CEB Staff Newsletter #31 - 20 September 2024

Staff News

Acting Executive Director 

Effective Wednesday 18 September through to Wednesday 16 October, Megan Ioannou will take on the role of Acting Executive Director whilst Tom Sexton is on his Canada/UK trip.

For any matters during this period for the Executive Director office, please continue to liaise with Tina Munro.

Student Wellbeing Team change 

Student Wellbeing Team Member Mel Frost has accepted a Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader (MHWL) role at St John's, Dennington at 0.4FTE commencing January 2025. Mel will be resigning her full-time position with DOBCEL as of January, 2025.

The Mental Health and Wellbeing Leader role is one which is progressively being rolled out across local government regions as part of the Mental Health in Primary Schools (MHiPS)  initiative. Mel’s current role has included supporting schools in the implementation of the MHWL role which means she is well placed to pilot such a role in schools. Accepting a part-time role also opens possibilities for Mel to fill similar roles in other schools or to continue her work in a part-time role at CEB. We are supporting Mel as she works through these options and look forward to exploring the possibilities that might emerge.

We offer our congratulations to Mel. Working in the area of student mental health and wellbeing is not only a strength of Mel’s but also a passion and she will surely be a great asset at St John’s.

Speech Pathology Team change

Rachael Elhay has accepted a CEB Speech Pathologist position (0.5FTE) to commence in December with some induction and orientation tasks in readiness for commencement of work with schools in 2025. Rachel will be based in the Warrnambool office working primarily in our Southern Zone schools. Rachael comes to CEB having recently completed her registration requirements. The addition of Rachael to the Speech Team will strengthen the diverse service offerings of the Speech Team which range across all tiers of intervention.

We are very excited to have Rachael joining our team and we are sure you will welcome her in the new year at our January meetings. 

Welcome Tom Kernick

We are delighted to announce the following appointment:

Tom Kernick will commence as Emergency and Risk Management Advisor in the Ballarat Office. Tom comes from the Pyrenees Shire Council, Beaufort where he has been the Health, Safety and Wellbeing Officer.

Tom will commence this Monday 23 September.

You're invited! - All Saints Portland 175th Dinner Invitation 

The oldest school in the diocese, All Saints, Portland will mark its 175^th anniversary with a series of events from 17-20 October. Please see details in the invitation below.

Please note: The QR codes in the images below have been enlarged, please use those if it is too tricky in the actual poster images to access the QR Codes.  

End of term video on our social media platforms!

This morning, DOBCEL shared an end of term video across our Facebook, Linkedin and Instagram pages !  

Please comment, like and share the videos with your networks, friends and family! The video highlights the important work our teachers and staff do in our schools, across all aspects of Catholic education. 

Office window decals preparation

While CEB staff are at the Horsham Formation days, the glass within the office will receive a treatment. Those leaders with furniture up against the glass are asked to please clear your desks so that they can be moved back from the windows on the afternoon of Tuesday 1 October. Your support with this is appreciated. 

CEB Staff Formation Days - Important UPDATE information

You should have received an email from Elise Hart regarding your accommodation in Horsham for the October 2 and 3 Staff Formation. If you have not received an email, please contact Elise as soon as you can.

For those attending, we ask that you have your mobile phone with you for an interactive session, but you are not required to bring a laptop for either day. Dress code is smart casual.

DOBCEL is committed to enhancing employees' understanding of our mission as a Catholic institution grounded in the Gospels. This year our formation in Catholic Identity for all CEB staff will take place in Horsham at the Church of Christ facility. The focus of this year will be on recognising our 150 years as a Diocese and will be facilitated by members of our own team in collaboration with DOBCEL Director, Sr Berenice Kerr and Dr Teresa Brown of ACU. 

This process of formation is ongoing and reflective, aimed at personal and communal growth through lived experiences, spiritual awareness, and theological insight. Our Formation will respect the diverse religious and spiritual perspectives within our team. While we educate about Catholic identity, we do not require conformity to a single perspective. These days in Horsham are designed to encourage dialogue, and help build a shared understanding of the Catholic identity that grounds our work.

The planned agenda for the two days can be found here. It is subject to change as content is finalised in the coming weeks, but the start and finish times are fixed so attendees can plan their travel accordingly. 

