Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta

What Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta does

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) is a not-for-profit Catholic education system operating 80 schools (58 primary, 22 secondary), 56 out-of-school-hours care centres, 7 early-learning centres, and 2 CathWest Innovation College trade campuses across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains in New South Wales, Australia. The system serves approximately 46,000 students and employs more than 6,500 staff, making it one of the largest employers in the region. Its roots trace to 1820, when the colony's first Catholic school was established in Parramatta by Fr John Therry; the modern governance entity, Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Ltd, is a company limited by guarantee under the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, currently led by CEO Jack de Groot (appointed January 2023), Chair Elizabeth Crouch AM, and Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen.

Core delivery is supported by a defined technology stack: Canvas LMS as the primary online learning environment (third-party but system-wide), Classm8 as the student information and family-engagement portal, and Grace (OSCAR) as the internal staff intranet. Specialised learning products include the School of Now online HSC program that lets Year 11-12 students study specialist subjects across schools, CAPTIVATE for creative and performing arts, the Jarara Indigenous Education Unit, CathWest Innovation College (vocational/trade pathways including automotive, carpentry, hospitality, engineering, early-childhood education, and bricklaying), and three High Support Learning Centres for students with additional needs. CRICOS registration (No. 03340M) enables international student enrolments at five secondary schools.

Revenue is generated primarily through three streams: (1) Australian and NSW government recurrent funding, which forms the majority share per the published funding model; (2) family tuition fees of approximately A$8-$9/day for primary and A$16-$18/day for secondary, billed in three term instalments with substantial sibling discounts (no fees from the fourth child) and flexible payment frequencies; and (3) Diocesan Building Levies, school-based fees, and fundraising. The system markets direct to families through individual school websites, annual March open days, year-round personalised school tours, social media (Facebook, Instagram), parish networks, and an online enrolment portal that operates without the catchment zones typical of NSW government schools, granting families cross-diocesan school choice.

Name

Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta

Legal name

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese Ltd

Website

https://parra.catholic.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1987

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

5,001–10,000 employees

Short description

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) is a not-for-profit Catholic K-12 system operating 80 schools (58 primary, 22 secondary) and specialised programs across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, serving approximately 46,000 students with 6,500+ staff.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Parramatta

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. School Fees: Annual tuition fees from families including Diocesan Tuition Fees set by CSPD, Diocesan Building Levy, and school-based fees. Sibling discounts apply with significant reductions for second and third children, and no fees for fourth and subsequent children. Flexible payment options (weekly, fortnightly, monthly) available.
2. Government Funding: Schools are funded by the Australian and NSW governments as well as through modest school fees and fundraising.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) operates 80 Catholic systemic schools across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, including 58 primary and 22 secondary schools, 7 early learning centres, 56 out-of-school-hours care centres, and 2 CathWest Innovation College trade campuses, serving approximately 46,000 students. Education offerings span early learning (ages 3-5), Kindergarten to Year 12, vocational/trade pathways, special education, and online HSC delivery, supported by Canvas LMS, Classm8, and the Grace intranet platforms.

Product overview

Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese (CSPD) operates 80 Catholic systemic schools across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains serving approximately 46,000 students. The organization offers a comprehensive educational ecosystem consisting of 58 primary schools, 22 secondary schools, 7 early learning centres, 56 out of school hours care centres, and 2 CathWest Innovation College trade campuses. Key technology platforms include the Canvas Learning Management System (LMS) for online learning, Classm8 for student information management, and Grace intranet for internal communications. Specialized programs include CAPTIVATE for creative and performing arts, School of Now for online HSC delivery, and the Jarara Indigenous Education Unit. CSPD also provides High Support Learning Centres for students with additional needs and Out of School Hours Care services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Primary School Education (K-6)

