Don't let Brindabella Christian College reopen without assurances, reform group urges ministers

The reform group campaigning for governance reform at Brindabella Christian College has launched a survey calling on the community to support its push for the ACT and federal education ministers to not let the school reopen until it can show it is taking action to get its house in order.

The survey comes as the college sent a letter to parents welcoming them back for 2025 that fails to mention any of its issues with regulators or that there is a cloud over the school’s future with ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry still weighing regulatory action.

Ms Berry demanded that the authority that runs the school, Brindabella Christian Education Limited, show that it could meet its governance and financial obligations after being advised by the regulator that it was in breach.

The BCEL board eventually provided information and the Minister said she would make a decision by Christmas but is still deliberating.

Ms Berry has not revealed what the current advice from the regulator is or whether the information the board has provided is enough to prevent regulatory action from both the ACT and Federal Education Department that, at worst, could include deregistration and loss of its $10 million a year public funding.

The Reform BCC survey asks parents, carers and staff to have their say on governance and parental representation, financial mismanagement and unpaid superannuation, work, health and safety, child safety, and the school not complying with its regulatory obligations.

Reform BCC says the survey will identify areas for improvement and support advocacy work for governance accountability, transparency and alignment with the school’s Christian ethos.

“We’re also seeking support at the end of the survey for a collective call on the education ministers to protect staff and families from financial risk,” the survey information says.

It asks respondents to back action by the Federal Education Minister Jason Clare and Ms Berry to ensure the school is safe and solvent, protects staff wages and entitlements, and guarantees tuition fees only fund education, not legal costs.

“Minister Berry and Minister Clare, don’t allow the school to reopen in 2025 without these assurances and a plan for new governance initiated,” it says.

Reform BCC says the school’s lack of transparency with parents was incredibly disappointing.

The letter focuses on the senior appointments of Peter Reubens as principal and his wife Annie as the new head of primary and acting campus principal for Norwest, the smaller Charnwood campus.

Both have extensive backgrounds in the independent school system in Sydney, including stints at The King’s School.

The letter promises more staff joining BCC in the coming weeks and months.

The only reference to the school’s regulatory situation comes from the school’s business manager in offering discounts to parents who can pay fees by 24 January.

“We extend our gratitude to the families who have chosen to pay their fees annually or by term. We are aware that some families have felt a level of uncertainty given the negative narrative in the media,” the letter says.

“We hope these measures provide clarity and assurance as we begin the new year.”

The school has been tardy paying staff super and the deadline for the next quarterly payment is 28 January.

BCEL still has not provided overdue financial reports and annual statements to the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission or posted financial documents, including grant details for 2020, 2021 and 2023 on the MySchool website.

Ms Berry is unlikely to prevent the school reopening, having flagged her intentions in a statement last week designed to offer some certainty.

“The ACT Government is not aware of anything that would prevent the school from opening at the start of term 1 2025,” she said.

“As minister, it is always my preference to keep schools open and operating as I value the educational services they provide to our community.”

She said that if regulatory action was taken, the government would work with the school to minimise any disruption to students, families and staff.