SRE is Special Religious Education. SRE is taught by Catholic Church volunteers (called Catechists) to Catholic students in government schools. The place of SRE is governed by the following legislation and guidelines:

• The Education Act 1990;
• Implementing Special Religious Education: Guidelines for Schools, Providers of SRE and Parents (NSW Department of Education and Training, 1995).

In accordance with the Education Act and NSW Department of Education and Training policy the times for SRE "are to be fixed by agreement between the principal of the school and the local member of the clergy or other religious teacher of that persuasion (DET Guidelines)."

Catechists are authorised by their local Parish Priest and accredited with having completed some training. No Catechist may teach in a government school without the authorisation of the local Parish Priest. All Catechists must complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration and a Teacher Engagement Form.