I had the opportunity to visit St Fiacre's Catholic Primary School in Leichhardt this week ahead of the annual celebration of World Teachers' Day on 28 October.

St Fiacre's, an inner west Sydney school, is particularly special to me as it's where I held my first teaching position after graduating 30 years ago.

Meeting with school leaders, teachers and students, the visit demonstrated the way in which teachers continue to transform the lives of the students in their care, their commitment to each individual learner and recognition of the pathway each student is on, academically and in the formation of their faith and religious education.

The opportunity to visit school communities and work alongside our leaders and staff is one way NCEC can engage and understand the true impact of Catholic education which supports and impacts the lives of students in a meaningful and positive way every day.

Please join me on Friday October 28 as we celebrate World Teachers’ Day, recognising the contribution and work of over 66,000 teachers and leaders in Catholic schools throughout Australia.

Our teachers make a difference every day, educating, supporting and inspiring more than 785,000 students nationally in our schools.

We thank them for the important role they play in our communities and for the positive impact they have on the lives of students.

World Teachers' Day is held internationally on 5 October. As the day usually falls during the Australian school holidays, we celebrate it on the last Friday in October.

This year’s theme, ‘Hats off to Teachers’ acknowledges the great resilience our teachers have shown in dealing with the challenges of the past few years, so they can give Australian students the best future possible. 

At the national level we continue to acknowledge the role teachers play and the significant way they add value to the social compact of a young person’s journey through their schooling, while recognising the importance of finding solutions to address the challenges the teaching profession is currently facing.  

To our teachers and leaders, I offer my sincere thanks for all your work, commitment to our shared mission, and your passion and dedication for teaching and learning.

We recognise, as do our school communities, families and students, the benefits of quality teaching and the important role you play in inspiring the next generation. Teacher’s change people’s lives every day.

Happy World Teachers’ Day.

Please share your celebrations on social media using #WTD2022 and download the AITSL celebration kit available from the AITSL website.

Sally Egan 
National Catholic Education acting executive director 

The Productivity Commission has released its interim report on the review of the National School Reform Agreement (NSRA).

The NSRA outlines eight key national reforms including reviewing teacher workforce needs and senior secondary pathways, strengthening initial teacher education, online formative assessment and national unique student identifiers.

The interim report said to lift student outcomes the Commonwealth, states and territories need to forge a new agreement focused on driving effective change in schools and classrooms with greater weight on overall student wellbeing, and improving equity and quality teaching.

“The NSRA was a promising start and shows the commitment of jurisdictions to work together," Commissioner Natalie Siegel-Brown said in a media release.

"It has put in place some important foundational elements, such as establishing the Australian Education Research Organisation, but more work still needs to be done to deliver on the ambition of the agreement.

“Our interim report proposes governments concentrate on the areas where we believe their working together will make the greatest difference."

The interim report recommends the next NSRA focus on a smaller number of reforms such as quality teaching, ensuring all students meet minimum standards, specific strategies for equity groups such as students living in out of home care, and supporting wellbeing initiatives that lead to improved student learning.

The National Catholic Education Commission will be leading the response to the interim findings on behalf of the Catholic education sector and Catholic education authorities have been invited to contribute to this process.

The final report will then be considered by the Australian Government and will inform the next NSRA, including the national school priority initiatives and associated funding.

Responses to the interim report are open until 21 October and can be submitted via the Productivity Commission's website.

Photo courtesy of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission.

Photo: Pexels.

NCEC executive director Jacinta Collins presented an Australian perspective on confronting the challenges of education today, at the Congress celebrating the 150th anniversary of the contribution of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians to education (1872-2022) in Rome last month.

Speaking virtually from Sydney, Jacinta (pictured) told the conference how education for the common good lay at the heart of Catholic education, a vision shared by the United Nations and echoed in the 2019 Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration for Australian schools.

“In its 2019 pastoral letter, 200 Years Young, the Australian Catholic Bishops noted the contribution of Catholic schools to the common good,” Jacinta said.

“But, it’s not enough to hold a vision for education that contributes to the common good, we need to measure our success in this endeavour. 

“There is a growing body of research to suggest religious beliefs and practices such as prayer, meditation, religious-moral teaching and practice, can be associated with greater mental health and wellbeing, reduced depression and anxiety, decreased substance use, and increased social support.”