WHERE

Our Staff Formation venue is Church of Christ in Horsham (https://www.horsham.org.au/) and accommodation is across a range of motel providers in town. Elise Hart will share accommodation arrangements by email this week and next. If you have not received an email, please let Elise know. 

For those who wish to participate in evening liturgy on Wednesday, all are most welcome. It will take place prior to dinner at St Michael & John’s Catholic Church, 13 McLachlan St, Horsham at 6.00pm.

DINING

Morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea will be catered on-site. On Thursday a take-away lunch will be provided. Dietary requirements have been considered.

CEB’s all staff dinner will be on Wednesday night at the Horsham Golf Club, 304 Golf Course Road Haven. We are meeting from 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.

Please source your own breakfast on Thursday morning. Either charge back to your room number or obtain a tax invoice and submit a claim through Flexipurchase for reimbursement. You can familiarise yourself with the meal allowance guidelines here. 

We strongly encourage you to book a table at your preferred venue as there will be a lot of staff descending on a few places. Calling ahead will help the café staff be prepared and help you get to Formation on time.

TRANSPORT

Too few people requested a seat on a shuttle bus between Ballarat and Horsham, so we will no longer be providing this service. We will be in contact with those individuals to support alternate travel arrangements.

We are in the process of organising transport between Horsham Golf Club and a central point near accommodations. Further information to follow.

We strongly encourage staff to car-pool where possible and practicable.

THE DRESS CODE

Smart casual dress code.

SOCIAL JUSTICE UPDATE: Laudato Si' in action

Social Justice Reflection

Jesus said, 

“Blessed are the peacemakers, 

because they will be called sons of God” (Matt. 5:9) 

Into a world that is ugly with violence and hate, 

Jesus sends us as peacemakers. 

2024 Global Peace Day Theme: Cultivating a Culture of Peace

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the United Nations General Assembly’s adoption of the Declaration and Programme of Action on a Culture of Peace. In response to the Bishops Social Justice Statement 2024-2025 - TRUTH & PEACE: A Gospel Word in a Violent World, we are called to be peacemakers, but what does this mean in our troubled world, where 1 in 7 people are estimated to have been exposed to conflicts so far in 2024, in a world where 50 countries rank in the index categories for extreme, high or turbulent levels of conflict, Palestine, Myanmar, Syria and Mexico holding the highest positions in the ACLED Conflict index and with a 15% increase of in political violence incidents recorded in the past 12 month period. (Source: https://acleddata.com/conflict-index/) 

The meaning of peacemakers

So what did Jesus mean by peacemaker? A working definition of a peacemaker is someone who is actively seeking to reconcile people to God and to one another. Let’s look closely at the word peacemaker. Easily we can see that this compound word is composed of two very common words: “peace” and “maker.”

The word peace is the Hebrew word shalom. Often used as a greeting word or a departing word in much the same way we would utter “hello” or “goodbye,” it is a broad term related to health, prosperity, harmony, and wholeness. It means perfect welfare, serenity, fulfilment, freedom from trouble, and liberation from anything which hinders contentment. When a Jew said “Shalom” they were wishing on another the full presence, peace, and prosperity of all the blessedness of God. 

It is important to remember that peace in the Bible is always based on justice and righteousness. Where justice prevails and righteousness rules, there you will also have peace. But without those two virtues, lasting peace is not possible.

The word "make” in the term “peacemakers” comes from the Greek verb that means “to do” or “to make.” It is a word bursting with energy. It mandates action and initiative. Someone has to drag the combatants to the table and give them a reason to put down their arms. Notice Jesus did not say “Blessed are the peacewishers or the peacehopers or the peacedreamers or the peacelovers or the peacetalkers.” Peace must be made. Peace never happens by chance. A peacemaker is never passive. They always take the initiative. They are up and doing.

So when these two words are taken together, “peace” and “maker,” it describes one who actively pursues peace. The peacemaker pursues more than the absence of conflict; they don’t avoid strife (in fact, sometimes, peacemaking will create strife); they aren’t merely seeking to appease the warring parties; they aren’t trying to accommodate everyone. Instead, they are pursuing all the beauty and blessedness of God upon another. As William Barclay translates this verse, “They are people who produce right relationships in every sphere of life.” (Source: Rick Ezell, January 1, 2014 Sermon: Being a Peacemaker - Matthew 5 | Lifeway) 

Called to Action: #PeaceDay - tomorrow!

