CHRISTIAN ABORIGINAL PARENT DIRECTED SCHOOL

What CHRISTIAN ABORIGINAL PARENT DIRECTED SCHOOL does

Christian Aboriginal Parent Directed School (CAPS) is a non-profit, independent K-12 Christian school located in Coolgardie, Western Australia, approximately 500 km east of Perth in the Goldfields region. Founded in 1981 by a group of Aboriginal parents frustrated with inadequate mainstream schooling, the school delivers the Western Australian curriculum through composite classes from Kindergarten to Year 12, with a 90% attendance requirement and on-site boarding for secondary students from remote communities such as Beagle Bay. The institution is the only school in the Goldfields region combining a Christ-centred educational philosophy with explicit embrace of Aboriginal heritage and First Nations identity.

The school operates differentiated academic programs using structured literacy (Daily Five with Sharp Reading strategies, Sound Waves, PM benchmarking) and numeracy (Daily Three with Mathletics) frameworks, alongside an annual Science Fair and participation in the STAWA Talent Search, where it was named Secondary School of the Year in 2017 and 2018. Specialist enrichment programs cover visual arts, music (violin, guitar, keyboard, drums), sports including a specialized basketball pathway, and outdoor education including a Bush Rangers unit. VET certificate delivery is offered in partnership with Central Regional TAFE, and graduates have entered university programs (UWA, Murdoch, Notre Dame), the Australian Defence Force, healthcare, and law.

CAPS generates revenue through government recurrent funding (not publicly itemized), modest booklist fees of $110 per primary student per year, boarding fees for secondary hostel residents, and small ancillary streams including a Monday-to-Friday canteen and breakfast club. The school is governed by a parent-directed board with Aboriginal leadership, has 8 disclosed employees, and operates from a single site at 85–93 Lindsay Street, Coolgardie, situated in the historic 1902 St Anthony's convent.

Name

CHRISTIAN ABORIGINAL PARENT DIRECTED SCHOOL

Legal name

Christian Aboriginal Parent Directed School

Website

https://caps.wa.edu.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Christian Aboriginal Parent Directed School (CAPS) is a non-profit K-12 Christian school in Coolgardie, Western Australia, serving Aboriginal and remote-area students from Kindergarten to Year 12 with on-site boarding, composite-class instruction, and specialist programs in literacy, numeracy, science, arts, and outdoor education.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Christian Education

NAICS

Elementary and Secondary Schools (61111), Elementary and Secondary Schools (611110), Other Schools and Instruction (6116), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Charter Indigenous/Culturally Focused & Community-Based Schools (EDAJACAM)

Keywords

• K-12 Christian education
• Aboriginal school services
• Boarding school services
• Private faith-based schooling
• Primary secondary schooling

Headquarters

HQ city

Coolgardie

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Enrollment Fees: The school charges booklist fees of $110 per student per year for Primary School students. Enrollment process includes application and interview.
2. Boarding Fees: The school operates a hostel/boarding facility for secondary students with comprehensive daily routines including meals, activities, and supervision.
3. Canteen Sales: School canteen generates revenue through sale of lunch items ($3), snacks ($0.50-1.00), and breakfast club operations Monday to Friday.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Christian Aboriginal Parent Directed School (CAPS) is an independent K-12 school in Coolgardie, Western Australia delivering Western Australian curriculum through composite classes from Kindergarten to Year 12, with specialist programs in literacy, numeracy, science, arts, music, sports, outdoor education, and Christian living. The school also provides on-campus boarding for secondary students from remote communities, a school canteen, and breakfast club, all within a Christ-centred environment that explicitly embraces Aboriginal (First Nations) heritage.