Jacinta said that while the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics’ (2021) census highlighted a decrease in Australians identifying as “Christian”, NCEC’s own survey ahead of the last federal election showed the majority of Australians continue to support faith-based schools.

“There is a tension that exists between faith formation and contributing to the common good that is reflected in the diversity of those we enrol, and their connection to faith, parish life and active worship,” she said.

“For Catholic schools, our schools are one of our strongest opportunities to evangelise and continue to be fertile ground to enrich faith formation and religious education.”

Jacinta said a pressing concern for all Australian schools, not just Catholic schools, is how we will reverse a 20-year decline in student performance as measured by the OECD’s Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) and other local assessment measures which show an absolute and relative decline in performance.

Jacinta also acknowledged the work of teachers and leaders in Australian education. “Without a quality teaching profession, our educational aims cannot be achieved,” she said.

The Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) has welcomed last week's announcement by the Victorian Liberals and Nationals party to commit $175 million per annum over four years for non-government schools.

CECV executive director Jim Miles said more than 211,000 students and their families will benefit from dedicated capital funding that will see new schools built and upgrades to existing facilities.

"On behalf of Catholic education in Victoria, we commend the Matthew Guy-led Liberals and Nationals party for their commitment of significant capital funding ahead of the state election," Mr Miles said.

"This $700 million investment over four years is a 75 per cent increase on the $402 million commitment by the opposition and government in the current term. It will go a long way to ensuring that Catholic education will be well-placed to meet future growth, particularly in Melbourne’s west and north, and around Geelong.

"It will see more schools being built and urgent upgrades provided across many of the 499 Catholic schools in our network, while supporting hundreds of local trade and construction jobs.

"Importantly, it will ensure almost a quarter of a million Victorian students can continue to receive high-quality learning that can evolve to meet the changing educational needs of the future." 

Mr Miles said that with one in four Catholic students coming from low-income families it’s critical non-government schools remain affordable while offering high-quality learning environments for families who choose a faith-based education for their children.  

"This funding will see greater equity and access for all Victorian students, no matter what school they attend, and it ultimately benefits the wider education sector to build a world-class system where no child is left behind," he said.

"In addition, this funding will also mean less overcrowding in classrooms and provide teachers with a broader range of tools they can use to effectively implement the Victorian school curriculum, creating a more manageable work environment for them to operate." 

Mr Miles said that while the Andrews Government is yet to make a public commitment the CECV is hopeful this will occur over coming weeks. 

"We look forward to continuing our constructive and well-established discussions with the Andrews Government, and are hopeful for a bipartisan commitment," he said. 

Read more

Image: Pixabay.

The 2022 Australian Council of Educational Leaders (ACEL) National Awards were held in Sydney on 29 September with a number of Catholic educators and leaders recognised for their contribution within education.

Catholic Schools NSW director of education policy Danielle Cronin (pictured above left) received the individual ACEL Leadership Award for excellent leadership. The award recognises her significant contribution to important areas of public policy and her thought leadership in areas such as parent, community, and family engagement in learning - for which she also received an Australian Churchill Fellowship.

The award also recognises Danielle’s significant contribution to Catholic education. As well as holding a number of senior executive positions at diocesan, state and national level, Danielle was a Commissioner on the NSW Catholic Education Commission for 10 years and the National Catholic Education Commission for seven. 

Indigenous education advisers from Townsville Catholic Education Janelle Knack, Tammi Webber and Krista O'Connor (pictured above right) were also recipients of an ACEL Leadership award recognising excellent educational leadership in development and implementing a significant educational initiative, conducting research or influencing educational policy. 

NCEC executive director, Jacinta Collins, who attended the awards (pictured above), congratulated all recipients recognising their outstanding contribution and service to educational leadership and the continuous improvement of student learning outcomes.

Congratulations to Sr Catherine Slattery sgs

Congratulations also to Sr Catherine Slattery sgs (pictured right) who was awarded the 2022 Brother Kelvin Canavan Catholic School Leadership Award at the Catholic Schools NSW Education Law Symposium last week.

Chosen for her prophetic leadership, Sr Catherine was recognised for her extensive contribution to Catholic education, and, in particular, her work to sustain and promote the charism of Good Samaritan Education.

Sr Catherine worked for over 25 years in schools across NSW and Queensland as a teacher and administrator, and is well-remembered as the principal of Ryan Catholic College in Townsville, St John the Evangelist Catholic High School in Nowra and St Patrick's College in Campbelltown.

