CEB Staff Newsletter #28 - 1 September 2023

Announcement of Appointment - Ss Michael & John's, Horsham

 We are pleased to announce Mrs Louise Chesterfield as the new Principal of Ss Michael and John’s Primary School, Horsham from the beginning of the 2024 school year.

Louise has been a member of the Ss Michael and John’s school community since 1997 and has taken on numerous leadership positions during this time, including being a member of the Executive Leadership Team since 2011. She has led the school in multiple areas including Learning Diversity and Wellbeing, Deputy Principal and Acting Principal. Louise was also seconded to fill in as Acting Principal at Nhill on occasions when required. Louise has previously held a Diocese position as a member of the Ballarat Diocesan Wellbeing Standing Committee since 2017, which is now called the now the Children and Young People Safeguarding and Wellbeing Consultative Committee.

Her experience, leadership skills and dedication to education will be a great asset to the school community.

The Season of Creation 2023

Let Justice and Peace Flow. 

The Season of Creation runs from September 1 - to the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi on October 4. It is a time set aside each year to focus on God’s gift of creation and our responsibility to care for it, our common home. 

In recent years, Pope Francis has issued a message for the World Day of Prayer for Care of Creation on September 1. His message for 2023 is available here.

In 'The world and us' Fr Andrew Hamilton SJ writes about how during this Season of Creation we are called to remember that we do not own our environment but are part of a delicate and interlocking set of relationships – an article worth reading.

Changes to Credit Card & Reimbursement Procedures – NAB Flexipurchase

We are implementing the NAB FlexiPurchase system to streamline credit card transaction processing and reporting within DOBCEL and our schools. As a test run, the DOBCEL office will commence a pilot TODAY, prior to roll out in schools.

As the FlexiPurchase system will replace existing procedures for staff reimbursements and not only credit card procedures, all staff will receive an email to set up a FlexiPurchase log-in. The same log in will be used for both Credit Card holders, reimbursement requests and manager approvals for both types of transactions.

While user guides are available, Michelle Leonard and Jordan Smith can also assist staff with navigating the FlexiPurchase platform and completing submissions of credit card or cash reimbursement transactions, and for managers on reviewing submitted staff transactions for approval.

User guides:

• FlexiPurchase App - Instructions
• FlexiPurchase Manager Approval Guide 2022
• FlexiPurchase Transaction Coding & Cash Expense Guide 2022

Article submitted by Jordan Smith.

'Professional Learning Event' Calendar 2024

A reminder to please send Susan Crowe the required documentation for professional development for 2024 with your proposed dates. As has been the usual practice over the years, if there are clashes with suggested dates, Susan will speak to personnel concerned and try to find dates that suit all.

Please use the attached template and guidelines to assist with your applications.

This information is required by Wednesday 13 September so enough time is given to collate and organize the calendar and ensure no clashing exists with the DOBCEL/CEB events. Before proposing dates, do consider Church events such as Ash Wednesday, Catholic Education Week etc., as schools wish to keep these days free for their prepared celebrations.  

Article submitted by Dr Susan Crowe.

People & Development Update

DOBCEL Staff Wellbeing Survey 2023

You are invited to take part in the DOBCEL Staff Wellbeing Survey 2023. 

This survey will take 5 minutes of your time with the objective to assess and quantify the information already gathered during research, consultations, and workshops. Your response to this survey will contribute to the development of DOBCEL’s Staff Wellbeing Framework. 

Please note that this survey is not intended to replace or replicate other wellbeing surveys currently used in Schools or the CEB Office, such as Insight SRC, iPulse surveys, ReLATE, Culture Amp, and others. 

• DOBCEL Staff Wellbeing Survey 2023

Article submitted by Tania Lund.

CEB Support for Higher Education – 2024

Higher education study support is designed to promote ongoing professional learning of the individual and in support of a high-performance culture aligned to our strategic directions.  

Higher education study support is offered for higher education studies in an approved course of relevance and benefit to the person’s role and career at Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB) or the wider DOBCEL community.   

CEB employees can apply, on an annual basis, for financial support towards higher education and study leave for approved courses of study by the end of August each year using the CEB Higher Education Support Application. In 2023 the process for 2024 applications is now open until Friday 29 September 2023.  

If you are considering studying next year, have a chat with your Team Leader before completing an application form. Applicants will be informed of the outcome in writing in writing by the end of the 4th week of term 4.   

For more information, including how to apply, refer to CEB Higher Education Study Support Operating Procedure on Knowledge Banks or click here or contact on Fiona Murphy.  

