About Us

IST
The Independent Schools of Tasmania (IST) is an association of non-government schools. It co-ordinates views of member schools in submissions to government and other bodies. It advises and supports member schools at their request. The Association also administers Commonwealth Targeted Programs for non-Catholic independent schools within the state. 

The Association comprises 35 schools from the Independent and Catholic sectors and it is affiliated to the Independent Schools Council of Australia (ISCA). 

The principal office of the Association is in Hobart and there is a small regional office in Launceston. The Association normally holds an Annual General Meeting in Term 1 and a General Meeting in Term 3. The meetings are usually held in Launceston or Hobart. 

The Schools 
There is a variety of schoolswithin the Association with differing philosophies and aims. 

Six independent schools have a Principal/Headmaster who is a member of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA). The current chair of the Tasmanian Branch is Mr Andrew Barr, Principal of Scotch Oakburn College, Kings Meadows.

Four Independent Catholic Schools, whose Principals are also members of AHISA, are members of the Association. 

Nine schools are affiliated to the Christian Parent Controlled Schools Association(CPCS), and the State Co-ordinator is Mr Simon Matthews, Executive Director, Christian Schools Tasmania. Three schools are affiliated to the Anglican Church, two schools to the Seventh Day Adventist Church, two schools to Christian Schools Australia and one school each affiliated to the Society of Friends,(Quaker), the Lutheran Church, Rudolf Steiner School Education, the Free Reformed Church and the Uniting Church.

10 independent schools are non-affiliated.

Communication 
The Association sends out information by way of circulars to member schools. Whilst we are able to draw attention of schools to relevant professional development courses and conferences by including a paragraph of information, we are only able to include brochures at the expense of the supplier. Please contact the office for further details.