Can Families of Other Faiths Enrol in Religious Schools?

Many Australian religious schools accept applications from families of other faiths or no faith. Acceptance is not automatic, however, and there is no single rule for every Catholic, Christian, Islamic or Jewish school. Eligibility, enrolment priority, available places and the commitment expected from families can vary by school and system.

The useful question is not simply, “Will they accept us?” It is: What does this school's current written policy say, how would it apply to our child, and can our family genuinely support the school's ethos and participation expectations?

School affiliation does not tell you a family's religion

National statistics can describe the school system, but they cannot answer whether a particular family will be eligible or how they identify.

The ABS Schools 2025 publication↗, opens in a new tab reports information about schools and students across government, Catholic and independent sectors. The ABS methodology↗, opens in a new tab explains how schools are counted and classified.

Those sector and affiliation categories describe institutions. They do not measure the religion of each student or parent. A child attending a Catholic school should not automatically be counted as Catholic, just as enrolment at any other faith-affiliated school does not establish a family's beliefs or religious practice.

For the same reason, a national percentage cannot tell you whether your application will succeed. The school's current policy and your circumstances are what matter.

Current policies show why families need to check each school

Published policies provide useful examples, but they are examples rather than denomination-wide rules. Policies can also change, so confirm the version and date before relying on them.

Catholic education examples

Brisbane Catholic Education's policy library↗, opens in a new tab describes its schools as welcoming families seeking a Catholic Christian education and directs families to the enrolment process for the relevant school. That broad welcome does not replace the local application process or guarantee a place.

Catholic Education Cairns says families do not need to be Catholic to apply↗, opens in a new tab. Its separate eligibility and priority information↗, opens in a new tab shows why the detail matters: some Catholic applicants appear earlier in the published priority order than other families. A non-Catholic family may be eligible to apply while still having a different priority position.

Islamic school examples

The Australian Islamic Centre College enrolment policy↗, opens in a new tab says the college serves the Muslim community and expects students and parents to commit to its Islamic ethos. Families should read the policy's expectations rather than assume that application eligibility makes religious participation optional.

The Australian Islamic College Sydney enrolment policy↗, opens in a new tab lists support for the school's philosophy and ethos among several enrolment considerations. This is one school's published approach, not a universal rule for Islamic schools.

Jewish school example

The King David School's published enrolment policy↗, opens in a new tab says the school may accept students from other religious backgrounds. Families still need to read the full policy and discuss how the school's Jewish identity, program and expectations would apply to their child.

Together, these examples show that “open to other faiths” can mean different things. A family may be able to apply but sit lower in a priority order, be asked to make an ethos commitment, or be expected to participate in parts of the school's religious life.

Four checks to make before you apply

1. Eligibility and priority

First establish whether your child can apply, then ask how applications are ordered when places are limited. A policy may consider faith or community connection, siblings, parish membership, location, previous attendance at an affiliated school, enrolment timing or other factors.

Ask admissions to explain the current criteria in relation to your child. “We welcome all families” and “all applicants have equal priority” are not necessarily the same statement.

2. The ethos commitment

Some schools ask parents or students to sign a statement supporting the school's mission, philosophy or faith-based ethos. Read the exact wording before signing. Ask what support means in daily practice and whether the declaration concerns respectful participation, agreement with particular beliefs, or both.

A family should not make a commitment it cannot keep. If a term is unclear, request a written explanation and take time to consider it.

3. Religious education, worship and ceremonies

Find out what students are expected to attend and do. This may include religious education, prayer, chapel or worship, celebrations, assemblies, retreats, language study, dietary practices, dress requirements or community events.

Do not assume participation is optional, and do not assume it is identical at every school of the same faith. Ask whether exemptions or alternative arrangements exist, who decides, and how a child's own beliefs are treated in class and school life.

4. Fees, assistance and additional-needs support

Compare the full cost of attendance, including compulsory levies, uniforms, devices, camps, transport and other charges. Ask about fee assistance, hardship processes and the documents required to apply for support.

Discuss disability, health, communication, learning or wellbeing needs early enough for the school to explain its process. Ask what adjustments and services are available, how information is handled and who coordinates support. These questions matter at every school, regardless of religious affiliation.

A careful application workflow

A short written process can prevent misunderstandings later.

1. Download the current policy. Save the document or link and note its publication, review or access date. Also check any related fee, behaviour, uniform, religious-education and inclusion policies.
2. Mark the clauses that affect your family. Highlight eligibility, priority, ethos declarations, participation requirements and any terms you do not understand.
3. Ask admissions specific questions in writing. Describe your situation accurately and request answers about the current policy. Keep the response with your application records.
4. Tour the school. Notice how staff describe the school's religious identity and how students from different backgrounds are included. Ask the same practical questions you asked in writing and clarify any difference in the answers.
5. Compare the evidence with your non-negotiables. Decide what your family can support, what requires an adjustment or clarification, and what would make the school unsuitable.

You can use the school directory to identify schools to compare, but the school's own current documents and written answers should guide your application decision.

Admissions questions worth asking

Take a concise list so that a warm welcome or an impressive tour does not crowd out practical details.

Application and priority

• Is my child eligible to apply under the current policy?
• Which priority category would apply, and what happens when that category has more applicants than places?
• Are references, clergy or community endorsements, baptism records or other declarations required?
• Does applying early affect priority, and when will we receive a decision?

Ethos and participation

• What commitment must parents and students make to the school's ethos?
• Which religious-education classes, prayers, worship services, ceremonies, retreats or celebrations are compulsory?
• What participation is expected from parents at religious or community events?
• Are exemptions or alternatives available? If so, how are they requested and decided?
• Are there dietary, dress or observance expectations beyond the standard uniform and behaviour policies?
• How can students respectfully discuss or express a different belief or no religious belief?

Safety, inclusion and support

• How does the school respond to religious discrimination, racism, antisemitism, Islamophobia and bullying?
• Who should a student contact if they feel excluded or pressured because of belief, culture or identity?
• How are disability adjustments, learning support, health needs and wellbeing support planned?
• Can we meet the person responsible for additional-needs support before accepting a place?

Costs and changes

• What is the full expected annual cost, including levies and common extras?
• What fee assistance or hardship arrangements are available, and is that process confidential?
• How will families be told if an enrolment, participation or fee policy changes?

The goal is not to test admissions staff. It is to make sure both the family and school understand the proposed relationship before an application or offer proceeds.

Compare fit without looking for a guarantee

After gathering the policy and written answers, compare each school across the same four questions:

1. Can we apply, and what is our likely priority position?
2. Can we honestly support the ethos commitment being requested?
3. Can our child participate in the required program while being respected in their own identity?
4. Can the school meet our practical needs for cost, access, learning and wellbeing support?

There may still be uncertainty. Available places, demand and individual circumstances can affect an enrolment decision, and a published welcome is not a promise of acceptance.

A suitable choice is one where the written expectations are clear, your family can agree to them honestly, and the school's approach to teaching, inclusion and support aligns with your child's needs. Use the evidence to build a shortlist for further conversation—not to assume that any faith label guarantees or rules out a good fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a child enrol in a religious school if the family follows another faith or no faith?

Do religious schools give priority to families of their own faith?

Will my child have to attend religious education or worship?

Does attending a religious school mean the student shares that religion?

What should we check before applying to a religious school?