Around 99 per cent of the state is now considered to be in drought and Bathurst region farmers are among those being badly hit, with just 35 millimetres of rain recorded since the start of winter.

Catholic Bishop of Bathurst Michael McKenna said he did not want to see paying school fees become an added burden for families.

The offer follows Sunday’s “day of prayer for rain and those suffering from the drought”.

“The provision of affordable Catholic schooling should not be an added burden to the financial strain of families, especially for those in need in this time of drought,” Bishop McKenna said.

“We certainly do not wish to add to the financial burden families are currently experiencing.

“Money should not be a barrier to children attending Catholic schools.”

A spokeswoman for the diocese said school fees relief could be in the form of a “payment plan or delaying of payment for some time” depending on the personal circumstances of the family asking for help. She said interest would not be charged.

The spokeswoman said fees relief  for families facing financial hardship for any reason was a policy of the diocese’s education office.

“This is not something new,” she said.

“It’s a policy of our Catholic education office that has always been in place.”

The spokeswoman said Catholic education was established 200 years ago to “provide education for the poorest of our communities”.

She said Bishop McKenna was keenly aware of the impact of the drought on communities and families because of extensive travelling in the diocese. 

The Diocese of Bathurst administers five local Catholic schools including MacKillop College, Cathedral School, Assumption School, St Philomena’s and Holy Family at Kelso.