The federal election campaign continues to roll out with very little mention of education, at least at the national level.

Catholic School Parents Queensland has begun a series of candidate forums in marginal Queensland seats. Last week I attended a forum at St Mary of the Cross School, Windsor, which provided an opportunity for candidates in the seat of Brisbane to answer questions about their commitment to Catholic education. The candidates gave short, prepared addresses and then responded to questions from those attending. Parents posed a number of challenging questions on a range of topics including support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, students with disability and the need for a review of the capacity to contribute component of the current Federal recurrent funding model.

A similar forum in the seat of Griffith was held last night at Sts Peter and Paul School, Bulimba, and tonight candidates in the seat of Ryan will attend a forum at Our Lady of the Rosary School, Kenmore. Next week an online forum will be held in the seat of Dawson to allow families from a wide area of north Queensland to participate.

Last week Acting Federal Education Minister Stuart Robert visited Our Lady of the Way Primary School, Petrie, to announce further funding for the Smiling Mind program which is in use at the school. Thanks to Brisbane Catholic Education and the school community for hosting this visit at short notice.