In accepting the award, Sr Catherine recognised “the many mentors, guides and fellow pilgrims along the way of Catholic education who invited me to share this privileged journey”.

“Catholic Education is enriched by the charisms of many religious orders, much like the facets of a diamond, each reflecting a different aspect of the divine,” she said.

“Each of these religious congregations has a valuable legacy and much to offer the nation through Catholic education.”

Top left: Catholic Schools NSW director of education policy Danielle Cronin. Top right: Indigenous education advisers from Townsville Catholic Education: Janelle Knack, Tammi Webber and Krista O’Connor. Below: NCEC Executive Director Jacinta Collins with the ACEL National Award recipients. Photos: ACEL
Sr Catherine Slattery sgs photo courtesy of the Sisters of the Good Samaritan.

St Anthony’s Early Learning Centre, St Thomas Aquinas Preschool and St Thomas Aquinas Preschool outdoor area.

The NCEC Early Childhood Education Network Group met at the Catholic Education Office, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn last week and visited two early learning centres co-located on primary schools in the diocese: St Thomas Aquinas Preschool West Belconnen, and St Anthony’s Early Learning Centre (ELC) Wanniassa.

The St Thomas Aquinas Preschool is a purpose built state-of-the-art early learning centre for children aged four years. The centre allows children to play and learn in welcoming and sustainable outdoor spaces and indoor environments designed to meet the individual needs of children.

The early learning centre and the primary school work closely together to provide children with a strong play-based learning foundation and transition programs. Small group and one-on-one intervention support programs are provided for children that need additional help. The pre-school encourages children to follow their interests and to respect and take care of their local environment.

St Anthony’s (ELC) provides a strong focus on Catholic ethos and values as the main principle for developing the child. Religious education is strongly embedded throughout the curriculum through play-based learning experiences.

The ELC caters for children from six weeks to six years and also operates as a long day care. St Anthony’s has a strong focus on sustainability, and the children are able to play and experience open-plan outdoor spaces, sensory gardens including a vegetable garden, a worm farm and participate in an active recycling program.

ACU pro chancellor Virginia Bourke, Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM and ACU vice chancellor Zlatko Skrbis. Photo courtesy of ACU.

Aboriginal elder, educator and artist Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM has received a Doctor of the University (Honoris Causa) from Australian Catholic University. 

The honorary doctorate recognises Miriam Rose's authentic servant-leadership and her contributions to new understandings of Indigenous art and spirituality, and their importance to the Catholic tradition. 

ACU awarded Miriam Rose the honorary degree at a ceremony on 5 October in Sydney, following the respected Aboriginal activist’s first trip to Europe to attend the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. 

“It feels very humbling to be acknowledged for my lifetime achievements,” Miriam Rose said.

A Catholic Aboriginal woman from Nauiyu near the Daly River community of the Northern Territory, Miriam Rose spent the majority of her life “walking between two worlds”.

“Growing up, the nuns had taught me to learn about how westerners lived so I could learn to walk in two worlds,” she said.

Her teaching career started in the classroom, when her teacher discovered she could read and offered her a job as an assistant teacher. That same teacher encouraged her to take up university training in education. In 1975, Miriam Rose became the first fully qualified Aboriginal teacher in the Northern Territory.

In 1993 she was appointed principal of St Francis Xavier School in Daly River, a role she held for 13 years.

“Teaching about culture, art and spirituality has led me to have some incredible experiences and opened up opportunities I would never have dreamt of as a young teaching assistant,” Miriam Rose said.

“Education can take you places far beyond what you can imagine.”

Read more via the ACU website.

NCEC commissioner and principal of St Scholastica’s College Kate Rayment, Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM and St Scholastica's head of boarding Libby Molony.

Catholic education and community leaders came together this week to share perspectives and best practices that allow Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and families to thrive.

The Transforming with the Spirit Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Education NSW State Conference, held in Leura, was co-hosted by Catholic Schools NSW and Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta. 

The Minister for Indigenous Australians Linda Burney MP, speaking at the conference, announced the re-establishment of a First Nations Education Council to be led by Federal Education Minister Jason Clare MP and Professor Peter Buckskin from the University of South Australia.

