Get Involved ...

Be part of the change! Join the ReformBCC group and work alongside dedicated parents, teachers, and staff who love the school and want to see a stronger, more transparent, and Christian values-driven school governance.

Collectively, we can ensure key stakeholders and government officials know that the community wants governance change and an end to the uncertainty, turmoil and bad press. Our children deserve a better school experience!

There are TWO ways you can get involved and IMMEDIATELY help effect real and lasting change.

Option 1: Write a short email to the Education Ministers and ACT Senator Pocock (details below)

Option 2: Become a Member of the Reform BCC group!

Why join the Reform BCC group?

Becoming a member helps add weight to our voice seeking to: prioritising the interests of the school community (its staff, parents, students and volunteers), preserve the schools Christian values, seek reform of the governance structure and practices to ensure accountable governance is put in place to ensure tuition fees are used directly for delivery of education and teachers have adequate resources, and are paid all their entitlements, so they can care for and educate your child well.

The BCC Governing Body, Brindabella Christian Education Limited (BCEL) have appointed themselves as directors for life, removed all election functionality and confined company membership to directors alone. Without a broad and representative company membership, including current parents, they are not accountable to anyone but themselves. This is inconsistent with the ACNC Governance Standards and not best practice and leaves your child without a representative voice.

We say this needs to change and the ACNC and Education Ministers have the power to require BCEL makes these changes.

In addition, the BCC Parents and Friends Association (P&F) has only operated in name only for the last five years, with no meetings or functional membership. This is contrary to its founding and its ethos of "partnering with parents".

Your voice helps grow our movement and gives weight to our advocacy work with regulators, politicians and community leaders. To join confidentially, please use the form below.

Write to Ministers-Senator

Senator David Pocock

Why write to government officials and local members of parliament?

For a few minutes of your time, a personal email can also help make an immediate difference. Please write to raise the priority of the BCC community in the eyes of those who have power to bring lasting change. They have ears to hear right now. Don't wait for other parents to speak out for your child.

A short email voicing your concerns, or thanking, the Education Ministers and Senator Pocock, for their attention to these issues at BCC is incredibly powerful for our community. You could also write to your local member of parliament or Shadow Education to help put pressure on Ministerial action.

ACT Education Minister Yvette Berry - berry@act.gov.au
ACT Shadow Education Minister, Jeremy Hanson - hanson@parliament.act.gov.au
Federal Education Minister Jason Clare - minister.clare@education.gov.au
Federal Shadow Education Minister Sarah Henderson - Contact Form
Senator David Pocock - senator.david.pocock@aph.gov.au

Need help?

Please know you're not alone in your experience or concerns - many of the issues are long standing and not new. If you need support or help in navigating options to resolve complaint or concerns, you can reach our Committee of former and current parents privately and confidentially by emailing: admin@reformbcc.org

We've provided options which may assist you further below:

As an ACT Senator, David Pocock has been a loud and clear voice representing community concerns and holding Commonwealth education officials accountable for their monitoring of BCC's lack of financial transparency and use of $10 million in public funds each year.

Take a look at our Media page to watch the videos of Senator Pocock questioning education officials during Senate Estimates on 5 June 2024 and 7 November 2024 about BCC's compliance, the Board's conduct and a four year long investigation.

You're encouraged to share your concerns directly with him or write just to thank him for his advocacy work and encourage him to continue to champion the concerns of staff, parents and students of BCC.

Email Senator Pocock: Senator.David.Pocock@aph.gov.au

ACT Education Directorate - Non-Government Schools Branch (Territory)

The ACT Education Directorate is at the centre of ensuring ACT Public and Private schools meet their obligations under the Education Act. Join other parents and teachers who have raised their concerns about governance issues at BCC, to help advocate for change.

If you have concerns or complaints, reach out to the Directorate's Non-Government Schools Branch directly and confidentially.

Email the ACT Education Directorate : ngs.concerns@act.gov.au

or call them and ask to talk to the Non-government Schools Branch: (02) 6205 5429

Department of Education - Schools Assurance (Commonwealth)

The commonwealth department of education is responsible for providing around $10,000,000 in annual funding to BCC to be used soley for the purpose of educating children, not lawyers, not buildings and not international travel by directors and executive. Brindabella Christian Education Limited is the Approved Authority to receiver this funding as the Proprietor of Brindabella Christian College.

