Our school is part of an independent school system; a need to charge fees arises from the policy of governments to deliver significantly lower per capita grants to non-state schools than to Education Queensland schools. Whilst this means tuition fees and levies must be charged, it also ensures we are able to maintain some independence as a school system, thus allowing us to achieve the ideals of the Catholic Church in our school organisation.
There are three sources of funding at St Michael’s School:
- Commonwealth and State recurrent funding. The Commonwealth provides the majority of this funding which is calculated on a per child basis. Census funding occurs in February and August and can be impacted by student absences during these times.
- School tuition fees and levies paid by parents.
- Small grants from Catholic Education Services.
Statement of Account
Accounts are emailed each term, and payment is to be made by the due date. Payment options are Direct Debit, BPAY, Centrepay, Credit Card, Eftpos.
School fees are due within 14 days of the issue date. All families are expected to make payment of school fees a high priority in their family’s budgeting. Families experiencing financial difficulties may seek to obtain some remission of fees by contacting the finance officer who will arrange for a meeting with the school Principal. If partial or full remission is granted, it is done only on an annual basis and must be reviewed at the beginning of each year.
Tuition Fees
A Tuition Fee per student is charged for students attending Catholic schools in the Cairns Diocese. This is determined before the commencement of each year by Catholic Education Services and is the same across all Catholic Schools in the Diocese.
School Levies
These levies go towards the cost of resources, utilities, technology, activities and capital improvements.
Family Discounts
Family discounts apply for families with more than one child attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Cairns. Details on these discounts can be found in the annual fee schedule.
Concession Card Tuition Fee Discount
A tuition fee discount of up to 70% may be available for “means tested” government health care or pensioner concession cards. These cards must meet eligibility criteria for this concession to apply. Discounts cannot be backdated and apply only to the tuition fees, meaning school and SMG Community Group levy amounts are still payable in full.
Card holders are required to advise the school of their concession card at enrolment, or when a card is issued. Once the card is sighted by the school’s administration, tuition fees for future terms only will be adjusted. When your concession card has expired, please present a copy of the re-issued card to our school office.
Financial Hardship
Families who are experiencing genuine financial difficulty, but do not hold a concession card, are encouraged to make a request to the Principal for special consideration. This request will be treated with understanding, sensitivity and confidentiality.
It is the experience of our schools that families who are struggling financially are faithful in paying a contribution to their local school to whatever extent they can afford. It is the expectation that families with the capacity to contribute, do so.
