FAMILIES of students attending the Hunter's Catholic schools have seen the annual school building levy rise to $1344, which is double what it was five years ago.
Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle Catholic Schools Office (CSO) fees comprise diocesan tuition fees; the diocesan family school building levy (DFSBL); individual school resource and service fees and a $300 voluntary diocesan pastoral contribution.
CSO director Gerard Mowbray said the diocese reviewed its fees and levies each year to ensure it could maintain and operate schools at a "high standard".
"We seek to make our school fees affordable and aim to keep families' contributions as low as possible," Mr Mowbray said.
"This year, the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle has increased its family discount, which will reduce the overall fees charged to most families who have multiple children attending Diocesan Catholic schools.
"The discount is applied to the tuition fee and varies dependent on the number of children enrolled in Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle schools."
The DFSBL increased by 7.5 per cent, from $1250 last year to $1344 this year.
"This levy is applicable per family and, in most cases, the increase will be offset by the increased family tuition fee discount," Mr Mowbray said.
Families with two children receive a 15 per cent discount per child, up from 10 per cent last year.
Those with three children get a 25 per cent discount per child, up from 20 per cent.
Families with four children get a 50 per cent discount per child, up from 40 per cent.
Families with five receive a 50 per cent discount per child, unchanged from last year.
A family with one child in year 12 is this year paying $4326 in fees, before individual school resource and service fees are applied.
Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT branch Hunter organiser Therese Fitzgibbon said the union had concerns about the changes.
"The union acknowledges the increase in the family discount, however we understand that the school tuition fees would be predominantly returned to education, whereas we have some concern that the building levy may be used for areas other than education," she said.
"We're also aware that the building levy does not attract a discount. It's concerning to the union that as fees become less affordable we run the risk of a drift away from Catholic schools, which inherently affects our members' jobs."
The DFSBL was $990 in 2019, $750 in 2018, $600 in 2017 and $672 in 2016, when it included a pastoral fee.
Mr Mowbray said the DFSBL was pooled to contribute to past, present and future costs for building projects across all schools in the diocese.
"With a robust program of capital works, we aim to ensure our students enjoy the physical facilities to enhance their learning experience and make way for new students, as enrolments continue to increase across our system of schools," Mr Mowbray said.
He said the diocese anticipated it would complete more than $100 million in school-related capital works projects in 2021, including classroom replacements, specialist rooms, playground areas, facilities and amenities.
Schools that will benefit this year include St Mary's Catholic College at Gateshead, McAuley Catholic College at Medowie, St Aloysius Primary at Chisholm and St Brigid's Primary at Raymond Terrace.
Tuition fees have risen from last year by $18 to $1293 for primary school aged students, by $27 to $1767 for years seven to 10 and by $42 to $2682 for years 11 and 12.
Families with limited financial resources - including health care and pension card holders - receive a 50 per cent discount in tuition fees for each child.
Mr Mowbray said the diocese supported more than 2500 families with COVID fee concessions and deferrals last year and more than 3000 families experiencing other forms of financial hardship.
"In total, we provided more than $5.4 million in fee relief at a time when investment in our schools was at an all-time high."
He said the diocese continued to prioritise fee relief for entire communities experiencing financial hardship due to external impacts such as drought.