The Schools Assurance Office within the Department of Education ensures Approved Authority's use this money only for the purpose of education and that the governance and financial management of the school is fit and proper.

If you are concerned funds are being used for an improper purpose or if you have knowledge or evidence of fraud, you can get in touch with department officials safely via the options provided below.

If you have information or complaint about the conduct and decisions of the Directors and/or Executive of the school you can also safely contact the Schools Assurance Office.

Email: SchoolsAssuranceCases@education.gov.au

Contact Dept of Education securely via the online anonymous reporting tool: Whispli

Further Information - Website: https://www.education.gov.au/schooling

ACT Work Safe

To report any concerns around the safety and welfare of staff and students on campus including physical harm or psychosocial harm (eg bullying)

https://www.worksafe.act.gov.au/health-and-safety-portal/notify-worksafe/report-a-workplace-concern

Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission (ACNC)

The national charity regulator monitors and enforces compliance of non-government schools with their regulatory obligations as registered charities. This includes timely annual reporting of audited financials to the Charity Register and compliance with governance standards.

The ACNC has facility to investigate and accept complaints about a charity's compliance, lack of financial transparency and the conduct of Responsible Persons (Directors).

The Association believes the ACNC has failed to adequately monitor and enforce BCEL's compliance with its accountability, reporting and director fitness obligations.

If you have concerns or information to provide, send an email to: compliance@acnc.gov.au

Enrolment Contract or Fee related issues

Reform BCC has been set up as an Association to advocate for governance changes at BCEL, inform parents of their contractual rights and ensure enrolment agreements with parents are equitable and fair.

Review the our website Key Issues, for more information concerning Tribunal and Court findings about BCC's Enrolment Agreement and Australian Consumer Law obligations protecting parents rights as service recipients.

We may be able to assist if you have concerns around the terms of your agreement and the delivery of services, and you're welcome to email us at admin@reformbcc.org, but we also encourage you to make contact with the following who have expertise in this field of law:

The Canberra Consumer Law Centre for free advice
Access Canberra Fair Trading and Consumer Rights
Adero Law have been supportive advocates and provided pro-bono assistance to the ReformBCC group. They can also assist parents and staff. Initial enquiries from the BCC community are free of charge.

BECOME A MEMBER

Thank you for supporting the advocacy work of the association, our Vision for BCC and, our Objectives by becoming a Member. You can join one of two ways:

(1) complete the short Online Form confidentially by scrolling below, OR

(2) download the Membership Application Form and return confidentially to email admin@reformbcc.org

Full Member - Full membership is restricted to persons with a past or present connection to Brindabella Christian College, (including their respective family members) either as parents, employees, students (over 16 yrs) or former directors.

Associate Member - Other concerned persons or parties within the broader Canberra and Christian education communities can join as an Associate Member without voting rights.

Important documents:

Rules of the CCR@BCC Association (also known as the CCR@BCC Constitution)

YOUR PRIVACY IS IMPORTANT

CCR@BCC take privacy considerations extremely seriously. The confidentiality of the CCR@BCC membership has been built into the Association’s Constitution and Rules (Clause 36). CCR@BCC has worked with Adero Law to ensure the highest level of security for its members. In accordance with Section 67A and 67B of the Associations Incorporations Act 1991, members can elect to have their personal information restricted to the CCR@BCC Committee only. This allows the Committee to refuse access to requests for your personal information held on the Member Register.

CONTRIBUTE

Depending upon the extent of any action taken by regulators or statutory authorities against the present Proprietor, Brindabella Christian Education Limited (BCEL), the Association may advance legal pathways to pursue its Objectives of constitutional reform and governance change, in which case building a Mobilisation Fund will become a priority.

However, at this time we are not actively seeking donations. Should growing a Mobilisation Fund become necessary, we will reach out to our membership and other interested persons.

We are grateful for many who are committed to preserving a faith-based education option for Canberran families and reform of BCC who have already made contributions to-date, allowing us to engage Adero Law for legal advice and assistance in establishing the Incorporated Association and building a public platform.

CCR@BCC Mobilisation Fund
CCRatBCC
BSB 082-356
Account Number 20-613-5242