In a globally austere policy context, state financing of public services has been positioned as perennially ‘in crisis’ and in need of private intervention. In fact, there is a general assumption – in education policy and practice – that philanthropic donations are a useful supplement to the public funding of schooling. While much research investigates the role of billionaire philanthropists and their influence in bringing about systemic changes to public school systems, this article focuses on the role of parents, and Parent and Citizen (P&C) associations in autonomous public schools. Through qualitative analysis of P&C interview participants I discuss how the role of P&Cs in Queensland has shifted from them being largely ad hoc community fundraisers to profitable business operators, particularly through the running of profitable canteens, Outside Hours School Care (OHSC), uniform shops and book shops. Through this analysis I argue that public school parents are now operating as new philanthropists, solving the problem of inadequate state funding through private capital raising. Echoing previous research, I note equity concerns here, including the stratification of the public school system and further, a concerning lack of transparency around the extent to which some public schools are being nourished by the deep coffers of successful P&Cs.

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