THE New South Wales Department of Education and Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Learning Prue Car have weighed in on the Broken Hill Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) recent decision to exclude students from Sacred Heart Parish School in sporting events.
The decision, made a fortnight ago, eliminates students from the Catholic school from any PSSA individual sports carnivals or Gala Days in 2025.
The DoE confirmed that the Broken Hill PSSA is a zone of the NSWPSSA, which states on its site that NSWPSSA governs all primary school sport at a state level.
“Competitions include Catholic and Independent school sporting associations”, the NSW Government website says.
Local member Roy Butler and Mayor Tom Kennedy forwarded the issue to Ms Car, who said the issues are being discussed.
“My expectation is that local sporting opportunities be available to all children in Broken Hill who want access to them,” she said.
“These matters have been raised with me by the local member. I understand discussions are underway to sort through these issues.”
An NSW DoE spokesperson said that the Catholic school’s students will still have opportunities to progress in sport.
“Sacred Heart Parish School students continue to have the opportunity to progress to the NSW PSSA championships for individual sports through Catholic sporting pathways via the Diocese of Wilcannia-Forbes and Polding,” the spokesperson said.
Yet local parent Emma Lovis-Hotchin, who attended PSSA events herself as a child and has a son at the Catholic school, said the idea that kids travel to neighbouring Catholic schools was disappointing.
“I am so disheartened by their unsportsmanlike behaviour,” she said.
“I’ve got many friends from when I played PSSS sport for railway town 40-years-ago.
“Those relationships helped me transition from a small tiny school like Railway Town into the bigger high school.
“If these kids wish to perform at PSSA level they now have to move schools”.
The DoE spokesperson said the department will talk with the local PSSA.
“We recognise the importance of schools working together, no matter the sector,” the spokesperson said.
“We will talk and work with Sacred Heart Parish School and Barrier PSSA on this issue.
“Our aim is to explore meaningful local partnerships that benefit students in both the NSW public education system and the Catholic system.”
