CEB Staff Newsletter #6 - 1 March 2024

Stewardship Update - Policies

The following policies, procedures and associated documents have now been finalised and ratified. 

The documents are now available through Knowledge Banks. Any enquiries regarding any of these documents, or implementation processes, should be directed to Policy Administrator. 

Assurance & Risk will be releasing ‘Policy Central’ for use by CEB staff in the coming weeks.  Policy Central will allow users to access all policies through SharePoint, with the added functionality, which SharePoint allows, which includes sorting into categories, review dates and reporting.  Notification and instructions will be provided to staff to access Policy Central when it is released. 

• Corporate Credit Card Policy and Procedures [DOBCEL] (updated) 
• External Financial Audit Policy and Procedures [DOBCEL] (updated) 
• Fraud Prevention & Reporting Policy and Procedures [DOBCEL] (updated) 
• Fundraising in Schools Policy and Procedures [DOBCEL] (updated) 
• Primary Schools Recurrent Grant Distribution Policy and Procedures [DOBCEL] (updated) 
• Procurement & Purchasing Policy and Procedures [DOBCEL] (updated) 
• Small & Remote Schools Incentive Policy and Procedures [DOBCEL] (updated) 
• Excursions, Camps & Travel Policy and Procedures [DOBCEL] (updated)
  • Excursions, Camps & Travel Procedures [School Template] (new)
• Emergency & Critical Incident Management Policy and Procedures [DOBCEL] (updated)
• Risk Management Framework [DOBCEL]
• Student Suspension Negotiated Transfer & Expulsion Policy and Procedures [DOBCEL] (updated)
  • Student Suspension Negotiated Transfer & Expulsion Procedures [School Template] 

Below is a brief summary identifying the main requirements for each of these policies and procedures, to assist with their effective and efficient implementation. 

Visitors and Catering to Ballarat and Warrnambool Offices

A reminder to please ensure that you email the relevant staff listed below, should you have guests and/or catering arriving at either the Ballarat or Warrnambool Offices.

Ballarat – reception@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Warrnambool – go'brien@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

This will assist Administration staff when multiple meetings are occurring.

International Women’s Day Breakfast – Damascus College

Damascus College is hosting a 2024 International Women's Day Breakfast Q&A event, on Friday 8 March, 7.30am-8.30am. 

This Breakfast Q&A will include a free continental breakfast and a panel of three guest speakers: 

• Sr Veronica Lawson, Sister of Mercy & Biblical Scholar 
• Ange Jones, Catholic Education Ballarat, Assistant Director, People & Development 
• Julie White, Director of Environmental Evolution & Training Facilitator Extraordinaire 

This event is a great way to celebrate the women in our community and support a higher purpose. Let’s work together to collectively forge a more inclusive world for women.  

Registration is essential via this link: https://www.trybooking.com/CPSKX 

CEB Ballarat Staff begin their preparation for the Olympics

Ballarat based CEB staff took the opportunity to refine their lawn bowling skills on Tuesday evening at the Webcona Bowling Club, further down Gregory St.   

It was a great social event for those who were able to attend with the right mix of sport, food and drinks enjoyed by all – the Brodie/Porter family were dominant in their prowess on the grass, with all other participants trying to keep up.   

Thank you to Ange van Berkel for her organisation of a lovely evening.   

Harmony Week Event - You’re Invited!

Harmony Week in Australia is taking place from Monday 18 - Sunday 24 March 2024. 

It is the celebration that recognises our diversity and brings together Australians from all different backgrounds. It’s about inclusiveness, respect and a sense of belonging for everyone.  

On Friday 22 March at 6.30pm, there is a Harmony Week Event in Ballarat, called “A Taste of Shanghai!” Authentic culinary delights from Shanghai including a presentation of what life is like living in one of China’s biggest cities will take place on the night. 

This is a fundraising event for Jimmy’s Licorice Allsorts Cycling Team, which is participating in The Murray to Moyne Cycling Relay. Two CEB team members Brendan Chalmers and Jim Waight are a part of the team riding from Echuca to Port Fairy in just over 24 hours raising funds for research at The Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute. 

For further information about the night see https://jimmyallsorts.gofundraise.com.au/cms/purchase-tickets-2

57 Squat Challenge: Raising funds to support the National Breast Cancer Foundation

Following on from last year’s Mother’s Day Classic where CEB staff member Kerrie Zammit and a friend raised over $1000 for the National Breast Cancer Foundation, this year they have signed up for the 57 Squat Challenge! 

Having both experienced a loved one battle this insidious disease, they are eager to help raise funds for all those women and men, their families and friends, who have been touched by this disease. 

If you are able, and would like to support by making a donation, please use this link Here

2024 CEB Football Fanatics AFL Tipping Competition

We would like to invite (reinvite) colleagues who are interested in participating in the 2024 CEB footy tipping competition.

