The First 25 Years

An  Historical  Summary  of  the  P&F  in  Queensland

The following achievements were at least in part the result of the persistent efforts of the Federation of Parents & Friends Association in Queensland.

The establishment of Parents and Friends in Queensland was assisted greatly by Mr Bill Roberts, then Queensland Commonwealth Deputy Crown Solicitor, who had been identified with the first such State Federation to be established in Australia, namely in Western Australia.

Two other key foundation figures who were to influence the P & F Federation in a major way were Mr Jack Woodward who was the Secretary and strength of the organisation for 20 years (1960-80) and Fr Barney O'Shea, Director of Catholic Education in the Archdiocese for many years and Spiritual Director and Mentor to the State Council until his retirement in 1988.

1960        Formation

1963        Proposal to Brisbane Council for Education requesting an official channel for lay  

               people to speak with the highest authorities, church and state

1964        Request to the Ecclesiastical Authority to establish a Provident fund

1965        Access to some items from State Stores for Catholic schools

1966        The Bishops Standing Committee was formed and authorised to speak with the

               State Government re the funding of Catholic schools.  The committee comprised a

               representative of the bishop from each diocese and the Archdiocese and a

               representative of the Federation

1967        All articles were made available from State Stores to Catholic schools at

               government stores prices

   Australian bishops set up the Federal Catholic Schools Committee (FCSC), the first

   attempt to co-ordinate lobbying efforts of all states in pursuit of 'state aid'.  A

   representative from the Bishops Standing Committee attended the federal

   meetings

1968        The  state government budget announced that primary school children attending

               non-government schools in Queensland would receive $25 per head

1969        Improvement to federal and state per capita grants

   Launch of the Archdiocese Development Fund

1970       Federation introduced a new constitution establishing diocesan Parents and

              Friends committees with State Council membership being drawn from the

              Archdiocese and all country dioceses

  State and Commonwealth governments agree to 20 per cent of government school

  costs as matching grant to non-government schools

1972       State Council introduced new issues onto the P & F agenda.  P & F Associations

              were urged to become more involved in the educational life of the school and to

              make parents aware of other cultural and societal changes impacting on the

              schools e.g.

              Ø       parent-teacher relationship problems of the 'generation gap'

              Ø       the growing threat of drugs

              Ø       the place of sport in school life

              Ø       students and parish life

The first commonwealth government funding for capital purposes was agreed to by the Fraser ministry in the McMahon government, available only after the formation of the CSC in 1973

1973      Establishment of the Commonwealth Schools Commission (CSC)

Ø       federal per capita grants ceased

Ø       introduction of funding by categories on a needs basis

Ø       capital funding for non-government schools commenced

The  Australian Parents Council (APC), the national body representing parents in non-government schools were successful in persuading the Senate to include in the Commonwealth Schools Commission Act 1973 the right of parents to choose a government or non-government school

1974     Federation presented a submission on funding and parent concerns to the Commonwealth Schools Commission

            The first meeting between the Commonwealth Schools Commission and the

            Federation

1975     Federation Chairman invited to membership of the Commonwealth Schools Commission Advisory Board in Queensland

1976     Regular negotiations with Commonwealth and State governments was now the

            order of the day

Continual gains were being made from all governments with other important assistance being won in addition to recurrent grants

Ø     From State

Interest assistance on loans for school buildings was paid at seven per cent for a five year period. Some assistance was provided by way of transport subsidy, assistance for isolated children, book allowances

Ø      From Commonwealth

The following special purpose programs were established

Ø       Capital Grants Program

Ø       Disadvantaged Schools Program (DSP)

Ø       Priority Country Areas Program (PCAP)

Ø       Special Education Program

These were in addition to recurrent grants and special assistance for isolated children

1977     Federation's representation includes

Ø           The Archdiocesan Catholic Education Council

Ø       Queensland Catholic Education Commission

Ø       Bishops Standing Committee on State Funding for Education

Ø       State Planning and Finance Committee (state arm of CSC)

Ø       State Advisory Board to the CSC

Ø       Special Projects Counsellors Team

Ø       National Committee of Travel and Exchange

Ø       Australian Parents Council Executive

Numerous other committees now have parent representation.  Parents are better informed and are making a vital and active contribution to education policy and practice

1979     The Queensland Intersystemic Parents Committee was formed bringing together in a formal manner representatives of the Federation of P & F Associations and the Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens Associations

Two parent representatives from the Association of Independent Schools (Queensland) were included. A very important milestone in breaking down old barriers was achieved.

1980     The State Secretary since foundation of the Federation, Mr Jack Woodward, retired

1981     The State Council of the Federation at a special meeting resolved to establish a permanent secretariat and appoint a full-time Executive Officer (see Appendix 5)

            New challenges facing Catholic education were placing new demands on parents     

            e.g.

Ø       the identity of Catholic schools

Ø       the quality and catholicity of religious education programs

Ø       educational effectiveness

Ø       lay leadership

Ø       proper accountability to the school community

Ø       availability of Catholic schools

1982     The first Executive-Officer, Mr Leo M Dunne was appointed and commenced in

            office from the beginning of January. It was decided that the office be located in the

            Catholic Centre in order to be central, accessible and close to Catholic Education

            offices

            Minor improvements were made to school transport assistance to non-government

            students

1983     Bob Hawke led a Labor government to power in March and Senator Susan Ryan

            became the Commonwealth Minister for Education.

A rash of decisions by Senator Ryan caused a great degree of nervousness in the non-government school sector e.g.

Ø      reduced funding to 41 schools

Ø      removal of the non-government parent representative from the CSC

Ø      CSC membership given to Australian Teachers Federation (ATF) Chairman,

       Mr Van Davy, who was publicly opposed to the funding of non-government schools

Ø     break in the nexus between non-government school grants and government school costs

The Federation countered advertising by the Australian Teachers Federation and the Australian Council of State School Organisations through television and other media

The Federation was finally successful, after some years of negotiation, in promoting the establishment of a parent organisation for students attending non-government schools other than Catholic - the Independent Parents & Friends Council (IPFC).  All Catholic schools continued to be represented by the Federation

1984     The Federation is part of and has always supported the Bishops Standing Committee

            (BSC) and its formal approaches to Government and constantly works in a very close

            partnership with the Queensland Catholic Education Commission

Following prolonged and persistent lobbying by the Federation, the 1984 state budget and a commitment by the Government for 1985 were the best result for many years, including