Quantifiable outcome

• Approximately 1 in 4 students in Western Sydney attend Catholic schools
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Marist180coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership between Parramatta Marist High School and Marist180 creating genuine connection, belonging and opportunity for young people through the METWELL program. Students and young people from refugee and humanitarian backgrounds come together weekly to learn, play and connect, building friendship and a strong sense of belonging.
• eSafety CommissionercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSPD has partnered with the eSafety Commissioner to develop and conduct a range of e-safety webinars for leadership, staff and parents/carers. Partnership also includes information sessions on topics such as e-safety with targeted information for primary and secondary school age students.
• TAFE NSWcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with TAFE for vocational education and training. Students visit TAFE to explore study, training and career opportunities. TAFE delivers vocational programs in areas including Construction, Business, Beauty, Barbering, Hairdressing and more. Students can access TAFE delivered vocational programs through schools.
• Australian Olympic TeamminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership through Olympics Unleashed program where Australian athletes visit schools to share inspiring sporting journeys, speaking about highs, setbacks and determination. Example: Australian water polo player Luci Marsh visited St Nicholas of Myra Primary Penrith.
• Diocese of ParramattacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSPD is a work of the Church under the leadership of Bishop Vincent Long Van Nguyen. Schools operate in collaboration with priests, parents, students and staff to realize the mission of bringing Jesus Christ into the lives of young people and their families. Partnership includes joint information sessions and safeguarding initiatives.
• Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSPD participates in the annual ACBC Social Justice Statement initiative, reflecting on social, economic and ecological challenges. The 2025-2026 Statement focuses on serving homeless people with mental ill health.
• National Catholic Safeguarding StandardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCSPD implements the National Catholic Safeguarding Standards (NCSS) developed by Catholic Professional Standards Ltd. Partnership includes quarterly meetings with Office of the Children's Guardian via Catholic Schools NSW office.
• St Vincent de Paul SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNumerous outreach initiatives including Vinnies Van, developing in students a spirit of generosity and compassion. Schools partner with St Vincent de Paul for social justice outreach programs.
• Daily TelegraphminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia coverage of CSPD student achievements, such as feature article on Patrician Brothers' College Blacktown rugby league players Charlie Xuereb and Cordell Arama as bright young prospects.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• Sydney Catholic Schools: Operates the Catholic systemic school network across the Archdiocese of Sydney, directly comparable diocesan K-12 model serving a contiguous Sydney geography with similar funding mix and governance structure.
• Catholic Schools NSW: State-level body representing all NSW Catholic diocesan school systems including CSPD; comparable mission, advocacy, and industrial-relations function for Catholic education in the same regulatory environment.
• Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS): Operates the largest Catholic diocesan school system in Australia (~300 schools), directly comparable in mission, multi-campus K-12 structure, and government co-funding model.
• Brisbane Catholic Education: Catholic diocesan school system operating ~140 schools across South East Queensland, closely comparable scale, governance, and curriculum pathway structure including trade training offerings.
• Catholic Education Western Australia: Catholic systemic school operator in WA with similar diocesan governance, K-12 structure, and government co-funding arrangement; useful comparable for fee levels and operating cost benchmarks.
• Catholic Education South Australia: Diocesan Catholic education system in South Australia, comparable in governance structure, multi-school delivery, and dependence on state/Commonwealth funding.
• Edmund Rice Education Australia: Catholic faith-based school system operating across multiple states with comparable K-12 offering, ethos-driven differentiation, and government co-funding model.

Broad incumbents

• NSW Department of Education: Operates the public school system across the same Western Sydney geography as CSPD; primary competitor for enrollment with catchment-zone advantage offset by CSPD's faith-based and no-catchment positioning.

Emerging players

• Lutheran Education Australia: Faith-based (non-Catholic) school operator across Australia with comparable K-12 delivery model and ethos-based differentiation; smaller scale and more regionally dispersed than CSPD.
• Christian Schools Australia: National association representing independent Christian schools; comparable faith-based K-12 differentiation but typically smaller individual school size and less concentrated geographic footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat7 records

Key risks4 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/617762377044461
• Instagraminstagram.com/catholicschoolsparra
• Xx.com/catholicedparra

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

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