Charter for Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition

Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) recently launched its renewed Charter for Catholic Schools in the Edmund Rice Tradition. The Charter is a core document of our 55 Catholic schools across all states and territories of Australia.

The Charter describes our distinct, though not unique, identity as a Catholic network of schools, known as Edmund Rice Education Australia. The Charter provides a practical expression of this identity and is of crucial use in planning, decision-making and review of the education we offer.

The Charter uses four Touchstones to describe the culture of a Catholic school which is striving for authenticity in the Edmund Rice tradition. The Touchstones are Liberating Education, Gospel Spirituality, Inclusive Community and Justice and Solidarity.

During 2024, the national community of EREA schools was invited to engage in a process of experience, analysis, and reflection, ensuring the evolution of the EREA Charter as the contemporary educational expression of the charism of Blessed Edmund Rice in Australia. The schools were led by the Christian Brothers until 2007, when they handed governance responsibility to EREA.

The renewed Charter, through the themes of Call to Faithfulness | Call to Transformation, highlights the opportunities and challenges of responding to the diverse needs of learners, from early childhood to early adulthood, across all regions of Australia.