Family involvement and engagement is a key feature of Catholic schools.
As the first educators of your children, you have a great influence on your children’s learning and development during their school years and long afterwards.
We all know that when parents are involved in their children’s education at home, they do better in school. And when parents are involved in school, children go farther in school and the schools they go to are better.
Principals work with their school community to determine which of the following will work best in their context.
The creation of a Parent Engagement Network (PEN) has come about in response to requests to consider an alternative model to the School Advisory Council and Parents and Friends Association, acknowledging the changing nature of families and schools and evolving ways of working together. Some schools have chosen this model as it works best for their context.
PENs continue to honour the place of parents and families in the life of our schools and colleges through providing an effective avenue for parents and families to come together to be informed, consulted and learn in relation to school planning, policy, decision making and education programs and engage in activities, projects and events that build community.
All PENs are governed by a constitution that is approved by the Executive Director: Catholic Schools on behalf of the Bishop of Toowoomba.
Support for PENs is provided by the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office through Senior Education Leaders (SELs).
For further information we encourage you to contact your local principal to discuss how you can get involved.
School Advisory Councils provide a forum for discussion and discernment, where the parent/guardian voice and perspective are available to inform and support the decisions made by the principal for the good of school – where the wellbeing and outcomes for students is paramount.
The following are some ways the School/College Advisory Council supports the school and the principal.
All School Advisory Councils are governed by a constitution that is approved by the Executive Director: Catholic Schools on behalf of the Bishop of Toowoomba.
Support for Schools Advisory Councils is provided by the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office through Senior Education Leaders (SELs).
For further information we encourage you to contact your local principal to discuss how you can get involved.
The Parents and Friends (P&F) Association is one of the formal structures, that enables parents and families to come together to be informed, consulted and contribute to school planning and education programs and engage in community building activities, projects and events.
The P&F supports the principal and staff in providing the very best educational experiences for students by engaging parents in all aspects of school life. It acts as a representative of all parents/carers in the school, focussed on building community.
All P&Fs are governed by a constitution that is approved by the Executive Director: Catholic Schools on behalf of the Bishop of Toowoomba.
Support for P&Fs is provided by the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office through Senior Education Leaders (SELs).
For further information we encourage you to contact your local principal to discuss how you can get involved.
All P&Fs are supported by the peak body, Catholic Schools Parents Queensland.
Catholic School Parents Queensland (CSPQ) Diocese of Toowoomba’s role is to provide support, information, guidance and encouragement to each of the 32 local associations and Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office.
In addition, it plans and organises seminars and conferences and supports the work of Catholic School Parents Queensland.
Each of our 32 local P&Fs are urged to actively participate in CSPQ Diocese of Toowoomba and is entitled to representation on CSPQ Diocese of Toowoomba by nominating two delegates from each school.
At the State level our Diocese is represented by two delegates from CSPQ Diocese of Toowoomba. Opportunities for other members to be observers at State meetings are available.
Find out how to get involved
If you are interested in discovering more on how you can become involved please talk to your local principal to find out what is happening in your school, how you could become a delegate for your school and how you might attend one of the regular Diocesan meetings.
We also encourage you to visit the Catholic School Parents Queensland website, or call or email their office at any time.
CSPQ Diocese of Toowoomba’s role is to provide support, information, guidance and encouragement to each of the 32 local associations and Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office.
In addition, it plans and organises seminars and conferences and supports the work of Catholic School Parents Queensland.
Each of our 32 local P&Fs are urged to actively participate in CSPQ Diocese of Toowoomba and is entitled to representation on CSPQ Diocese of Toowoomba by nominating two delegates from each school.
At the State level our Diocese is represented by two delegates from CSPQ Diocese of Toowoomba. Opportunities for other members to be observers at State meetings are available.
Find out how to get involved
If you are interested in discovering more on how you can become involved please talk to your local principal to find out what is happening in your school, how you could become a delegate for your school and how you might attend one of the regular Diocesan meetings.
We also encourage you to visit the Catholic School Parents Queensland website, or call or email their office at any time.
The Toowoomba Catholic Schools Council was established in January 2017 to assist the Bishop of Toowoomba in his leadership of Catholic schools. The Council replaced the existing Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools Board.
