CEB Staff Newsletter #39 - 1 December 2023

Office Closure and Gifted Leave

Please see the flyer below for information regarding office closure dates and gifted leave.

Updated Professional Learning Activity Process

The Professional Learning Activity Process suite of documentation has been updated to ensure all professional learning activities are planned considering the DOBCEL/CEB Calendar, meetings and other professional learning activities.

All professional learning activities require the approval from the Deputy Director Stewardship or Deputy Director Catholic Education following endorsement from their Manager/Team Leader-who will map the activity against the DOBCEL/CEB calendar.

The updated documentation suite has been uploaded to Knowledge Bank/Forms for use when convening a professional learning activity.

• PL Activity Process
• PL Event Request Form
• PL Event Flyer Template

PL Requests previously submitted and endorsed will progress to the Deputy Director led approval process and convenors will be advised when activities have been approved.

RAP Working Group Update

What lengths would I go to to achieve a just world?
Could you maintain a position of love in the face of indifference?
What is worth working for?

When our RAP Working Group met on Wednesday they considered these questions in light of the Gospel of the day (Luke 21:12-19) in which Jesus gives his disciples a warning that their discipleship will come at a cost. They will not always be accepted and will even face persecution. Jesus also seeks to comfort the disciples by promising that maintaining their mission would eventually bring them fullness of life.

The Gospel writer's intent was partly to reach the listeners in first century communities in front of the text, whose lived experiences would have included rejection, disappointment and even persecution.

When reading the words of the Gospel there was one line that stood out; ‘Your endurance will win you your lives’. Connecting it back to the Kev Carmody and Paul Kelly masterpiece From Little Things Big Things Grow, the line attributed to Vincent Lingiari; ‘No thanks, we know how to wait’ epitomises the struggle for First Nations people over many years. Nothing has happened quickly and nothing worthwhile has been done without struggle.

The recent referendum left many who support the cause of Reconciliation with a sense of hopelessness, but we can take heart from Jesus’s words, that in the face of that difficulty our RAP is an opportunity for us to bear witness to what we hold sacred. Our RAP may be a small thing, but from it big things can grow. We must persist, we must endure, to ensure that the Reconciliation movement continues to rise and hearts continue to open.

The minutes of the meeting are available to be read here.

Article submitted by Joe Ewing.

Gillies Street - Office Chairs

Please be advised that the old red and green office chairs in the Gillies St office are due to be replaced over the coming weeks.

If you happen to have an attachment to your old red or green chair, please let Penelope Irish know so that we do not replace it, otherwise they will all be swapped out when the new ones arrive.

Once the new chairs have arrived the old red and green chairs will be relocated to the shed in the car park, where staff will have the opportunity up until the Christmas shutdown to take these home for personal use on a first in basis.

Access to the shed will be made available via Reception.

If you have any questions, please contact Penelope Irish via email or ph. 0429 473 351.

Article submitted by Ash Wiseman.

Reminder - Mildura Service Centre Parking

A friendly reminder about the car parking requirements within the precinct of the Mildura Service Centre, some carparks are for specific users as identified in the following map:

Article submitted by Ash Wiseman.

CEB Christmas Giving Initiatives

As we approach the Christmas season, we take a moment to reflect on the true spirit of Christmas.  Christians celebrate the Christ child who is God who has come among humankind. For Christians, God’s gift of this great love is remembered and celebrated with joy. Christians share this gift of great love through the gifting of themselves in many shapes and forms from actions to physical gifts and donations.

In the Church’s year, the Season of Christmas is preceded by the Season of Advent which is a season of preparation for making oneself ready for the coming of the Christ child. The first day of Advent this year is the 3 December, this is traditionally when Christmas trees and decorations are put up. We, like Ballarat City Council, and many others in our Diocese have started the Advent spirit early! While Advent is a four-week period, we only have a limited time to collect donations for the charity we support this year,  in order for the donations to be distributed where most needed.

Each year, staff members from our Catholic Education Offices do wonderful things by donating and contributing to local charities across our zones. This year, the charities being supported across the Diocese include, (but not limited to):

• St Vincent de Paul
• Christian Emergency Food Centre
• ‘Share the Dignity’ – Bags for Dignity Christmas campaign
• Non-perishable donations for local charities

This year, the Ballarat Office will be supporting St Vinnies, Wendouree, via a gift giving tree. For those who would like to participate, purchase a gift card of any value at an organisation of your choice and place it in the red giving box situated at the front of the office (Gillies Street end) near the P&D pod.

Alternatively, cash donations can be made and we will purchase a gift card on your behalf. Once you have donated, please take a Christmas Giving Card which is beside the giving box, and place on the Christmas tree in the staff room, to acknowledge your gift.

Please ensure any donations are made by Wednesday 13 December 2023.

The Warrnambool Office will continue their tradition of donating non-perishable goods to their local charity. Donations of non-perishable goods will be collected in the kitchen. The other smaller Diocesan Offices are doing a combination of Christian Emergency Food Centre and ‘Share the Dignity’ – Bags for Dignity Christmas campaign.

Staff can participate in any of the Christmas Donation Programs across the Diocese.

We understand that each of us has varying financial capacities at this time, so you are encouraged to contribute at a level comfortable for you. All donations will directly impact the lives of individuals and families, making their Christmas a little brighter.

