Home values continue to rise as Sydney median hits $1.5 million
As figures showed a substantial pick-up in the number of new homes being approved for construction, Cotality's measure of dwelling values rose by 0.6 per cent in July to be 1.8 per cent up over the past three months.
In Sydney, the median house value has climbed through the $1.5 million mark, increasing by 0.8 per cent last month to be 3.3 per cent up since the start of the year.
Melbourne's median house value increased by 0.4 per cent to $952,000. Although up 2.8 per cent so far this year, values in Melbourne are still short of the peak hit during the COVID pandemic, when the official cash rate was at 0.1 per cent.
House values in Brisbane ($1.019 million) and Adelaide ($895,726) lifted by 0.7 per cent last month, while they increased by 0.9 per cent in Perth ($869,689) and by 0.6 per cent in Canberra ($984,723).
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Cotality research director Tim Lawless said July was the sixth consecutive month of higher property values, which had started increasing after the Reserve Bank's February interest rate cut.
'At the national level, the pace of growth in housing values is no longer accelerating,' he said.
'Rather, we have seen growth rates holding a little above half a per cent from month to month since May as the opposing influence of low supply, falling interest rates and rising confidence run up against affordability constraints and lingering uncertainty.'
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Households spending on non-essentials as pressures ease
Australians have been splashing out on new cars, food and electronics as price pressures ease. Household spending rose 0.5 per cent in June on top of a one per cent increase in May as shoppers shelled out for new goods, official figures show. Spending on furnishings and household equipment led the charge, growing by two per cent, while clothing and shoes rose by 1.6 per cent and food increased by 1.5 per cent in Australian Bureau of Statistics data released on Tuesday. Australians spent less on alcohol and tobacco, health and eating out in June. Compared to same month in 2024, Australians spent 7.9 per cent more on recreation and culture and 7.5 per cent more on food, with household spending overall sitting 4.8 per cent higher. Data for the June quarter showed a third consecutive rise - of 0.7 per cent - in the volume of household spending to $217.8 billion, driven largely by non-essential purchases on things like recreation and culture, and hotels, cafes and restaurants. The figures reflect "a steady improvement in consumer confidence as price pressures eased over the year", the bureau's head of business statistics Robert Ewing said. Household spending grew in all but one Australian state or territory, with the NT experiencing the biggest rise. The only fall was in WA where it dropped 0.3 per cent. The results were echoed by a lift in consumer confidence to its highest level in three years amid falling inflation and growing hopes of an interest rate cut. Roy Morgan's weekly consumer confidence index, also released on Tuesday, showed a rise of 3.9 to surpass 90 points for the first time since May 2022. The Reserve Bank is widely tipped to cut interest rates at its August meeting after a surprise decision to leave the cash rate unchanged in July.
Sky News AU
3 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Albanese government to lift cap on international student places in major u-turn on migration despite warnings over housing
Australia is set to increase the number of international student placements, despite growing alarm over housing affordability, migration pressure, and claims the student visa system is being misused as a route to permanent residency. The government will now increase the international student intake by 25,000 to 295,000 for 2026. The major policy change, which was not announced to voters before the election, will see tens-of-thousands more international students hit Australian shores every year. While acknowledging the increase, the government said in a statement that it was still eight per cent below the "immediate post-COVID peak". After record migration levels - hitting 555,000 in the 12 months to September 2023 - Prime Minister Anthony Albanese insisted last year that his government would cut net migration back closer to pre-Covid levels. The government forecast net migration would hit 260,000 in the 2025-26 financial year and then drop again to 225,000. In the last term of parliament, Labor even tried to adopt a Coalition policy and legislate a cap on international enrolments to 270,000 before it was blocked in the Senate by the Greens and the Coalition. Less than 12 months later, the government has taken an extraordinary U-turn and announced it would increase the number of international student visas. Education Minister Jason Clare defended the policy, insisting the growth of the sector must remain sustainable. 'International education is an incredibly important export industry for Australia, but we need to manage its growth so it's sustainable,' he said. 'International education doesn't just make us money; it makes us friends. This is about ensuring international education grows in a way that supports students, universities, and the national interest.' The announcement comes on the back of mounting pressure over migration numbers, which have surged post-pandemic and are now being directly linked to Australia's worsening housing crisis. Cities like Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane are bearing the brunt of the influx, with rental vacancies at historic lows and property prices continuing to climb. A recent report from the Reserve Bank warned the student visa surge is further intensifying pressure on an already-stretched rental market. 'The number of international students onshore is still near record highs, and student visa arrivals have exceeded departures in recent months, suggesting the number of students onshore is growing,' the report noted. 'In theory, in the face of a relatively fixed supply of housing in the short term, we would expect an increase in international students to put upward pressure on rental demand and rents. 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The Advertiser
