On the 26th of May, the Lismore App ran a story about financial help being available for public school teachers and students impacted by the devastating February 28 flood.

The NSW Government announced funding of up to $1000 for teachers and up to $500 for students as part of the Education Flood Recovery Package which targets support to public school teachers and students in the Lismore, Ballina, Byron, Kyogle, Richmond Valley, Clarence Valley and Tweed Local Government Areas.

The story caused a heated reaction on our Facebook page asking why this funding was for public schools only and did not involve private schools like Trinity Catholic College which suffered enormous damage.

We asked the NSW State Government why the Education Flood Recovery Package was for public schools only and received this response from a Department of Education Spokesperson: 

The Department of Education is responsible for funding and operating public schools which is why this support is available for students and teachers at public schools.  

The Association of Independent Schools NSW and the Catholic Schools NSW are supporting flood-affected schools in their sectors.  

There is an extensive range of flood-related NSW Government and Federal Government supports available to the community more broadly. 

The Lismore App then made contact with the Association of Independent Schools and Catholic Schools NSW to find out how they have helped flood-affected teachers and students in NSW.

Dr Geoff Newcombe AM, Chief Executive of the Association of Independent Schools of NSW said, "The Association of Independent Schools NSW (AISNSW) provided direct financial support to Independent school students through its registered charity, the Australian Independent Schools Fund and from the Australian Government’s Non-Government Reform Support Fund.

In total, 469 students from 20 northern NSW Independent schools received direct grants totalling $1.22 million to replace essential education items lost in the floods such as laptops, school uniforms, backpacks and phones. In some cases, funding was provided for fee relief to ensure students can continue to attend their current school. 

Grants were paid to students through their schools, after an analysis of all applications by an AISNSW committee. No further aid is planned at this stage.

As part of its support package, AISNSW has allocated $140,000 to replace resources in several school libraries badly damaged by the floods as well as providing books to individual students (including those in flood-affected areas in other parts of NSW). In order to increase this support, Dymock’s Children’s Charities has also added an additional $140,000 worth of books.”

Catholic Schools NSW asked us to get in touch with the Diocese of Lismore to get a response to how local Catholic schools are supporting their community.

A spokesperson from the Catholic Schools Office said, "We were very disappointed when we heard that Catholic and Independent Schools were not included in the grants for flood-affect students and teachers. Interesting to note, our calls and emails to the Minister of Education office about this have not been responded to."

The support given to flood-affected families include:

St Carthage's Catholic Primary, Lismore

Our Lady Help of Christians Catholic Primary, South Lismore

St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Coraki

St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Woodburn

St Joseph's Catholic Primary, South Murwillumbah

St Mary's Catholic Primary, Casino

"In recognition of the impact of the floods in our school communities, Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools has waived fees for all students at the six impacted Catholic primary schools (this includes all levies and elective fees) for the 2022 school year. Parents who have paid in part or in full have been offered a refund or can opt to roll over any fees paid into the 2023 school year. Families who have been impacted by flooding, either through loss of property, employment or income, at other Diocese of Lismore Catholic Schools have been advised to speak with their Principal to arrange fee relief and other support they might need."

"At St Joseph's Catholic Primary, Woodburn, lunches have been provided since the school reopened at a temporary site in Evans Head. This has been funded through a combination of the Catholic Schools Office and donations from the community and other Catholic Schools around the country."

One notable exception to the Catholic Schools on the above list is Trinity Catholic College. Trinity is an Independent Catholic School and not a Catholic System School so falls through the cracks for teachers and students having access to the Education Flood Recovery Package.

Jesse Smith Prinicipal of Trinity Catholic College confirmed with the Lismore App that they are not eligible for any funding and has been asking the minister (Sarah Mitchell Minister for Education and Early Learning) to reassess her position.

"My comment, which is not a political comment, it is just a statement of fact, is that floodwaters did not discriminate between where a student attends school or which particular organisation employs a teacher in this town."

"The floodwaters affected everyone and what we're seeing is some people, rightly, have access to that money and are currently eligible and some people, including those in our community that should have access are currently ineligible. "

"We continue to make representation to ask for that to be revisited because we are the biggest secondary school that was affected in the entire region, yet our students and our staff are not eligible."

"I've been in contact with Janelle Saffin's office on this matter because $500 for a student can mean the difference between replacing a damaged laptop or their sporting shoes or sporting equipment or not and right now given the position the entire community is in, I think it's really important that people have access to that money to support them to go forward."

When we asked Mr Smith why Trinity was not allowed access to any of this funding through any of the three sources, Education Department, Association of Independent Schools or Catholic Schools NSW, he said he doesn't know the answer. Catholic Schools NSW have taken the case to the NSW State Government but have not been successful in their representation to gain access to the Education Flood Recovery Package.

"People are lobbying on our behalf understanding that we were very hard hit, as many schools were, and we're simply asking that we be included in the support."