Join us in these meaningful initiatives throughout our Diocese as we come together to create positive change in our communities.

“Christmas is a ray of light for all, because it reveals to us God’s love and makes us feel the presence of Jesus with everyone, especially with those who are suffering.” - Pope Francis

Any questions please contact Tania Lund, Staff Wellbeing and Engagement Advisor.

Catholic Identity and Mission Update

Faith Formation

Please find a special invitation for an Adult Faith Formation being given By Bishop Paul Bird during Advent.

Article submitted by Kate Lawry.

Shifting views of Israel and Palestine

Are you ready to learn from insights, and about constructive actions going on behind the scenes between Palestinians and Israelis?

Teresa Pirola, a long-time student of Israel has something to say into this space. Have a look as well for what Teresa suggests we can do to help!

Eureka Street - Shifting views of Israel and Palestine

ECSI 101

This might be exactly what you’re looking for – only you didn’t realise it till now! ECSI 101! (Enhancing Catholic School Identity 101).

Also known as, Aggiornamento Series in Open Learning ECSI 101.

ECSI 101 is spaced learning offered by Prof. Robyn Horner and Dr. Teresa Brown from ACU. It’s for beginners, you don’t need to have any ECSI knowledge, you don’t need to be in the Religious Education classroom – and there are no essays! It commences in April 2024.

ECSI 101 offers “small bites of theological conversation for people with questions”, Please click here for details. Feel welcome to contact Gina Bernasconi if questions remain for you.

Festivals

Right now, our world is being challenged on every front, and so with an open mind, it might be helpful to consider significant religious and secular festivals that can hold so many of us together in the best ways at this time.

Remembering too, that this time of the year can leave many feeling alone; maybe we can do something about that within our own spheres of influence?

Click here for more.

Articles submitted by Gina Bernasconi.

Central Zone Mass - Ballarat Diocese

CEB staff are invited to join colleagues from Central Zone Primary and Secondary School communities to celebrate the beginning of the 2024 school year with mass at St Patrick's Cathedral. Further details can be found below.

For those who do not work in the Ballarat Office you might like to enquire how your local community is marking the start of the year.

Article submitted by Jo-Anne Bond.

Culture Amp 12 Month Self-Reflections

A reminder that the 12 month self-reflections for the CEB offices are open and should be completed by December 15 2023.

Each person has received an email from Culture Amp (notifications@cultureamp.com) containing a link to complete the self-reflection. You can access your self-reflection via the email or by logging into your Culture Amp account. The link to the self-reflection is located on the home page.

Before completing your self-reflection, you should update the status of your goals. Once you’ve completed the self-reflection, submit it to your team leader; and expect to have a meeting to discuss your reflections.

The 12-month self-reflection meeting aims to ensure an opportunity for conversation to affirm and reflect on your 2023 achievements and provide space to discuss any development and growth opportunities.

The self-reflection meeting is also a good time to discuss your goals for 2024.

• For instructions to update the status of goals and complete the self-reflection click here.
• For team leaders click here for instructions.

If you have any questions about Culture Amp please speak with Fiona Murphy or Tania Lund.

Article submitted by Fiona Murphy.

Christmas/New Year CEB Finance Office Closure

In line with office closure the CEB Finance Office will finish on Thursday 21 December 2023 and re-open on Monday 15 January 2024.

Any invoices, staff reimbursements and school payments that require payment prior to office closure must be received by Accounts Payable by close of business Monday 11 December 2023 to be processed by Tuesday 19 December 2023.

Any invoices, staff reimbursements and school payments received after Monday 11 December 2023 will be processed for payment during the week of 15 January to 19 January 2024.

Please email all authorised invoices, staff reimbursements and school payments to accounts@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Article submitted by Michelle Leonard.

CEB Payroll – Advanced Processing

In line with the upcoming office closure, please find below deadlines and information regarding the upcoming pays over December and January. If you have any questions, please email Payroll.

Any changes to deductions, banking, superannuation, or taxation details will also have the same cutoff time as leave entries and approvals.

Salary Packaging files from Smart Salary and Paywise have also been requested early, if you have any planned changes to your Salary Packaging arrangements, please get in contact directly with either Smart Salary or Paywise AS SOON AS POSSIBLE so it can have every possible chance of making it into the correct pay.

Leave Notes:

• Please ensure leave is entered and approved in ELMO by managers by 6pm on the date listed above to be included in the applicable payrun
• You do not need to enter Public Holidays or the Gifted Leave in ELMO
• Instructions on how to enter or approve leave in ELMO are on the ELMO home page just under “My Team”
• It remains managers responsibility to ensure all leave entries are entered into ELMO and leave balances are not exceeded

Casual Timesheets, Contract Variations, New Starters & Terminations Notes:

• Please ensure timesheets are approved and emailed to payroll@dobcel.catholic.edu.au by 10am on the date listed above
• Any changes to contracts, new starters or terminations, please ensure all the required details and documents are provided to People & Development in adequate time, allowing for the People & Development team to submit per the above deadlines

Remember, to ensure you are paid correctly and within the correct timeframe, as a CEB staff member it is your responsibility to ensure your leave is entered correctly and prior to the due dates. Anything received outside of the above deadlines will be actioned in the next available payrun.

Article submitted by Chris Young.