OLMC Enrolment Policy Guidelines
A pdf version of this document can be found in the Our School/Policy section of our website.
Sunbury Catholic Parish Enrolment Policy Guidelines
The existence of three schools in this Parish follows from the responsibility shared by
members of our community to provide formation in faith through Catholic schooling for all
our baptised children. In April 1978, the Bishops of Victoria reaffirmed “the Catholic school
as the most appropriate means of ensuring the proper education of Catholic children…” It is
in the light of this directive that our enrolment policy has been formulated.
Local pastoral discretion is an important element of decision-making with regard to
enrolment in our Catholic schools. Therefore, while bearing in mind that their first priority is
to Catholic parents, our Parish Priest and Principals may exercise some flexibility with
respect to enrolment decisions where pastoral discretion may be deemed necessary.
Priority of Enrolment of Students
1. Priority of access to our Catholic schools will be given to children who have siblings
already enrolled in either school.
2. Second priority will be given to Catholic children who live within the parish boundary.
These children must attend the designated school for their place of abode if there is a
vacancy. (see map)
3. Catholic children from other parishes (for pastoral reasons).
4. Children from non-Catholic Eastern churches who reside in the parish.
5. Children from non-Catholic Eastern churches who reside outside the parish.
6. Other Christian children who reside in the parish.
7. Other Christian children who reside outside the parish.
8. Non-Christian children who reside in the parish.
9. Non-Christian children who reside outside the parish.
Before consideration is given for the acceptance of an enrolment, parents will need to have
an interview with the Parish Priest and principal.
The Parish endeavours to accommodate all Catholic children in a Parish primary school. In
situations where one school is unable to offer a position to all Catholic applicants the other
school will assist in accommodating these children.
The designated area for each school will be reviewed annually in order to meet the
changing patterns of growth within the Parish.
General Guidelines
1. It is expected that as parishioners, parents of children enrolled in parish schools would be
supporting our Parish and our school physically and financially (Thanksgiving and school
fees). It is also expected that they would support the policies, religious teachings and
practices of the Church as advocated by the schools. Parents who it is felt are not
supportive of the policies of the school could be expected to justify their child’s continuing
enrolment in the school.
2. The Enrolment process is to be advertised concurrently in the Sunday Parish newsletters
and in weekly school newsletters for at least two weeks. Applications should then be
returned to the schools, together with the relevant documentation by the due date.
3. Receipt of an enrolment application does not indicate that enrolment has been accepted.
After the closing date, families of applicants will be invited to attend an interview. After all
interviews have taken place a decision to offer a place in our Parish schools will be made
collaboratively between our Parish Priest and principals. Late applications will only be
accepted while classes have available places. If there is an excess of applications, names
will be placed on a waiting list.
4. As the Church’s mission is particularly to those in greater need, no discrimination will be
shown against families or situations where parents are unable to pay fees. Where the latter
situation exists, parents are expected to contact the Parish Priest or Principal (authorised
representative) in confidence. Failure to either pay fees or contact the Parish Priest or
Principal for an interview will result in a meeting to discuss continued enrolment and future
options.
5. A $50 application fee is due on lodging the application forms. This fee is non refundable.
6. An acceptance fee of $150 is due on being offered and accepting a position in our
schools. This fee is non refundable and is rebated against the first school fee account.
7. This Enrolment Policy is consistent with the Catholic Education Office of Melbourne
Enrolment Policy.
8. The Parish Priest reserves the right to review the general guidelines at any time.
The compulsory age by which a child must be enrolled in Victorian school is the year in
which the child turns six years of age. The minimum starting age is four years and eight
months, i.e. A child must turn 5 by 30 April in the year of school commencement.
The enrolment of children under the minimum age is NOT recommended.
In situations where a parent seeks enrolment of a child under the minimum starting age, the
approval of the Director will be required. Supporting documentation detailing substantive
reasons for early school entry will be required from appropriate health and educational
professionals. This documentation should be provided by the parent and submitted by the
principal to the Director for consideration. Please note that such approval will only be given
in exceptional circumstances.
School Fees and Levies
The setting of fee levels and other compulsory charges in Catholic primary schools is the
responsibility of the school, taking into account the allocation of government funds. The school
offers a number of methods for paying fees to reduce any financial burden and to assist
financial planning. If you have difficulty in meeting the required fee payment, you are welcome
to discuss this with the Principal of the school.
Terms of enrolment regarding acceptable behaviour
Our school is a community that exemplifies the Gospel values of love, forgiveness, justice and
truth. The school community recognises that everyone has the right to be respected, to feel safe
and be safe; and in this regard, understands their rights and acknowledges their obligation to
behave responsibly.
Every person at the school has a right to feel safe, to be happy and to learn, therefore we aim:
a) to promote the values of honesty, fairness and respect for others;
b) to acknowledge the worth of all members of the community and their right to work. and
learn in a positive environment;
c) to maintain good order and harmony;
d) to affirm cooperation as well as responsible independence in learning; and
e) to foster self-discipline and to develop responsibility for one’s own behaviour.
The school administration, in consultation with the school community wherever appropriate, will
prescribe standards of dress, appearance and behaviour for the student body. In terms of your
child’s enrolment, parents and guardians are expected to comply with the school’s behaviour
aims and the school’s Code of Conduct, and to support the school in upholding prescribed
standards of dress, appearance and behaviour.
Unacceptable behaviour by a child, or repeated behaviour by a parent or guardian that, in the
school’s view, is unacceptable and damaging to the partnership between parent/guardian and
school , may result in suspension or termination of the child’s enrolment.
