Eleven private schools across Australia have been accused by human rights lawyers of exposing students to potential discrimination, after enrolment forms demanded prospective families support beliefs denouncing homosexuality and diverse gender identity.
It comes after former students and parents of Brisbane's Citipointe Christian College referred the school to Queensland's Human Rights Commission in May.
All 11 schools are part of the Christian Community Ministries (CCM), which says it serves more than 6,000 students across schools in Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.
The schools include:
- Queensland — Chinchilla Christian College, Dalby Christian College, Endeavour Christian College, Groves Christian College, Livingstone Christian College, Staines Memorial College, Warwick Christian College, Whitsunday Christian College;
- South Australia — Blakes Crossing Christian College, Seaview Christian College
- New South Wales — The Lakes Christian College
In a sample version of its contract, dated February 8, prospective families were required to support a belief that "God's intended best for humankind is that we live our lives in accordance with our biological sex".
Another clause states parents and students support CCM's Statement of Faith, which says "sexual behaviour is to be limited to monogamous heterosexual, married couples".
That Statement of Faith also insists CCM schools "acknowledge the biological sex of a person as recognised at birth" and "require practices consistent with that sex".
The contract stipulates a student's enrolment can be terminated if their behaviour breaches the Statement of Faith, or the schools' beliefs.
The sample contract states it is a "a reproduction of the contract wording that will be provided to you if you are made an offer of enrolment".
The ABC asked CCM to confirm whether the contract had been distributed to families and whether it was in use.
CCM did not directly respond to these questions, but said parents enrolling their children did not need to share the schools' beliefs.
"Our school communities are diverse and we treat every student with care and compassion. When issues arise regarding conflict with our beliefs we work through them with the student and family," the statement said.
Statements 'reflect the Christian belief of our schools'
Queensland-based human rights lawyer, Matilda Alexander, said she was shocked at how many schools were utilising the contracts.
"This contract certainly does give students the impression that they could be expelled or discriminated against because of their sexuality or gender identity.
"But they would have a strong case in law to argue against any such actions because discrimination on the basis of sexuality and gender identity is unlawful," Ms Alexander said.
CCM told the ABC Ms Alexander's claim it could be in breach of Queensland's anti-discrimination law was "in conflict with our legal advice."
"Our enrolment statements reflect the Christian beliefs of our schools," it said.
"Parents who choose to enrol their children at a CCM school do not need to share our beliefs but they do need to acknowledge that they understand what our schools stand for and teach.
"It is in the interests of open disclosure and in order to enable parents to make an informed enrolment choice, that we provide parents with full information regarding our beliefs.
Teachings 'can really damage self-esteem'
Ms Alexander, who is also a patron of the LGBTI Legal Service, is currently supporting a discrimination complaint against Brisbane's Citipointe Christian College school, which was forced to withdraw an enrolment contract with similar language around gender and sexuality in early February, following widespread backlash.
Former Citipointe student Felicity Myers said she was surprised to learn other schools had similar contracts, but since publicly opposing Citipointe's enrolment contract earlier in the year, she had heard from other young queer people who faced discrimination at school.
"I was already aware that it was an issue that went beyond the school that I attended," she said.
"I have had a range of stories and experiences from people across a variety of different schools, religious and non-religious.
"I think teachings like that can really damage the self-esteem and self-worth of a young queer person."
Ms Alexander said some clauses in Queensland's Anti-Discrimination Act needed updating.
"There are quite good protections for students, certainly some of the strongest laws in the country. However, what we need is further clarity, because it seems that even with the strong protections, there is still some confusion out there," she said.
The Human Rights Commission is due to report back on Queensland's Anti-Discrimination Act at the end of July.
'It's very disappointing'
Queensland Education Minister Grace Grace said it was her understanding that a lot of these types of contracts had been removed.
Ms Grace also said the contracts were distressing, as a mother of a non-binary child herself.
"No LGBTIQ+ student should be denied an education because of them being a member of the LGBTIQ+ communities," she said.
Ms Grace flagged she would "absolutely" consider referring the CCM schools to the Non-State Schools Accreditation Board (NSSAB), as she did for Citipointe Christian College in February.
However, Ms Grace said she would await the outcome of the NSSAB's investigations into Citipointe.
"If [students and parents] are concerned with these contracts and students are being denied, then those complaints should be made directly to the Human Rights Commission, and I await the outcome of their investigations, and NSSAB as well," she added.
"There is no place in a modern school in Queensland, or for that matter in Australia, for these type of contracts and they should be removed immediately."
Terry Burke, secretary for the Independent Education's Union Queensland and Northern Territory branch said schools needed to make a distinction between their religious beliefs and their practices and policies.
"Nothing is preventing a school authority teaching its faith. Nothing prevents that," he said.
"What's at stake here is an issue about the discrimination enacted upon an individual because of who they are.
"You can teach your faith but that does not inherently mean that you have to discriminate."
The Federal government attempted to pass legislation to protect religious freedoms before the May election.
That legislation was shelved after several Liberal MPs crossed the floor to support amendments that would give extra protections to transgender school students.
Since being elected, the new Labor government has flagged it will bring a new religious discrimination bill before parliament.