Details below:

For new participants click on this link to register (or QR code via the attached flyer)

For existing 2023 participants, just log in to your existing account and start tipping (check you are under the CEB Football Fanatics competition). You may have already received a reminder email from ESPN.

Refer to the attached flyer which has all the information about the competition.
Contact Tania Lund if you have any questions.

Social Justice Update

Coffee Cups 

Australia loves its coffee, but can we love our environment too? 

Today’s article is a rather lengthy one, but it is strongly encouraged that you take the time to read through the entirety of the article, as the Catholic Social Teachings See-Judge-Act process is introduced, and we practise walking through this process in relation to our relationship with the single use coffee cup. 

Laudato Si’ Principal 

The Adoption of Sustainable Lifestyles is grounded in the idea of sufficiency, and promoting sobriety in the use of resources and energy. Actions could include reducing waste and recycling, adopting sustainable dietary habits (opting for a more plant-based diet and reducing meat consumption), greater use of public transport, active mobility (walking, cycling), and avoiding single use items (e.g. plastic, etc.).  

Leading a sustainable life means more than being a responsible consumer. It is a question of living based on a commitment to the environment and making little changes to our daily lives. When we consider our own sustainable lifestyle we are actively helping to preserve the planet for future generations.  

At the start of the biblical story, we are called to “serve and observe” the creation (Genesis 2.15). But sometimes we don't know what to observe or how to serve the land and creatures that surround us. So, how can we walk through this Lenten season as co-custodians of creation? 

In Catholic Social Teachings, we are encouraged to adopt the See-Judge-Act method when considering ecological ecology and our adoption of sustainable lifestyles. This process helps us to stop, stand back from a situation and reflect on it before we jump in and take action. In addition this helps us to develop critical judgement about situations, events and structures, and often the three stages overlap and intermingle. 

See - consider…. 

1. What is happening?
2. Who are the people involved?
3. Who gains from this situation? Who loses?
4. What is the situation doing to people?
5. Why is it happening? Why does it continue? 

Judge: Analyse & Theological Reflection consider… 

1. How do you feel about this situation?
2. Have you ever behaved or acted like anyone in the situation? If so, what happened? Why? How did you and/or those involved feel?
3. What do you think should be happening?
4. What does your faith say about it?
5. What does our Pope say about it? 

Act - consider… 

1. What can we do to bridge the gap between what is happening (the reality) and what should be happening (the ideal/what our faith says)?
2. What action are we going to take?
3. Who can we involve in our action? 

This week we are going to walk through this process together

This Week’s Exercise -  

Act: An Ecological Fast for the Earth: Lent 2024 

Considering all you have just read or discovered, you are encouraged to reconsider your actions when it comes to single use coffee cups, or other single use items you may be in the habit of using.  

What can you do to save these single use items from landfill? 
How can you help close the loop by refusing or recycling single use coffee cups and other single use items? 

1. Think reusable first - KEYS. WALLET. PHONE. KEEP CUP.
2. When single use is unavoidable, recycle it via the Coffee Cup Collection Unit, or a 7-Eleven store near you!  

Changing habits can be hard, but we have the chance to rewrite our story.  
Your choices matter. 

The SoupBus requires donations

Can you help? The SoupBus cupboards are pretty bare! The following items are urgently needed!  

Canned meals with ring tops (Tom Piper etc); small tins of tuna; chunky soups; canned fruit; pasta; pasta sauce; 420g tins of spaghetti; cereal; Milo; sugar; Nescafé in the large size; long life custard (onelitre); muesli/snack bars.  

Please ensure that all tins have ring pull tops. 

Any contributions are greatly appreciated and can be dropped off to Andrea Warr for donating. 

Staff news

Gabrielle McKinnis   

Gabrielle McKinnis has tendered her resignation, effective Friday 15 March. Gab commenced with CEB in March 2023 as the Finance and Fleet Officer, and we will miss her terrific contribution to the Finance Team both personally and professionally.  

Gab is taking on a role with WFI Insurance and we wish her well in this new endeavour.  

Simon O’Brien 

Simon O’Brien has resigned from his position as Assurance and Compliance Advisor with DOBCEL, effective immediately. We are sorry to be farewelling Simon, but we are supportive of his wish to follow his passions and explore further opportunities.  We acknowledge Simon’s terrific collegiality and contribution to our office since 2017 and he goes with our thanks and best wishes for the next adventure. 

We know that many of you will be sorry to have missed out on the opportunity to farewell Simon in our usual manner; however, Simon has asked that we convey his sincere gratitude to colleagues, particularly those who have become friends over the years.  He is retaining his mobile number and would welcome a call to catch up at any stage. 

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

Catholic Education Ballarat

• Payroll Officer – location at any DOBCEL office (Ballarat, Warrnambool, Mildura, Horsham, Swan Hill) – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 3 March)  
• Administration, Finance and Fleet Officer – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 March)  

Article submitted by Sarah Hanley.