Please note - This is a separate provision to the DOBCEL Sponsorship: Higher Education Studies in Religious Education, Theology, and Catholic Educational Leadership Policy which is designed to specifically promote higher education studies in religious education, theology and educational leadership. It recognises that higher learning in these areas is an important element of contemporary Catholic leadership and teaching that will enhance the Catholic identity and the learning across our diocesan education community, ensure effective learning outcomes for students and support leadership succession. For more information refer to this operating procedure policy on Knowledge Banks. 

CEB Employee Enrichment Scholarship 2024

We invite eligible Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB) employees to apply for an Enrichment Scholarship. Up to four Enrichment Scholarships will be available to CEB employees in 2024.

Further information regarding the Enrichment Scholarship, eligibility and how to apply are outlined in this memo.

Applications for the Enrichment Scholarship 2023 should be submitted via email to Fiona Murphy by Friday 29 September 2023.

Articles submitted by Fiona Murphy.

Staff Good News Story

As an opportunity to connect and get to know each other better, we are introducing a ‘Staff Good News Story’ article to the Friday CEB newsletter!

Sharing a victory, big or small, offers not only inspiration but also a glimpse into one another’s passions and strengths. Whether it's a personal achievement such as winning a sports final, or a professional achievement such as, gaining a new qualification - we would love to hear it!

If you feel comfortable sharing, please email Marketing & Communications with a short description of your accomplishment/news alongside any photos.

Leah Crough - ACU Graduate

OHS Coordinator, Leah Crough recently completed her Graduate Certificate in Occupational Health, Safety and Environmental Management.

We offer huge congratulations to Leah, her hard work and dedication not only resulted in finishing with a HD average, but she was also named dux in her final unit!

Despite this massive achievement, Leah says "the real wow factor of it was that I squeezed it in whilst working full time as well as juggling mum life!"

Fiona Murphy - Run Larapinta

Last week, Fiona Murphy, Manager: Organisational Development, flew to Alice Springs to take on a 4 day, 4 stage trail running race along the iconic Larapinta Trail.

Tackling 128km in the NT heat, Fiona has shared her incredible journey below.

"It was called Run Larapinta, it’s a popular trail running race and has a limit of 200 competitors so it is tough to get an entry into. I've been training most of the year for it as it is on tough, technical terrain with lots of elevation. I did it with a friend and we wore matching outfits on the trails and were quickly known by many as the pink ladies, in our matching pink tshirts, hats and sunnies.

Run Larapinta is over 4 days, running different stages of the Larapita trail in the MacDonnell ranges, NT. The first stage was a night run (surprisingly (or not!) it is very very dark in the desert at night and I took a tumble) and the three other days were running (or shuffling due to the terrain and elevation!!) during the heat of the day. It really wasn’t a run sometimes and it was unlike any other crazy run or extreme endurance event I have ever done. This was mountaineering, orienteering, rock climbing, map reading (getting lost a few times!), plenty of rock hopping and shuffling along – it was hardcore and there were plenty of moments where I didn’t actually think I could make it to the finish line on day four! A lot of the terrain we ran on is only accessible by foot or helicopter. On the second day there was an aid station at the top of a mountain where water was helicoptered in for participants to access!

In an extreme event like this, the spirit of humanity really prevails. There are no egos out there – everyone is helping out everyone else, there is so much comradery, so much positivity and you forge close relationships with people quickly, for survival, but also because you are experiencing an event that so few people get to experience and you form an unspoken bond. The views were amazing, the terrain out of this world, but I think what was so special was the achievement; what it took for every person to get there, the mental toughness everyone had to show and the demons we all had to overcome to get to the finish line every day.

It was such a great experience for so many reasons and I'm so glad I have had the opportunity to tick it off my list – not sure I’d be up for the challenge a second time around though! It certainly was a challenging run!"

Staff News

Next Wednesday 6 September we will farewell Chinmayi (Riya) Alturi at a morning tea in the Ballarat Office for all staff able to join us. Riya joined our ICT Team in August 2022 and has developed many relationships with colleagues as she has worked to resolve our day-to-day IT issues. 

Riya is moving on to pursue the next stage of her career and she goes with our thanks and very best wishes for the future. An Outlook invitation to the morning tea will be sent out so please indicate your availability for catering purposes.

Article submitted by Jo Huntley.

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

Catholic Education Ballarat Vacancies:

• Psychologist – ongoing position at 0.8 FTE (closes 15 September)

Article submitted by Sarah Hanley.