I hope you all enjoyed the National Catholic Education Conference as much as I did. It was wonderful to be able to come together after six years to celebrate and realise our vision for a national gathering and the opportunity to connect and learn about our ongoing work together for the students in Catholic schools.

We had nearly 1500 attendees at the conference and a great diversity of topics and sessions from our speakers and presenters which made a very rich and thought-provoking three days.

I’d like to thank all those who attended live in Melbourne and virtually, as well as our students, parents, religious and clergy, our partners. sponsors and exhibitors, and all who helped bring the conference to life.

Special mention to the organising committee from the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools and the National Catholic Education Commission, the subcommittees and working groups and the dioceses of Ballarat, Sale and Sandhurst and their schools, and Encanta Event Management for their hard work and involvement over many years.

I also thank the Archbishop of Melbourne, Peter Comensoli for his support for hosting the conference in the Archdiocese of Melbourne and for the joyful Eucharist celebration at St Patrick’s Cathedral followed by a Pilgrimage Walk. 

Thank you to our Chair, Nicholas Moore and commissioners, and the Chair of the Bishops Commission for Catholic Education, Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher OP, who encouraged us to continue with a national conference following the delays and disruptions of the past few years. 

Archbishop Anthony's cooking segment with student Lucas and teacher Richard McGuire from Catholic Regional College, Sydenham, on the essential ingredients in the recipe for successful Catholic education, was certainly a highlight.

It was a conference full of energy, connection and inspiration to help us meet the challenges and opportunities in Catholic education now and in the future.