About the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Parent Committee meets to discuss issues of importance for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers with children in Catholic schools. The committee helps to build home, school and community partnerships by providing valuable information and developing resources. 

The Committee

• Supports the development of strong partnerships with families, schools, parent associations, education offices and local communities.
• Seeks to give an additional voice for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parents and carers in state and national level decision-making affecting Catholic schools.
• Supports the development of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parent and carer leaders.
• Develops resources for families and schools to support Aboriginal and Torres Strait children
• Continues to promote Reconciliation

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee was established in 2004. The committee is comprised of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander parent/carer representatives from each of the eleven dioceses across NSW/ACT. The chair of this committee is a voting member of the Council of Catholic School Parents.

This short video explains the work of committee.

2021 Committee

Selina Walker Chair	Sharon Cooke Diocese of Armidale	Darlene Murdoch Diocese of Bathurst
Kirilee Newcombe Hubber Diocese of Bathurst	Dave Ella Diocese of Broken Bay	Selina Walker Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
Katrina Cambridge Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn	Leonard Moran Diocese of Lismore	Lehetta Lane-Porter Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
Craig Duncan Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle	Cassandra Ebsworth Diocese of Parramatta	Vacant Archdiocese of Sydney
Mary Atkinson Diocese of Wagga Wagga	Luke Wighton Diocese of Wagga Wagga	Luke Phillips Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes
Merindah Wilson Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes	Cherryle Nau Diocese of Wollongong	Karan Taylor Diocese of Wollongong