6 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Public schools lose almost 2000 students as Hunter parents go independent
in KYLIE Wales is not a religious person, but when it came time for her daughter to move schools, she picked a faith-affiliated option. She's one of many parents making the jump to independent education, as Catholic and public schools across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter face increasing competition and dwindling enrolments. Ms Wales said her daughter Charlotte, in Year Two, went to a government school for the first few years, but it just wasn't a great fit. "We had her in public school, and she was part of the COVID-19 era," she said. "We had noticed that our daughter wasn't progressing like we would have hoped and thought." A new Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AINSW) report shows a growing shift in parents' preferences from 2019 to 2024. Public schools lost a combined 1,874 students between 2019 and 2024, down 470 students in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and 1,377 in the Hunter Valley. Through friends who had made a similar move, the Wales' decided to check out Fletcher independent school, Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College. "We were just blown away with the tour around the school, the facilities, and the genuine vibe," she said. "Our daughter just gelled straight away." Ms Wales said Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College was able to better communicate what was going on at school and said it was an "absolute shame" public schools were not funded as well as they should be. Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos maintained NSW public schools offer a world-class education, and said the state government has made "record investment" into ensuring children have access to opportunities. "We are building new and expanded schools in growing regional communities that the former Liberal and National government failed to plan for, and delivering 49 new fee-free public preschools into regional areas where they are needed most," she said. "We have also invested in significant upgrades to facilities in existing schools like science labs, creative spaces and performance facilities, delivering on Deputy Premier Prue Car's commitment to expand access to High Potential and Gifted education opportunities to every public school." The state government invested $1.4 billion in rural and regional schools in the 2024-25 Budget. The 2025-26 Budget includes $2.1 billion over the next four years to deliver new and upgraded schools across regional NSW, including new schools in Medowie and Huntlee. A NSW Department of Education spokeswoman said the state government is also investing $100 million in upgrades at 33 public high schools, including Muswellbrook High School and Lake Macquarie High School. "These enhancements will enable the schools to deliver High Potential and Gifted Education programs and opportunities that extend student learning across a range of subjects, as part of the government's broader commitment to expand gifted education across every public school," she said. "With the NSW government investment to address the teacher shortage crisis, including scrapping the wages cap, delivering a historic pay rise for teachers, reducing excessive administration workload, and making thousands of teachers permanent, schools in regional NSW started the 2025 school year with 47 per cent fewer vacancies than the same time in 2023." According to the AINSW report, despite having fewer schools than the public sector, independent schools gained more enrolments than any other sector in 25 out of 28 statistical areas. In Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, independent schools saw a 4.3 per cent average annual growth, and in the Hunter Valley, the growth was 4.5 per cent from 2019 to 2024. Ms Wales said she felt Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College offered more extracurricular activities and excursions, and said the learning support, pastoral care and communication with parents were a good fit for her family. "It was a smaller school, and that was something that we wanted access to," she said. "We have access to a system where you get photos of what's happening at the school, and their timetable," she said. "For me, it was the ability to reach out to teachers as well, so it felt like it could be a joint learning journey." In NSW, there are 301 faith-based independent schools, representing 15 different religions and 129 non-faith schools. AINSW chief executive Margery Evans said the independent sector gives families a diverse choice of schools. "There are several different faiths represented in the sector, as well as non-faith schools based on a philosophical approach such as Steiner schools or The Nature School," she said. Independent schools set their own fees, and the median fee charged is less than $6000 each year. Ms Evans said independent schools try to keep costs down, understanding parents make sacrifices to give their children an education that reflects their values and meets their child's needs. "Independent schools have more freedom to provide an education that reflects different aspects of Australia's diverse faiths and cultures," she said. "There is literally an independent school to suit every family." Enrolments at Catholic schools in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have dropped by an average of 0.2 per cent per year, while enrolments in independent schools grew at an average of 4.3 per cent. Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle director Jaqueline Wilkinson said the natural fluctuation is "entirely normal". "A 0.2 per cent annual shift reflects the natural ebb and flow that occurs across all school sectors over time," she said. "In contrast, Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle has seen consistent growth in regional areas, particularly the Hunter Valley, which aligns with population growth and increasing demand for affordable, high-quality Catholic education." Despite an overall increase in students identifying as "no religion" across all NSW schools, the Catholic sector has seen a decrease in students identifying with the Catholic faith from 78 per cent in 2011 to 67 per cent in 2021. In the Hunter Valley, Catholic enrolments have risen by 1,608 students since 2019, an average growth of 3.5 per cent annually. Ms Wilkinson put the swell down to significant investments in schools like Rosary Park Primary at Branxton, St Bede's Catholic College at Chisholm and others in Maitland and Lochinvar. "These investments have expanded our capacity and enabled more than 2,000 students to access a Catholic education in the Maitland LGA," she said. "Enrolment decisions are influenced by a wide range of local and personal factors. "While some trends may appear in the data, interpreting them in a meaningful way is often speculative." Mr Wilkinson said many families choose schools that reflect their values and priorities, and Catholic education continues to resonate with those "seeking a strong sense of community and purpose". in KYLIE Wales is not a religious person, but when it came time for her daughter to move schools, she picked a faith-affiliated option. She's one of many parents making the jump to independent education, as Catholic and public schools across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter face increasing competition and dwindling enrolments. Ms Wales said her daughter Charlotte, in Year Two, went to a government school for the first few years, but it just wasn't a great fit. "We had her in public school, and she was part of the COVID-19 era," she said. "We had noticed that our daughter wasn't progressing like we would have hoped and thought." A new Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AINSW) report shows a growing shift in parents' preferences from 2019 to 2024. Public schools lost a combined 1,874 students between 2019 and 2024, down 470 students in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and 1,377 in the Hunter Valley. Through friends who had made a similar move, the Wales' decided to check out Fletcher independent school, Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College. "We were just blown away with the tour around the school, the facilities, and the genuine vibe," she said. "Our daughter just gelled straight away." Ms Wales said Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College was able to better communicate what was going on at school and said it was an "absolute shame" public schools were not funded as well as they should be. Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos maintained NSW public schools offer a world-class education, and said the state government has made "record investment" into ensuring children have access to opportunities. "We are building new and expanded schools in growing regional communities that the former Liberal and National government failed to plan for, and delivering 49 new fee-free public preschools into regional areas where they are needed most," she said. "We have also invested in significant upgrades to facilities in existing schools like science labs, creative spaces and performance facilities, delivering on Deputy Premier Prue Car's commitment to expand access to High Potential and Gifted education opportunities to every public school." The state government invested $1.4 billion in rural and regional schools in the 2024-25 Budget. The 2025-26 Budget includes $2.1 billion over the next four years to deliver new and upgraded schools across regional NSW, including new schools in Medowie and Huntlee. A NSW Department of Education spokeswoman said the state government is also investing $100 million in upgrades at 33 public high schools, including Muswellbrook High School and Lake Macquarie High School. "These enhancements will enable the schools to deliver High Potential and Gifted Education programs and opportunities that extend student learning across a range of subjects, as part of the government's broader commitment to expand gifted education across every public school," she said. "With the NSW government investment to address the teacher shortage crisis, including scrapping the wages cap, delivering a historic pay rise for teachers, reducing excessive administration workload, and making thousands of teachers permanent, schools in regional NSW started the 2025 school year with 47 per cent fewer vacancies than the same time in 2023." According to the AINSW report, despite having fewer schools than the public sector, independent schools gained more enrolments than any other sector in 25 out of 28 statistical areas. In Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, independent schools saw a 4.3 per cent average annual growth, and in the Hunter Valley, the growth was 4.5 per cent from 2019 to 2024. Ms Wales said she