Minister Burney also announced that all Indigenous children will be able to access 36 hours of subsidised childcare a fortnight from July 2023. Additionally, 60 primary schools, including Catholic schools, will be eligible to receive funding and resources to teach Aboriginal languages.

Other initiatives included working towards a new Early Childhood Care and Development Policy Partnership between all Australian governments and First Nations people, more boarding schools on Country in partnership with Studio Schools Australia, and scaling up proven reading programs to accelerate First Nations students’ literacy outcomes.

Minister Burney told delegates that the Federal Government is committed to making a real difference on Closing the Gap on education outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. She noted that the Catholic Schools NSW Aboriginal Education Strategy aims to see increases in enrolments, retention and post-school transitions as well as improvements in numeracy and literacy and NAPLAN results.

“But importantly, it also aims to see improvements in wellbeing outcomes and better understanding of the histories, cultures and experiences of Aboriginal people,” Minister Burney said. “These are important factors in making schools welcoming, supportive environments for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children.”

State manager policy and programs for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education at Catholic Schools NSW, Sharon Cooke, said the conference was about strengthening relationships and creating opportunities for young people to thrive.

Julie Waddell who leads the Jarara Aboriginal Education Centre at Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, said the conference was the next stage in leading the way to embedding authentic cultural understanding.

NCEC's acting deputy executive director Joanna Mackie said the time together provided an excellent opportunity for reflection and discernment for the NCEC's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander network group.

"It was an opportunity to share in a growing understanding of the contribution we can all make to reconciliation and healing," she said.

The conference concludes with a face-to-face meeting focusing on the development of the workplan for the NCEC's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander network for the next two years. The work plan connects directly to the NCEC strategic priorities, Closing the Gap targets and the recommendations of the Plenary Council.

Read more

Picture above right: NCEC's faith formation and religious education officer Laura Avery and NCEC acting deputy director Joanna Mackie with Dr Miriam Rose Ungunmerr Baumann AM at the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Catholic Education NSW State Conference.

National director of Catholic Mission, Fr Brian Lucas, speaking at the 2022 National Catholic Education Conference.

A greater emphasis on ‘belonging’ may be one way to address the drift from religious adherence post-school, according to Catholic Mission national director Fr Brian Lucas.

Speaking at the 2022 National Catholic Education Conference last month, Fr Brian said the often quoted three dimensions of religiosity – belonging, believing and behaving – are useful tools to analyse where the emphasis is placed in religious formation of young people.

"Believing emphasises catechesis, doctrine and a stronger faith, while behaving emphasises ritual and a moral code," he said.

Fr Brian referred to research conducted by the German Sociologist of Religion, Linda Dürrich, Pew Research Centre, and Gallup Poll Research.

“The conventional wisdom is, ‘believing leads to belonging’, that is, the deeper one’s faith is, the more likely it is that he or she will desire to belong to a congregation. The reality is just the opposite: It is belonging that leads to believing,” he said.

"The mandate of Catholic Mission, as the Australian arm of the Pontifical Mission Societies, goes beyond fundraising for the churches that are fragile, persecuted and in need, to the formation of missionary disciples."

Fr Brian outlined the formation programs of Catholic Mission and their connection to missionary discipleship. A distinguishing feature of the Catholic Mission approach to immersions is that the young people are to be with others not do things for them. It is peer‐to‐peer witness and engagement.  

Read more

Funding extension for Victorian tutoring programs
The Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Ltd (CECV) has welcomed the extension of state government funding to employ tutors to support students to get back up to speed with learning.
CECV executive director Jim Miles said the Victorian Government's extension of the Tutor Learning Initiative would deliver around $25 million in 2023 to eligible Catholic schools to assist identified students, primarily through small-group tutoring opportunities. Read more

Catholic Mission Engagement with schools
Catholic Mission is seeking to engage Catholic school communities, including staff, students, and families, in global works of mission. Their programs and activities are centred around what can be achieved via effective school community engagement: Form in Mission; Pray, Advocate, Act; and Fundraise; supported by six activity pillars: Staff Formation, Student Formation, Community Partnerships, Immersions, Socktober, and Workplace Giving. Learn more

On October 22 we celebrate the Feast Day of St John Paull II.

Lord God,

We pray that you might stir up in us that fire of charity with which St John Paul served your people.

Aided by your grace, he gave himself unceasingly to your Church.

May we imitate his good example now and always.

Through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Source: Holy Cross Catholic Church