Terms of enrolment regarding conformity with principles of the Catholic
faith
As a provider of Catholic education, the school Principal will take into account the need for the
school community to represent and conform with the doctrines, beliefs and principles of the
Catholic faith when making decisions regarding matters of school administration, including
enrolment. Pupils and families who are members of other faiths are warmly welcomed at our
school. However, the school reserves its right to exercise its administrative discretion in
appropriate circumstances, where it is necessary to do so to avoid injury to the religious
sensitivities of the Catholic school community.
Terms of enrolment regarding provision of accurate information
It is vitally important that the school is made aware of each child’s individual circumstances
insofar as these may impact upon his or her physical, functional, emotional or educational
needs, particularly where the school is required to provide additional support to the child.
Parents and guardians must provide accurate information when completing an enrolment form
and must supply the school prior to enrolment any additional information as may be requested,
including copies of documents such as medical/specialist reports (where relevant to the child’s
schooling), reports from previous schools, court orders or parenting agreements. Provision of
requested documentation is regarded as a condition of enrolment, and enrolment may be
refused where a parent/guardian has unreasonably refused to provide requested information or
knowingly withheld relevant information from the school.
Where, during the course of a child’s enrolment, new information becomes available that is
material to the child’s educational and/or safety/wellbeing needs, it is a term of the child’s
continuing enrolment that such information is provided to the school promptly.
The provision of an inaccurate residential address, or failure to provide an updated residential
address for the child will also be treated as a breach of the terms of enrolment.
Enrolment for children with special needs
The school welcomes parents/guardians who wish to enrol a child with special needs and will do
everything possible to accommodate the child’s needs, provided that an understanding has
been reached between the school and parents/guardians prior to enrolment regarding:
a) the nature of any diagnosed or suspected medical condition/disability, or any other
circumstances that are relevant to the child’s additional learning needs (for example, giftedness
or an experience of trauma);
b) the nature of any additional assistance that is recommended/appropriate to be provided
to the child (for example, medical or specialist equipment, specialist referrals; specific welfare
support;
c) modifications to the classroom environment or curriculum, aide assistance, individualised
educational programs, behaviour support plans or other educational interventions as may be
relevant);
d) the individual physical, functional, emotional or educational goals that are appropriate to
the child, and how the parents/guardians and the school will work in partnership to achieve
these goals;
e) and any limitations on the school’s ability to provide the additional assistance requested.
10.2 The process for enrolling students with special needs is otherwise the same as for
enrolling any student.
10.3 As every child’s educational needs can change over time, it will often be necessary for
the school to review any additional assistance that is being provided to the child, in consultation
with parents/guardians and the child’s treating medical/allied health professionals, in order to
assess:
a) whether the additional assistance remains necessary and/or appropriate to the child’s
needs;
b) whether the additional assistance is having the anticipated positive effect on the child’s
individual physical, functional, emotional or educational goals; and
c) whether it remains within the school’s ability to continue to provide the additional
assistance, given any limitations that may exist.
Privacy – Release of Information
The School collects personal information, including sensitive information about pupils and
parents or guardians before and during the course of a pupil’s enrolment at the School. This
may be in writing or in the course of conversations. The primary purpose of collecting this
information is to enable the School to provide schooling to the pupil and to enable them to take
part in all the activities of the School.
Some of the information we collect is to satisfy the School’s legal obligations, particularly to
enable the School to discharge its duty of care. Laws governing or relating to the operation of a
school require certain information to be collected and disclosed. These include relevant
Education Acts, and Public Health and Child Protection laws.
Health information about pupils is sensitive information within the terms of the Australian Privacy
Principles under the Privacy Act. We may ask you to provide medical reports about pupils from
time to time.
The School from time to time discloses personal and sensitive information to others for
administrative and educational purposes, including to facilitate the transfer of a pupil to another
school. This includes to other schools, government departments, Catholic Education Office, the
Catholic Education Commission, the School’s local diocese and the parish, Schools within other
Dioceses/other Dioceses, medical practitioners, and people providing services to the School,
including specialist visiting teachers, sports coaches, volunteers and counsellors.
Personal information collected from pupils is regularly disclosed to their parents or guardians.
The School may store personal information in the ‘cloud’ which may mean that it resides on
servers which are situated outside Australia. The School’s Privacy Policy sets out how parents
or pupils may seek access to personal information collected about them. However, there will be
occasions when access is denied. Such occasions would include where access would have an
unreasonable impact on the privacy of others, where access may result in a breach of the
School’s duty of care to the pupil, or where pupils have provided information in confidence.
The School Privacy Policy also sets out how you may complain about a breach of privacy and
how the School will deal with such a complaint. The School from time to time engages in
fundraising activities. Information received from you may be used to make an appeal to you. It
may also be disclosed to organisations that assist in the School’s fundraising activities solely for
that purpose. We will not disclose your personal information to third parties for their own
marketing purposes without your consent.
On occasions information such as academic and sporting achievements, pupil activities and
similar news is published in School newsletters and magazines and on our website.
Photographs of pupil activities such as sporting events, school camps and school excursions
may be taken for publication in School newsletters and magazines and on our intranet. The
School will obtain separate permissions from the pupils’ parent or guardian prior to publication if
we would like to include photographs or other identifying material in promotional material for the
school.
If you provide the School with the personal information of others, such as doctors or emergency
contacts, we encourage you to inform them that you are disclosing that information to the
School and why, that they can access that information if they wish and that the School does not
usually disclose this information to third parties.