felt Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College offered more extracurricular activities and excursions, and said the learning support, pastoral care and communication with parents were a good fit for her family. "It was a smaller school, and that was something that we wanted access to," she said. "We have access to a system where you get photos of what's happening at the school, and their timetable," she said. "For me, it was the ability to reach out to teachers as well, so it felt like it could be a joint learning journey." In NSW, there are 301 faith-based independent schools, representing 15 different religions and 129 non-faith schools. AINSW chief executive Margery Evans said the independent sector gives families a diverse choice of schools. "There are several different faiths represented in the sector, as well as non-faith schools based on a philosophical approach such as Steiner schools or The Nature School," she said. Independent schools set their own fees, and the median fee charged is less than $6000 each year. Ms Evans said independent schools try to keep costs down, understanding parents make sacrifices to give their children an education that reflects their values and meets their child's needs. "Independent schools have more freedom to provide an education that reflects different aspects of Australia's diverse faiths and cultures," she said. "There is literally an independent school to suit every family." Enrolments at Catholic schools in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have dropped by an average of 0.2 per cent per year, while enrolments in independent schools grew at an average of 4.3 per cent. Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle director Jaqueline Wilkinson said the natural fluctuation is "entirely normal". "A 0.2 per cent annual shift reflects the natural ebb and flow that occurs across all school sectors over time," she said. "In contrast, Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle has seen consistent growth in regional areas, particularly the Hunter Valley, which aligns with population growth and increasing demand for affordable, high-quality Catholic education." Despite an overall increase in students identifying as "no religion" across all NSW schools, the Catholic sector has seen a decrease in students identifying with the Catholic faith from 78 per cent in 2011 to 67 per cent in 2021. In the Hunter Valley, Catholic enrolments have risen by 1,608 students since 2019, an average growth of 3.5 per cent annually. Ms Wilkinson put the swell down to significant investments in schools like Rosary Park Primary at Branxton, St Bede's Catholic College at Chisholm and others in Maitland and Lochinvar. "These investments have expanded our capacity and enabled more than 2,000 students to access a Catholic education in the Maitland LGA," she said. "Enrolment decisions are influenced by a wide range of local and personal factors. "While some trends may appear in the data, interpreting them in a meaningful way is often speculative." Mr Wilkinson said many families choose schools that reflect their values and priorities, and Catholic education continues to resonate with those "seeking a strong sense of community and purpose". in KYLIE Wales is not a religious person, but when it came time for her daughter to move schools, she picked a faith-affiliated option. She's one of many parents making the jump to independent education, as Catholic and public schools across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter face increasing competition and dwindling enrolments. Ms Wales said her daughter Charlotte, in Year Two, went to a government school for the first few years, but it just wasn't a great fit. "We had her in public school, and she was part of the COVID-19 era," she said. "We had noticed that our daughter wasn't progressing like we would have hoped and thought." A new Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AINSW) report shows a growing shift in parents' preferences from 2019 to 2024. Public schools lost a combined 1,874 students between 2019 and 2024, down 470 students in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and 1,377 in the Hunter Valley. Through friends who had made a similar move, the Wales' decided to check out Fletcher independent school, Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College. "We were just blown away with the tour around the school, the facilities, and the genuine vibe," she said. "Our daughter just gelled straight away." Ms Wales said Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College was able to better communicate what was going on at school and said it was an "absolute shame" public schools were not funded as well as they should be. Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos maintained NSW public schools offer a world-class education, and said the state government has made "record investment" into ensuring children have access to opportunities. "We are building new and expanded schools in growing regional communities that the former Liberal and National government failed to plan for, and delivering 49 new fee-free public preschools into regional areas where they are needed most," she said. "We have also invested in significant upgrades to facilities in existing schools like science labs, creative spaces and performance facilities, delivering on Deputy Premier Prue Car's commitment to expand access to High Potential and Gifted education opportunities to every public school." The state government invested $1.4 billion in rural and regional schools in the 2024-25 Budget. The 2025-26 Budget includes $2.1 billion over the next four years to deliver new and upgraded schools across regional NSW, including new schools in Medowie and