CEB Staff Newsletter #14 - 10 May 2024

From the Executive Director - CEW and Appointment of EA

CEW thank you and congratulations

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to all who helped organise such an exceptional CEW Awards Mass and Dinner last Friday. It was truly a wonderful evening and your hard work was evident in every detail.

I congratulate those in the CEB offices who reached the remarkable milestone of 30 years of service to Catholic education. Justin McInerney, Tim O’Farrell, Jacqueline Pierce, Maria Richards, Mark Vanderkley and Jim Waight, I thank you for your profound and ongoing commitment to Catholic education and to guiding generations of young people over the past three decades.

I also wish to recognise the outstanding service and leadership of Kevin Brodie, Breeana Wade, Brooke Nester, Mark Vanderkley, and the Religious Education Curriculum Team, all who were nominated across various categories in the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards.

Thank you once again to all who worked to make the night so special.

Appointment of Executive Assistant to Executive Director

I am delighted to announce that Tina Munro has been appointed to the role of Executive Assistant to the Executive Director.

Tina brings vast experience, including in Catholic education, and most recently as EA to Deputy Director - Catholic Education, Matthew Byrne, for the past year.

I’m sure you will all make Tina welcome in the role.

A recruitment process will commence shortly to fill the role as EA to the Deputy Director: Catholic Education.

With best wishes

Tom Sexton
Executive Director, Catholic Education Ballarat

Neuro Affirming Languages

Wanting to learn more about  Neuro-affirming language?

 Are you interested in extending your thinking around neuro-affirming language? On offer to all CET staff are several engaging ways of learning .  One is to attend a 45-minute online session with Summer Farrelly who is an autistic 17-year-old inclusion advocate, education consultant, public speaker, animal behaviourist, creator and facilitator of an animal assisted learning program. Please see several links to learn more about her below;

• Summer's Facebook
• Summer's Instagram

Other opportunities available are to attend the workshop only or attend the workshop and to engage in any of the following;

• pose questions for our guest speaker, Summer, to answer during the workshop (please email to Ashleigh Graham, Kate Sadler or Monique Ryan by 20 May)
• complete some pre workshop reading, listening and viewing (this will be provided once you register)
• complete some post workshop reading, listening and viewing
• choose an accountability partner to commit to ongoing change in ensuring you are using inclusive language

Please see attached a flyer with this information and a link to register. Please remember to email any questions you wish asked to Summer by 20 May to either Ashleigh Graham, Kate Sadler or Monique Ryan.

National Reconciliation Week Morning Tea

National Reconciliation Week (NRW) is a time for all Australians to learn about our shared histories, cultures, and achievements, and to explore how each of us can contribute to achieving reconciliation in Australia. This year’s theme reminds all Australians that Now More Than Ever, the work of reconciliation continues. Whether through truth-telling, understanding our history, within education, or by challenging institutionalised inequity, we can be instrumental by being champions of reconciliation. There are many ways we can do this in our workplaces, communities, homes and social settings.

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK MORNING TEA
CEB staff members and visitors are invited to a morning tea to celebrate 2024 National Reconciliation Week. The Ballarat office will host theirs in the staff room on Friday 31 May at 11a.m. Details of potential celebrations in other offices will be forwarded once organised.

For catering purposes, please RSVP Helen Christensen or Jeanette Morris by 4p.m. Friday 24 May, noting any dietary requirements.

NATIONAL RECONCILIATION WEEK RESOURCE DOCUMENT
A resource document has been created for schools that may prove valuable in understanding the journey of reconciliation. Please join in local and state activities as this is a week for all Australians to celebrate!

People and Development Update

2024 CEB Pulse Survey

To follow up on the 2023 Employee Engagement Survey, a pulse survey will ask for feedback on communication, which was the main area to improve. The 2023 feedback said that better communication across CEB (as explained below) would help everyone feel more engaged and positive. 

A summary of the feedback related to communication includes: 

• Having crucial conversations (including the giving of and listening to feedback provided). 
• The flow and connection of information (vertically and horizontally).  
• The spirit of communication, including partnering and presumption of good intent. 

You can read further details about the feedback on communication here. 

The pulse survey provides another opportunity to ensure we are on track and progressing with actions from the 2023 Engagement Survey and to provide feedback. 

The survey will open on Monday 13 May and close on Friday 24 May. 

Is my feedback anonymous?  

Absolutely! The survey is administered by Culture Amp on a secure website and information is securely collected and kept by Culture Amp. Individual responses will be part of a larger team and organisational reports and there is no way to tie responses back to individuals. 

What happens next?  

The survey is administered by Culture Amp. On Mondy 13 May, you will receive an email invitation from ajones@dobcel.catholic.edu.au via Culture Amp inviting you to participate. It should only take approximately 5 minutes to complete. 

Click here for more info on the Pulse survey and accessing your Culture Amp account.  

If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Fiona Murphy.

Flourish Wellbeing e-Magazine – May 2024

The May 2024 edition of Converge International’s Flourish Health and Wellbeing eMag is now available.

Featured Articles:

• National Sorry Day
• Family & Domestic Violence
• Conflict Resolution in the Workplace
• The Volunteering ‘Feels’
• Managing Personal Issues in the Workplace
• The Wellness Wave hits the Pet World
• Beyond the Noise
• And more!

For more information about the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) visit Converge International website.

