Catholic Education SA announces 2023 school fee freeze

Families struggling to pay fees at these private schools have been given some peace of mind as it’s announced there’ll be no hikes coming. See the list of schools.

Catholic Education will freeze fees at more than 80 schools in 2023, as families across the state tighten their budgets to meet rising everyday living costs.

The organisation says 86 primary, secondary, combined and special schools that fall under the Adelaide and Port Pirie dioceses will not hike their fees at all next year.

Matt Dyda with sons Milo, 5, Logan, 7, are pleased that Catholic schools are freezing fees for 2023. Picture: Tom Huntley

A further 17 are responsible to different religious orders, which set their fees separately.

The move comes as 1200 reception students in the Adelaide and Port Pirie dioceses also prepare to begin school in term 3.

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None of those parents will be charged for their children’s schooling for the rest of the year.

It’s the third year in a row that Catholic Education has brought in significant fee relief due to the pandemic.

In 2021, diocesan Catholic primary schools reduced fees by an average of 15 per cent and this year, primary schools froze their fees, while secondary and combined colleges reduced them by 1–7 per cent.

Catholic Education SA director Neil McGoran said the move would support families facing rising costs and high inflation.

“Amongst all the worries that families have at this time – worrying about the payment of school fees should not be one of them,” he said.

The fee relief came as The Reserve Bank of Australia on Tuesday hiked rates by half a percentage point to 1.35 per cent – the third rise in as many months.

At St Augustine’s Parish School in Salisbury, principal Dan Cowan said the fee freeze would provide families with relief that “this is one expense that will not be increasing into 2023”.

“We will continue to offer remissions and support for each family that needs assistance now too,” he said.

The school will welcome 28 new reception students in term 3, and Mr Cowan said the mid-year intake gave children a much “softer landing” into school and would also save families money on childcare.

The school fee freeze is expected to help families dealing with rising food, fuel and mortgage repayment costs.

At Our Lady of the Visitation School in Taperoo, principal Frank DeTullio said fees had dropped from $3200 in 2016 to $2500 this year.

“It’s making Catholic schooling affordable for parents, especially in the current climate,” he said.

“We have a mixture of families in the area we cater for, including families that find paying fees difficult and families that find the fees affordable.”

Mr DeTullio said his school would look for ways to make savings but “children’s learning is paramount”.

North Haven’s Matt and Melissa Dyda, who are building a new home, say their son Milo, 5, will begin reception next term, joining his brother Logan, 7, at Our Lady of the Visitation School.

“The (fee) freeze is amazing considering that next year there’s one aspect of life that isn’t going up,” Mr Dyda said.

Association of Independent Schools of SA chief executive Carolyn Grantskalns said private schools usually set their fees in Term 4.

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