The Systemisation of independent schooling in Australia: is unity really strength?

For much of the last century, school education in Australia has been delivered by three distinct sectors: government schools, Catholic systemic schools, and independent schools. The Catholic systemic and independent schools are often referred to collectively as the 'non-government' sector (Productivity Commission, 2012). The terms 'Catholic systemic' and 'independent' suggest differences in the way the schools are organised and led. This, however, would be an oversimplification of things and the sectors, as well as my own research, would suggest there are similarities rather than differences and that these might be explained by what has been a steady move towards greater levels of systemisation in the independent sector.