STIPEND RATE FOR RELIGIOUS to JUNE 30, 2009

The NSW/ACT Bishops’ Conference and CLRI(NSW) stipulates that for the period July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009 the annual stipend to be paid to Religious Congregations for the services of a congregational member is as follows:

55% of the indexed gross Teacher’s Salary of a Step 13 teacher for metropolitan Catholic Systemic Schools.
The Step 13 salary $73,352.00 as at January 21, 2008 is used to provide the actual rate.

The 2007-2008 stipend is	Per Annum	Per Quarter	Per Month
	$39849.00	$9962.00	$3320.00

The 2008-2009 stipend is	Per Annum	Per Quarter	Per Month
	$41,444.00	$10,362.00	$3454.00

PRINCIPLES AND PROCEDURES

Regarding the payment of stipends

Pro-rata payments should be made where circumstances warrant such payment eg where the religious is engaged in a part-time capacity.

Congregational Leaders are free to negotiate reduced rates where the financial circumstances of the body engaging the services of a member of a religious congregation do not allow the payment of a full stipend. It is stipulated that two-thirds of the full stipend be the minimum starting point for such negotiation.

Stipends are not personal payments and cheques/deposits/electronic funds transfers for payment of stipends must be paid directly to the respective Religious Congregation or its nominated bank account. Payments should be made quarterly in advance, where possible, but no more frequently than monthly. Stipends should not be linked to a payroll or payroll system.

It is understood that stipend payments in NSW do not include superannuation, retirement payments, long service leave or other benefits. Some congregations in NSW are receipt of the benefit paid on retirement of a religious from active ministry by the Catholic Education authority in the dioceses of Broken Bay, Parramatta and Sydney

Rationale for stipend rates

Stipends are paid to religious congregations in recognition of the services contributed by members of religious congregations over many decades in promoting the mission of the Catholic Church in NSW. Today, fewer religious receiving stipends are supporting those members of their congregations who are no longer able to engage in active ministry.

For the Joint Stipends Committee

Sr Sharon Price rsm

Executive Director CLRI(NSW)

21 January 2008

Print Version of the Stipend Rates in PDF format