The establishment and foundation of Gülen-inspired schools began in Australia in 1996. By 2009, sixteen were opened. These schools produced a high standard of education in the short period since their establishment. This paper endeavours to examine the potential reasons for opening private Turkish schools in an advanced democracy such as Australia, a nation with quality education. Along with academic excellence in education, particularly in social sciences, Gülen-inspired schools in Australia impart universal ethical values to promote tolerance, love, dialogue and multiculturalism.

The funding system of Gülen inspired schools is often associated with suspicion and misunderstanding. However, Australia’s unique private education funding system for both establishing and managing private schools has supported the rapid establishment of these schools between 1996 and 2008. The Howard Government encouraged non-government schooling through its funding policies between 1996 and 2007. A neo-liberal framework was used by the Howard Government to promote quality, choice, and equality within education. In 2008 the Rudd Government continued this policy. Australia exhibits a school choice philosophy that promotes parental choice through the funding of private schools. Other sources of finance in Gülen-inspired schools in Australia are annual pledges, donations and fundraising provided by committed and generous Turkish communities in Australia. Each Australian state has its own accounting system and works autonomously. Consequently, the second part of this paper will explore the sources of funds for Gülen-inspired schools in Australia.

Çemen Polat has studied Bachelor of Economics and Business Administration in Turkmenistan between 1992 and 1996. In 2002 she extended her study and completed Master of Teaching in Social Sciences at the University of Sydney. Since 2003 Cemen Polat has been teaching Senior Economics and Business Studies and has also been involved in administrative duties. She has been appointed as Higher School Certificate Economics marker by New South Wales Board of Studies for the past three years. She has delivered a paper on the educational vision of F. Gülen in the international conference From Dialogue to Collaboration: The Vision of Fethullah Gülen and Muslim – Christian Relations. Currently, Cemen Polat is undertaking a research project on ‘The Worldwide Turkish School Movement: Funding and Features’.