The Council is made up of community members. The role of the Council is to discern and provide advice to aid in the development and review of policy and strategic direction for Catholic schools in the Diocese.
Members of the Catholic Schools Council are
Executive support for the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Council is provided by the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office.
Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic schools firmly believes that Student Protection is everybody’s business. The safety and wellbeing of our students is of paramount importance.
The Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools has Student Protection Processes and Guidelines in place in all of our 32 schools. These procedures reflect legislative and regulatory reporting requirements, and the policies of Toowoomba Catholic Schools. All staff are trained in these processes and all of our schools have at least two nominated staff members, known as Student Protection Contacts, from whom students and staff can access support and advice.
The Diocese of Toowoomba Catholic Schools is proud to continue its support of the Daniel Morcombe Child Safety Curriculum in our schools as a means of educating students about personal safety and protective behaviours. Information about the curriculum can be found by visiting the Daniel Morcombe Foundation website from the link below
At the time of leaving a Toowoomba Catholic school or college, you are invited to provide feedback on your reasons for leaving and your experiences whilst at the school/college.
This information will help us to celebrate the good things that are happening in our schools/colleges and to make improvement where necessary.
The Executive Director: Catholic Schools receives all completed point of exit surveys and may get in touch with you to discuss your feedback. The Executive Director: Catholic Schools also shares the feedback with the leadership team of the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office and the school principal.
Toowoomba Catholic Schools thanks you in advance for providing your feedback.
Toowoomba Catholic Schools Excellence Awards are held annually to acknowledge the outstanding contribution of staff and volunteers to teaching and learning, leadership and education support.
Sponsorship opportunities provide organisations with access to school and system leaders and staff through promotion of the Awards and at the highly regarded awards presentation dinner.
The 2026 Queensland First Nations Catholic Education Conference, Heart on Country, held from 12–14 August 2026 at the Clifford Park Racecourse in Toowoomba, proudly hosted by Toowoomba Catholic Schools.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of First Nations students by fostering environments that celebrate and respect our rich cultural heritage. Find out more here.
Nominations are to address the following criteria and must include examples of how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in this area by providing specific examples and evidence.
Nominations are to address the following criteria and must include examples of how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in this area by providing specific examples and evidence.
Nominations are to address the following criteria and must include examples of how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in this area by providing specific examples and evidence.
This award recognises a school or Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office individual or team who/that has demonstrated high quality leadership focussed on creating exemplary places of learning where every student experiences academic success and comes to know and experience the loving presence of Jesus.
Nominations are to address the following criteria and must include examples of how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in this area by providing specific examples and evidence.
This award recognises an individual or team who/that has demonstrated high quality middle leadership focussed on creating exemplary places of learning where every student experiences academic success and comes to know and experience the loving presence of Jesus.
Nominations are to address the following criteria and must include examples of how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in this area by providing specific examples and evidence.
This award recognises an individual who is not in a formal leadership position and has demonstrated a willingness to contribute beyond their role to lead a school improvement initiative focussed on creating exemplary places of learning where every student experiences academic success and comes to know and experience the loving presence of Jesus.
Nominations are to address the following criteria and must include examples of how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in this area by providing specific examples and evidence.
This award recognises an individual or team who/that work with teaching staff to create exemplary places of learning where every student experiences academic success and comes to know and experience the loving presence of Jesus. The types of role that this award recognises include teacher aides, school counsellors, kindergarten educators, Occupational Therapists, Education Officers, Boarding supervisors.
Nominations are to address the following criteria and must include examples of how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in this area by providing specific examples and evidence.
This award recognises an individual or team who/that works in support roles to create exemplary places of learning where every student experiences academic success and comes to know and experience the loving presence of Jesus. The types of role that this award recognises include cleaners, laundry staff, grounds people, administration officers, HR officers, accountants, business managers, IT technicians.
Nominations are to address the following criteria and must include examples of how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in this area by providing specific examples and evidence.
This award recognises an individual or team who/that have given their time to support a school or college and this volunteering has contributed to creating exemplary places of learning where every student experiences academic success and comes to know and experience the loving presence of Jesus. The types of roles that this award recognises include those who volunteer to work in classrooms, to maintain school facilities, to engage other parents.
Nominations are to address the following criteria and must include examples of how the nominee has demonstrated excellence in this area by providing specific examples and evidence.