Some Australian state schools, both primary and high, are supported by parents and citizens' associations also known as PCA or P&C.[1] These groups provide volunteer support, raise funds for infrastructure and other expenses and assist in the administration of their school.
A large part of many P&C activities is the provision of subsidies to school excursions and other supplemental and extracurricular activities.
P&Cs encourage the general public and local businesses to become involved with their local schools.
Recent years have seen a number of changes to the environment in which P&Cs operate.
- Volunteers sometimes require blue cards (criminal record checks) if they do not have children in the related school.
- Tuckshops and fundraisers are required to sell only healthy foods.[2]
- Education Queensland has devolved many costs onto the school communities that were previously covered by the department. This has led to some schools requiring a "voluntary" payment from parents to cover consumables.
In Victoria, School Councils are similar to P&Cs, although they also have a more formal role in helping to manage the school.
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