Skip to content
Education Training, Political

Australians Support Christian Schools

Australian Association of Christian Schools / Associated Christian Schools / Christian Schools 3 mins read

26 March 2024 – for immediate release

 

Australians Support Christian Schools

 

New polling has confirmed the widespread support for Christian schools and their rights to hold to their beliefs.  The independent polling, conducted from 1 – 16 March by Compass Polling, demonstrated strong public support for the necessary elements of an authentic Christian school –

  • Nearly 80% of Australians support the right of a religious school to employ teachers and other staff who support the clearly stated values and beliefs of the school.  This rises to more than 90% amongst parents with children in a faith-based school.
  • More than 90% of Christian school parents support terminating the employment of staff if they no longer share these beliefs.
  • In the latest polling, over 80% of Australians believe that Australian laws should protect the right to hold and practice religious beliefs, this figure has been increasing since 2019. 98% of Australians actively practicing a faith say this should be protected.
  • Over 90% of parents sending their children to faith-based schools and over 75% of all Australians support the right of a religious school to enforce standards of uniform and behaviour consistent with their values and beliefs.
  • Similarly, over 70% of parents sending their children to faith-based schools support the right of a religious school to be able to teach students their values and beliefs about gender, sexuality and marriage, with this supported by a majority of all voters.
  • 94% of all voters support the right of parents to choose a school that reflects their strongly held values and beliefs. 
  • The right of all students to receive some level of taxpayer funding was supported by 84% of all voters, consistent with previous results.

Christian school groups have welcomed the results, which build upon previous polling undertaken since 2019.

Christian Schools Australia (CSA), Australian Association of Christian Schools (AACS) and Associated Christian Schools (ACS) are calling on the Albanese Government to categorically reject the recommendations of the recent Australian Law Reform Commission report that would remove the ability to retain the right to employ staff who share the beliefs of the school.

AACS Executive Officer Vanessa Cheng said the results “are a clear reminder of the importance everyday Australians place on a fair go.”

“Parents across Australia are increasingly choosing to send their children to Christian schools.  They understand that it is fair and reasonable for staff share the values and beliefs of the school, after all that’s what they are paying for when they choose our schools.”

ACS Executive Director Alistair Macpherson said that “International law and covenants, which Australia has ratified, recognise the importance of religious groups to be able to teach and practice their beliefs, and for parents to be able to choose schooling for children that aligns with their personal beliefs.”

He said that the results are a wakeup call for any government seeking to take away these rights, “Australians are clearly calling for protections for people of faith, it is time that governments listen and protect this fundamental human right”.

CSA Director of Public Policy Mark Spencer said, “Parents are investing in faith-based education, and clearly desiring that the schools can enforce the standards of the school around uniform and behaviour.”

“The support for being able to employ staff who share our beliefs is held across the political spectrum.  Governments of all persuasions need to listen to what ordinary Australians are saying.”

ENDS


About us:

About the Associations:

Australian Association of Christian Schools (AACS) represents over a hundred independent Christian schools in every state and territory across Australia, ranging from very small to large; urban to regional, rural and remote. The majority of member schools are non-denominational with a protestant heritage and are governed by parent associations with over 44,000 students enrolled from a wide variety of socio-economic, cultural and religious backgrounds.

 

Associated Christian Schools (ACS) represents over 45 independent Christian Schools throughout Queensland. With over 30,000 students attending member schools, this represents approximately 20% of the independent school students in Queensland. Whilst each of our member schools are independently governed, they choose to collaborate together through ACS, for the purpose of delivering high quality Christian education for the common good. 

 

Christian Schools Australia (CSA)is the largest association of Christian schools in the country and has member schools educating over 86,000 students and employing more than 13,500 staff at more than 200 locations across Australia. CSA member schools provide caring and compassionate education within an authentic Christian learning community.


Contact details:

For all media enquiries:

Christian Schools Australia:

Mark Spencer

M: 0419 419 224

 

Australian Association of Christian Schools:

Vanessa Cheng

M: 0416 277 372

 

Associated Christian Schools 

Alistair Macpherson

M: 0401 365 776

 

Media

More from this category

  • Political
  • 12/11/2024
  • 16:23
Family First

Liberals must oppose Greens’ constitutional enshrinement of abortion

Family First Victorian lead Senate candidate Bernie Finn has urged his former state Liberal colleagues to oppose a Greens’ push to enshrine abortion-to-birth in the constitution. “The Liberals have traditionally allowed a conscience vote on matters of life and death but if they don’t oppose the Greens’ constitutional enshrinement as a block, there will never be another conscience vote on abortion in Victoria,” Mr Finn said. “Polling consistently shows Australians are opposed to late-term-abortion and putting this in the constitution out of the reach of further public debate is an arrogant move by political elites. “Clearly the greens are rattled…

  • Education Training, Government Federal
  • 12/11/2024
  • 10:00
Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA)

Student Loan Tax Means Many Face A Study Debt Higher Than It Needs To Be

The Australian Government’s recently announced student debt reduction initiative falls short of real and genuine reform and fails students. While announcing this reduction for existing debts, the Government decided to retain the 20% tax that is applied to VET Student Loans and FEE-HELP loans for higher education students. In doing so, the Australian Government’s announcement missed an opportunity to support the education and training choices being made by students, according to the Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (ITECA), the peak body representing independent skills training, higher education and international education providers. At a $16 billion cost to taxpayers, the Government’s…

  • Contains:
  • Education Training, Youth
  • 12/11/2024
  • 09:52
The Y NSW

WHY PARENTS ARE CALLING THIS PROGRAM A ‘LIFELINE’ FOR SUSPENDED KIDS

When single mum of two Kylie learnt of her son’s third suspension, she truly didn’t know what to do or where to turn. She…

  • Contains:

Media Outreach made fast, easy, simple.

Feature your press release on Medianet's News Hub every time you distribute with Medianet. Pay per release or save with a subscription.