Mission and vision of CSNSW Sport
CSNSW Sport provides a competitive and diverse pathway for students. It enables them to compete at high levels of sport across the state and at the national level.
Our mission is to support students to achieve their best by promoting physical health, teamwork and overall well-being through a Catholic ethos.
We create a supportive environment where students in Catholic schools across NSW can excel in sports while upholding the values of their faith.
History and development
Before 1995, students in Catholic schools in NSW had limited access to state and national sports competitions.
Our advocacy led to participation in NSW All Schools and NSW Primary School Sports Association (NSWPSSA) events from 1995 onwards for:
- NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC)
- MacKillop
- Polding
This participation allowed Catholic school students to compete for state championships against their peers from:
- NSW Combined High Schools (NSWCHS) – for secondary
- The 11 NSW DET sports Regions – for primary
- Combined Independent Schools (CIS)
It provided the opportunity for:
- Students to be selected into NSW School Sport teams (NSW All Schools & NSWPSSA) for representation at the School Sport Australia (SSA) Championships.
- Secondary students competing at SSA events have the opportunity to be selected into the Australian Schools teams.
Not all sports within our representative pathway, for example Rugby Union in both primary & secondary, and Rugby League, Athletics and Water Polo for secondary, are linked to the SSA representative pathway.
Governance and structure
The Catholic Sports Coordinating Committee (CSCC) oversaw the development of these sports pathways.
- In 2012, the 11 NSW dioceses formed Catholic Schools Sports Services (CSSS) to further enhance these efforts.
- By 2019, Catholic Schools NSW incorporated CSSS into its structure as Catholic Schools NSW Sport Services.
NSW Combined Catholic Colleges (NSWCCC)
NSWCCC serves as the main pathway for students in Catholic secondary schools in NSW to represent at a state and national level.
- It brings together the 11 dioceses and one association to form a unified body for representative sports.
- The pathway for students in secondary Catholic schools in NSW typically involves NSWCCC, progressing to NSW All Schools level and then on to represent at School Sport Australia (SSA).
Read more about NSWCCC.
NSW Catholic Primary Schools (NSWCPS)
NSWCPS coordinates representative sports for primary Catholic schools in NSW. It provides structured opportunities for students to compete at higher representative levels.
NSWCPS is split into two regions:
- MacKillop (Southern NSW)
- Sydney Catholic Schools
- Catholic Education Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
- Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese
- Catholic Education Diocese of Wagga Wagga
- Catholic Education Diocese of Wollongong.
- Polding (Northern NSW)
- Catholic Schools Broken Bay
- Catholic Education Diocese of Bathurst
- Catholic Schools Office Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle
- Catholic Schools Office Diocese of Lismore
- Catholic Schools Office Diocese of Armidale
- Catholic Education Wilcannia Forbes.
Primary Catholic schools compete based on their diocesan location, enabling wide participation.
The pathway for students in primary Catholic schools in NSW typically involves MacKillop or Polding, progressing to NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (NSWPSSA) and then on to represent at School Sport Australia (SSA).
Read more about NSWCPS.