A message from the President
Welcome to our website. The information about APFACTS, our aims and activities, as well as background information and research has been brought together to help you familiarise with current issues affecting schools, students and parents.
The work of APFACTS is to support our members - the ACT non-government school community, but as part of our work we endeavour to bring a parents perspective to education issues both locally and nationally. One of our aims is to support parents’ capacity to positively influence students’ progress through their school years. We know from decades of research that when families are engaged in their children’s education, children have a greater chance of success.
February has seen significant developments in Education with the release of the School Funding review. The review has created transparency around funding arrangements, debate and conversations about education, all of which can only be a positive thing if we are to advance and elevate the agenda of Education in this country.
The next phase of collaboration and discussion will be crucial in developing an education model that can serve our children into the future. Please refer back to our site for continued updates on the funding review and other important issues concerning parents. I hope you will also take the opportunity to subscribe to our e-newsletter, which is a quarterly update on education issues.
As always, we welcome all feedback and look forward to hearing from you on the areas that matter to you.
George Gamkrelidze, President
ABOUT APFACTS
The Association of Parents and Friends of ACT Schools Inc (APFACTS), established in 1982 is a peak body representing parents and carers of students attending ACT non-government schools.
APFACTS is a non-denominational and a-political organisation. It represents and provides a collective voice on education issues locally and nationally to nearly 40% of parents of school aged children in the ACT.
APFACTS advances the interests of its membership though engagement with government and key stakeholder groups. It also serves to keep its membership informed on the latest and emerging education issues.
Facts about non-government schools in the ACT:
- The ACT has the highest number of students that attend non-government schools (Catholic and Independent) nearing 40%.
- Parents save the ACT Government over $221million each year by choosing to educate their children at a non-government school.
- In 2008–09, combining Commonwealth and State or Territory recurrent funding, public support for a student in a government school was on average $13,544. On average, total government funding for a non-government school student was $6,850, while for an independent school student it was $6,100 per year. For a student in a very high SES school, public support could have been as low as $1,750.38.
- Demand for places in the ACT non-government school sector has grown 13.9% over the past 5 years compared with 0.05% in government schools.
- Parent contributions, fundraising and school fees contribute up to 83% towards capital development at non-government schools for school buildings, grounds and equipment.
News and Events
May 8, 2012 - Budget update - PM's press release on helping households with cost of living
May 1, 2012 - APFACTS seeks dynamic Executive Officer
March 14, 2012 - APFACTS Member e-notice.
February 27, 2012 - APFACTS Member e-notice.
December, 2011 - APFACTS quarterly newsletter.