Religious institutes have long played an important role in the establishment and operation of Catholic schools in NSW and ACT. More recently, ministerial public juridic persons, or PJPs have been approved under Canon Law to ensure the continuation of the diverse traditions of religious institute schools. Families may benefit from religious institute and PJP schools, or schools operated by Catholic Dioceses, giving families choice in Catholic education.

Building on the work of the Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes in NSW, the Federation of Religious Institute and Ministerial PJP Catholic School Authorities in NSW and ACT was launched on 15 March 2018. On 22 December 2023 the Federation changed its name to the Catholic Religious Institute and Ministerial Public Juridic Persons NSW and ACT School Authorities and to be known as CRMNA. The CRMNA’s members elect Councillors who are responsible for overall governance and the appointment of members to the CRMNA’s Education Policy Committee, a group of senior educators who contribute to the development and review of important issues in Catholic education.

The CRMNA promotes and supports the interests of its members and their 45 schools within the Catholic education community and more broadly. It seeks to maintain mutually respectful relationships with the Bishops of NSW and ACT and a close working relationship with Catholic Schools NSW, facilitating services to, participation by and advocacy for the CRMNA’s members’ schools.