Huntlee. A NSW Department of Education spokeswoman said the state government is also investing $100 million in upgrades at 33 public high schools, including Muswellbrook High School and Lake Macquarie High School. "These enhancements will enable the schools to deliver High Potential and Gifted Education programs and opportunities that extend student learning across a range of subjects, as part of the government's broader commitment to expand gifted education across every public school," she said. "With the NSW government investment to address the teacher shortage crisis, including scrapping the wages cap, delivering a historic pay rise for teachers, reducing excessive administration workload, and making thousands of teachers permanent, schools in regional NSW started the 2025 school year with 47 per cent fewer vacancies than the same time in 2023." According to the AINSW report, despite having fewer schools than the public sector, independent schools gained more enrolments than any other sector in 25 out of 28 statistical areas. In Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, independent schools saw a 4.3 per cent average annual growth, and in the Hunter Valley, the growth was 4.5 per cent from 2019 to 2024. Ms Wales said she felt Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College offered more extracurricular activities and excursions, and said the learning support, pastoral care and communication with parents were a good fit for her family. "It was a smaller school, and that was something that we wanted access to," she said. "We have access to a system where you get photos of what's happening at the school, and their timetable," she said. "For me, it was the ability to reach out to teachers as well, so it felt like it could be a joint learning journey." In NSW, there are 301 faith-based independent schools, representing 15 different religions and 129 non-faith schools. AINSW chief executive Margery Evans said the independent sector gives families a diverse choice of schools. "There are several different faiths represented in the sector, as well as non-faith schools based on a philosophical approach such as Steiner schools or The Nature School," she said. Independent schools set their own fees, and the median fee charged is less than $6000 each year. Ms Evans said independent schools try to keep costs down, understanding parents make sacrifices to give their children an education that reflects their values and meets their child's needs. "Independent schools have more freedom to provide an education that reflects different aspects of Australia's diverse faiths and cultures," she said. "There is literally an independent school to suit every family." Enrolments at Catholic schools in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have dropped by an average of 0.2 per cent per year, while enrolments in independent schools grew at an average of 4.3 per cent. Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle director Jaqueline Wilkinson said the natural fluctuation is "entirely normal". "A 0.2 per cent annual shift reflects the natural ebb and flow that occurs across all school sectors over time," she said. "In contrast, Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle has seen consistent growth in regional areas, particularly the Hunter Valley, which aligns with population growth and increasing demand for affordable, high-quality Catholic education." Despite an overall increase in students identifying as "no religion" across all NSW schools, the Catholic sector has seen a decrease in students identifying with the Catholic faith from 78 per cent in 2011 to 67 per cent in 2021. In the Hunter Valley, Catholic enrolments have risen by 1,608 students since 2019, an average growth of 3.5 per cent annually. Ms Wilkinson put the swell down to significant investments in schools like Rosary Park Primary at Branxton, St Bede's Catholic College at Chisholm and others in Maitland and Lochinvar. "These investments have expanded our capacity and enabled more than 2,000 students to access a Catholic education in the Maitland LGA," she said. "Enrolment decisions are influenced by a wide range of local and personal factors. "While some trends may appear in the data, interpreting them in a meaningful way is often speculative." Mr Wilkinson said many families choose schools that reflect their values and priorities, and Catholic education continues to resonate with those "seeking a strong sense of community and purpose". in KYLIE Wales is not a religious person, but when it came time for her daughter to move schools, she picked a faith-affiliated option. She's one of many parents making the jump to independent education, as Catholic and public schools across Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and the Hunter face increasing competition and dwindling enrolments. Ms Wales said her daughter Charlotte, in Year Two, went to a government school for the first few years, but it just wasn't a great fit. "We had her in public school, and she was part of the COVID-19 era," she said. "We had noticed that our daughter wasn't progressing like we would have hoped and thought." A new Association of Independent Schools of NSW (AINSW) report shows a growing shift in parents' preferences from 2019 to 2024. Public schools lost a combined 1,874 students between 2019 and 2024, down 470 students in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie and 1,377 in the Hunter Valley. Through friends who had made a similar move, the Wales' decided to check out Fletcher independent school, Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College. "We were just blown away with the tour around the school, the facilities, and the genuine vibe," she said. "Our daughter just gelled straight away." Ms Wales said Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College was able to better communicate what was going on at school and said it was an "absolute shame" public schools were not funded as well as they should be. Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos maintained NSW public schools offer a world-class education, and said the state government has made "record investment" into ensuring children have access to opportunities. "We are building new and expanded schools in growing regional communities that the former Liberal and National government failed to plan for, and delivering 49 new fee-free public preschools into regional areas where they are needed most," she said. "We have also invested in significant upgrades to facilities in existing schools like science labs, creative spaces and performance facilities, delivering on Deputy Premier Prue Car's commitment to expand access to High Potential and Gifted education opportunities to every public school." The state government invested $1.4 billion in rural and regional schools in the 2024-25 Budget. The 2025-26 Budget includes $2.1 billion over the next four years to deliver new and upgraded schools across regional NSW, including new schools in Medowie and Huntlee. A NSW Department of Education spokeswoman said the state government is also investing $100 million in upgrades at 33 public high schools, including Muswellbrook High School and Lake Macquarie High School. "These enhancements will enable the schools to deliver High Potential and Gifted Education programs and opportunities that extend student learning across a range of subjects, as part of the government's broader commitment to expand gifted education across every public school," she said. "With the NSW government investment to address the teacher shortage crisis, including scrapping the wages cap, delivering a historic pay rise for teachers, reducing excessive administration workload, and making thousands of teachers permanent, schools in regional NSW started the 2025 school year with 47 per cent fewer vacancies than the same time in 2023." According to the AINSW report, despite having fewer schools than the public sector, independent schools gained more enrolments than any other sector in 25 out of 28 statistical areas. In Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, independent schools saw a 4.3 per cent average annual growth, and in the Hunter Valley, the growth was 4.5 per cent from 2019 to 2024. Ms Wales said she felt Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College offered more extracurricular activities and excursions, and said the learning support, pastoral care and communication with parents were a good fit for her family. "It was a smaller school, and that was something that we wanted access to," she said. "We have access to a system where you get photos of what's happening at the school, and their timetable," she said. "For me, it was the ability to reach out to teachers as well, so it felt like it could be a joint learning journey." In NSW, there are 301 faith-based independent schools, representing 15 different religions and 129 non-faith schools. AINSW chief executive Margery Evans said the independent sector gives families a diverse choice of schools. "There are several different faiths represented in the sector, as well as non-faith schools based on a philosophical approach such as Steiner schools or The Nature School," she said. Independent schools set their own fees, and the median fee charged is less than $6000 each year. Ms Evans said independent schools try to keep costs down, understanding parents make sacrifices to give their children an education that reflects their values and meets their child's needs. "Independent schools have more freedom to provide an education that reflects different aspects of Australia's diverse faiths and cultures," she said. "There is literally an independent school to suit every family." Enrolments at Catholic schools in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie have dropped by an average of 0.2 per cent per year, while enrolments in independent schools grew at an average of 4.3 per cent. Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle director Jaqueline Wilkinson said the natural fluctuation is "entirely normal". "A 0.2 per cent annual shift reflects the natural ebb and flow that occurs across all school sectors over time," she said. "In contrast, Catholic Schools Maitland-Newcastle has seen consistent growth in regional areas, particularly the Hunter Valley, which aligns with population growth and increasing demand for affordable, high-quality Catholic education." Despite an overall increase in students identifying as "no religion" across all NSW schools, the Catholic sector has seen a decrease in students identifying with the Catholic faith from 78 per cent in 2011 to 67 per cent in 2021. In the Hunter Valley, Catholic enrolments have risen by 1,608 students since 2019, an average growth of 3.5 per cent annually. Ms Wilkinson put the swell down to significant investments in schools like Rosary Park Primary at Branxton, St Bede's Catholic College at Chisholm and others in Maitland and Lochinvar. "These investments have expanded our capacity and enabled more than 2,000 students to access a Catholic education in the Maitland LGA," she said. "Enrolment decisions are influenced by a wide range of local and personal factors. "While some trends may appear in the data, interpreting them in a meaningful way is often speculative." Mr Wilkinson said many families choose schools that reflect their values and priorities, and Catholic education continues to resonate with those "seeking a strong sense of community and purpose".