Catholic Identity and Mission Update

Modern Slavery - Slavery Happens Here

"I have come that you may have life and have it to the full."
JOHN 10.10

Laudato Si’ - 

• Response to the Cry of the Earth
• Ecological Economics
• Adopting Sustainable Lifestyles
• Ecological Education
• Community Resilience and Empowerment

Modern Slavery Snapshots
Modern day slavery exists throughout the world and in Australia today. It has a different face to what many people may imagine, but the outcome for most is very similar. They are often trapped in poverty and have little chance of education.

The following six snapshots show the contemporary face of human trafficking and slavery here and overseas. (Names have been changed to protect identities.)

• Rani is 17 and attends high school in Melbourne. When her parents said they were taking her overseas to marry a man she had never met, she thought she had no option but to comply. When ACRATH spoke at her school, she learnt about her legal right to choose her own husband and to avoid a forced marriage. 

• Fatima was a housekeeper at a consulate in Sydney. She fled after being enslaved in the consulate for months. She received no wages. ACRATH is linking her with a pro bono lawyer to explore her legal options. 

• Han is a construction worker who worked on a building site in Canberra for many months. His trafficker disappeared with the wages owed to Han and his co-workers. ACRATH is working with unions to address this.

• Lin is a woman trafficked into sexual exploitation who thought she would earn a lot of money working in Australia. Instead when she arrived she was told she owed her trafficker $50,000. An ACRATH member is offering companionship to Lin as she recovers.

• Manu is a young teenager who was trafficked from his home country into a cocoa plantation in west Africa, the source of about 75% of the world’s cocoa. ACRATH actively promotes slavery-free chocolate, tea and coffee, especially through the slavery-free Easter chocolate campaign.

• Samreen was badly injured when in April 2013 the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh collapsed, killing 1,136 poorly paid garment workers, mostly female, and injuring more than 2,500. Workers from Rana Plaza have told media that they had pointed out large cracks the day before, and that clothing subcontractors insisted the workers re-enter the cracked building or lose their jobs. The subcontractors had agreements with Australian and other global companies to make garments to be sold cheaply in countries like Australia. Australian clothing labels were found in the debris of the collapsed building. ACRATH is part of a network that is having some success as it campaigns to ensure Australian companies importing clothing from Bangladesh sign the Bangladesh Fire and Building Safety accord.
  Source: ACRATH

"Nobody has the right to treat you as her or his slave and you should not make anyone your slave."
Article 4 United Nations Declaration of Human Rights.

Laudato Si’ Action:
Watch the short documentary, Modern Slavery - A Different Lens by Monash University.

After watching the documentary, consider the following: 
Exposing Modern Slavery - Slavery isn’t something relegated to the past. It’s happening today, and it’s happening under our noses. 40.3 million people are currently in some form of modern slavery, such as child labor, slave labor, forced marriage, sexual slavery and people trafficking. So how do we hold people and states responsible?

Sometimes the answer isn’t as simple as criminalizing these acts. In many cases it’s also a societal or family issue, which complicates the motivations for victims to report their situations. It begs the question: 

• How do we stop the exploitation of people?
• Would you pay an extra 21 cents for a t-shirt?  
• What ethical purchasing decisions can you change? 

To find out more head to Unmasking the hidden face of modern slavery – Monash Lens 

Upcoming significant Ecological Events:

• Wednesday 1 - Friday 31 May 2024 Mindful in May (month). For further information see the Mindful in May website: Mindful in May
• Saturday 11 May 2024 World Fair Trade Day. Caritas - Human Trafficking + Modern Slavery+Fair Trade 
• Sunday 12 May 2024  Mother’s Day
• Wednesday 15 May 2024  International Day of Families
• Thursday 16 May 2024 International Day of Living Together in Peace
• Sunday 19 - Sunday 26 May 2024  Laudato Si’ Week

Caritas Australia Resources for  Laudato Si Week 2024 – 19-26 May
New Laudato Si’ Week resources are now available to download here.

Caritas have taken care to provide a primary school, secondary school, and parish version of their Laudato Si' Week resources, all available on their website.  

• Monday 20 May 2024 World Bee Day
• Thursday 30 May 2024 Laudato Si’ Event hosted by ResourceSmart Schools and Earthcare

ResourceSmart Schools have been working directly with the Earthcare team to develop the upcoming webinar event. You are invited to join them on Thursday 30 May, 4:00pm to 5:00pm, to hear more about the Earthcare and ResourceSmart Schools and the synergies between these two amazing programs.
Learn how these programs support and enhance each other, and the leadership and learning opportunities they provide for your students.

Guest speakers include:

• Alice Carwardine, Catholic Earthcare Coordinator
• Inga Hamilton, RSS Facilitator
• Alison Lappin, Our Lady of the Nativity PS (Aberfeldie)
• Michaela Davies, St Angela of the Cross PS (Warragul)

To find out more and register for the vent, follow this link.

Staff News

Tania Lund has tendered her resignation as Staff Wellbeing and Engagement Advisor, effective 24 May. 

Since joining CEB in August 2022, Tania has been a valued member of the People and Development Team, contributing to numerous projects, including the staff engagement survey, managing yearly flu injections, R U OK Day Initiatives, and launching the CEB Footy tipping competition. 

Many of you may be aware that Tania’s husband recently started working interstate, and balancing work commitments and spending time with family has posed a challenge. After much consideration, Tania has made the difficult decision to prioritise her family and pursue a better work-life balance, and she will be taking leave to visit Matt ahead of her conclusion date. 

We are grateful for Tania’s contributions, kindness, and sense of humour throughout her time with us. She goes with our very best wishes for the next adventure.

A search for Tania’s replacement will commence shortly.

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

Catholic Education Ballarat

• Emergency and Risk Management Advisor - Ballarat Office – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 19 May)