Product overview

C.A.P.S. (Christian Aboriginal Parent Directed School) is a K-12 educational institution located in Coolgardie, Western Australia, offering a comprehensive Christian education program. The school provides a structured academic curriculum aligned with the Western Australian curriculum, delivered through composite classes from Kindergarten through Year 12. Core programs include Kindergarten/Pre-Primary, Primary School (Years K-6), and Secondary School (Years 7-12), supported by on-campus boarding facilities. The school complements its academic offerings with specialist programs including Science (with annual Science Fair), Visual Arts, Music (with string instrument instruction), Sports (including specialized basketball), Outdoor Education (including Bush Rangers), and Christian Living. The school emphasises character development, literacy, numeracy, and spiritual growth within an inclusive environment that embraces Aboriginal heritage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Kindergarten/Pre-Primary Program Early childhood education program for Kindergarten and Pre-Primary students within the Genesis composite class, introducing foundational learning through nature play and school-based activities. Targeted at young Aboriginal and regional students beginning formal schooling.
• Primary School Program Composite primary classes (Genesis, Romans, Kings) covering Kindergarten to Year 6, focused on Literacy and Numeracy using Daily Five and Daily Three programs with enrichment embedded in teaching practice. Delivered to students within the school.
• Secondary School Program Secondary education from Years 7-12 using composite classes (Matthew, Mark, Luke, Acts, Alpha, Omega) grouped by literacy and numeracy stages, preparing students for tertiary entry, OLNA, NAPLAN, and PAT-R testing pathways.
• Boarding Services On-campus boarding facility providing a safe, supportive Christian environment for secondary students from remote areas, with structured daily routines, weekend activities including shopping trips to Kalgoorlie, and spiritual programs. Operates 7 days per week.
• Science Program
• Visual Arts Program Visual arts education offering instruction in drawing, painting, photography, sculpture, textiles, graphics, and printmaking, with community exhibition opportunities and participation in art prizes such as the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Art Prize.
• Music Program Music education for primary and secondary students including instruction in violin, guitar, keyboard, and drums in small group settings, with annual music recitals and a school string ensemble.
• Sports Program Physical education and sports program covering AFL, basketball, rugby, football, soccer, softball, volleyball, swimming, and gymnastics, with a specialized basketball program providing state team tryout pathways.
• Outdoor Education Program Outdoor education from Kindy to Year 12 including nature play, bushwalking, mountain biking, canoeing, and the voluntary Bush Rangers unit with camps and conservation activities.
• Christian Living Program Bible-centred Christian education covering scripture study, Christology, discipleship, evening Bible studies, prayer meetings, and youth programs for spiritual growth.
• School Canteen School canteen operating Monday to Friday with breakfast club (8am-8:25am), recess and lunch service, selling lunch items ($3) and snacks ($0.50-1.00) including dim sims, hash browns, chicken nuggets, fish fingers, garlic balls, and cheesy bread.

Quantifiable outcome

• Student won Innovator to Market Award at BHP Foundation Science and Engineering Awards and represented Australia at International Science Fair in USA
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Central Regional TAFEcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for VET (Vocational Education and Training) certificate programs; CAPS students complete VET Certificates with Central Regional TAFE in Kalgoorlie as part of career and employment pathway preparation
• Kurrawang Aboriginal Christian CommunityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Christian youth convention held at Kurrawang Aboriginal Christian Community; hostel students participate in this civic service and spiritual development activity
• Science Teachers' Association of WA (STAWA)coreOthersSchool participates in STAWA's annual Talent Search Awards; won Secondary School of the Year in 2017 and 2018; provides students opportunity to showcase STEM projects through Science Talent Search competition
• BHP FoundationminorOthersBHP Foundation Science and Engineering Awards sponsor; Nyheemah Cox won Innovator to Market Award and was selected to represent Australia at International Science Fair

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Strelley Community School: Independent Aboriginal community school in the Pilbara, WA, serving remote Aboriginal students K-12 with on-country learning. Comparable to CAPS as a small, community-governed WA school focused on Aboriginal student outcomes.
• Yiramalay Studio School: WA-based Aboriginal studio school in the Kimberley offering Year 10-12 with boarding, in partnership with the Edmund Rice FlexiSchools Network. Comparable to CAPS as a remote WA Indigenous-focused secondary school with boarding and tertiary pathway emphasis.
• Worawa Aboriginal College: Independent Aboriginal girls' boarding school in Healesville, Victoria, delivering Year 7-12 with cultural and wellbeing focus. Highly comparable to CAPS as a small, Aboriginal-led, boarding-based secondary school with strong cultural identity and pathway outcomes.

Others

• Australian Independent Schools WA: Sector body representing WA independent schools including faith-based and community schools. Relevant ecosystem connection to CAPS as the peak advocacy and compliance body for the segment in which it operates.
• Christian Schools Australia: National network of Christian K-12 schools across Australia. Comparable as the umbrella organisation and support network for faith-based K-12 schools like CAPS, providing governance, advocacy, and curriculum resources.
• Stronger Smarter Institute:

Regional players

• Peter Moyes Anglican Community School: Independent Anglican K-12 school in Perth, WA. Comparable as another faith-based independent K-12 school in Western Australia, though it is non-Indigenous, larger, and metropolitan.

Broad incumbents

• Catholic Education Western Australia: Largest non-government school system in WA, operating 162 Catholic schools including several in the Goldfields region. Comparable as a broad WA faith-based K-12 provider, though much larger and not Aboriginal-led like CAPS.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/capscoolgardie/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/christian-aboriginal-parent-directed-school

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 →

Frequently asked questions about CHRISTIAN ABORIGINAL PARENT DIRECTED SCHOOL