diocesan tuition fee full rate for each child. This discount applies only to the diocesan tuition fee, not to the DFSBL or other resource and service fees charged by each individual school.
FURTHER CONCESSIONS
A genuine inability to meet school account charges does not exclude access to any school within the diocese for a child of a family genuinely committed to Catholic faith and practice. Parents concerned about school fees should ensure they make contact with the school. Diocesan provisions exist to help in this area, and the Principal can also exercise discretion where genuine need exists.
PAYMENT OF FEES
Accounts are sent home at the beginning of Terms 1, 2 and 3 on a 21-day account.
Payments can be made via BPAY, EFTPOS or Direct Debit from your bank account. Please contact the school office for an application form for a direct debit.
A range of alternative payment plans is available. These include dividing the fees over 10 equal payments from February to November. Please contact our school office for further details.
Please be aware that if your direct debit is dishonoured more than three times the school will cancel the deduction. For any dishonoured direct debit, the school is charged a fee of $2.50 by your financial institution. This fee will be passed on to the fee payer and will appear on the next statement. No receipts are issued – please check bank account for proof of payment.