Upcoming significant Social Justice & Ecological Events:

• International Day of Peace: September 21
• Refugee and Migrant Sunday: September 29
• Feast of St Francis of Assisi: October 4

Leadership Development - Pilot Program offerings for 2024

In 2024, significant progress has been made on the co-creation of the DOBCEL strategy 2035, as well as the development of a DOBCEL competency framework focused on school leadership. While the final detail of this work is still being refined, we have an emerging sense of what the results will be.

To ensure that future leadership programs are aligned with our strategic direction and provide the opportunity to develop the right skills and behaviours, a series of pilot leadership workshops are being offered in 2024.

These programs are designed to build capability in areas aligned to our strategic direction with the intention of integrating these programs into a more comprehensive leadership development calendar in 2025.

Cost - $0

Each of these programs will be run as a pilot program with the costs of the program covered by DOBCEL.

As part of attending the program, all participants agree to provide their identifiable feedback on things such as the program's contents, effectiveness, and suggestions for improvement. Participants will be asked to provide feedback at the conclusion of the workshop and may also receive follow-up contact after the workshop for further feedback.

Workshop 2 – Feedback-Championing a feedback culture – Thursday 24 October 9:00 am–12:30 pm

Sovereign Park Motor Inn – Courtyard Conference Room – 223 Main Rd Ballarat

Link to register - https://www.trybooking.com/CVDUO

Workshop 3 – Collaboration – we are better together – Thursday 24 October 1:15 pm  – 4:45 pm

Sovereign Park Motor Inn – Courtyard Conference Room – 223 Main Rd Ballarat

Link to register - https://www.trybooking.com/CVDXH

*You can sign up for only workshop 2 or workshop 3 on 24 Oct, or both workshops to make it a full day of professional development. You are welcome to sign up for all workshops.

Click here for further details on the workshops

Facilitators – BTS Spark

BTS Spark are a not-for-profit organisation specialising in leadership and development in the Education Sector.  They partner with schools, universities, education departments, professional associations and leadership institutes to support thousands of education leaders each year.

For further details on this please contact Emma Baldwin, Organisational Development Advisor or Fiona Murphy, Organisational Development Manager.

Staff Enrichment Scholarships 2025

Eligible Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB) employees are invited to apply for a 2025 Enrichment Scholarship (up to $5000). Up to four Enrichment Scholarships may be available to CEB employees in 2025.

Eligibility

Subject to a recommendation by a review panel, a period of enrichment leave may be granted by where the applicant:

• has completed five years (or more) of continuous service with CEB
• continues to be an employee for the 2025 school year
• willing to access their accrued annual leave or long service leave to attend/participate in the Enrichment opportunity
• has not previously accessed other enrichment leave entitlements
• has not recently received CEB support for significant professional development or immersion/study tour; and
• agrees to pay any Fringe Benefits Tax associated with the Enrichment Scholarship

[Members of the Leadership team are ineligible for this scholarship].

The Scholarship

The intent of the Enrichment Scholarship is a commitment to:

• professional and spiritual renewal supporting capability and growth
• enhancing wellbeing through opportunities for reflection, renewal, and learning; and
• aligning enrichment opportunities with CEB strategic priorities.

The Enrichment Scholarship provides for up to $5,000 for directly related costs.  In addition to program costs, the Enrichment Scholarship can be used in support of travel, accommodation and meal costs related to the program or event. 

Successful applicants agree to use their accrued annual leave or long-service leave entitlements while participating in their nominated enrichment program.

Click the link below for more information and application process.

Sponsorship and Accreditation to Teach Religious Education or Lead in a Catholic School

In line with DOBCEL policy re Sponsorship for Higher Education Priorities, if intending to undertake study for Accreditation to Teach Religious Education or Lead in a Catholic School, the following courses are recommended for sponsorship support: https://dobcel.catholic.edu.au/prof-learning/sponsorship/

NB. Diocesan sponsorship for all courses closes October 25^th

1. The Graduate Certificate in Teaching Religious Education (GCTRE) provided jointly by Yarra Theological Union (YTU) and Catholic Theological College (CTC); see the flyer with details here.

The GCTRE is an online course. If this course is your choice, please apply for Diocesan Sponsorship first and once confirmed, register for the GCTRE via details provided in the flyer. CEB will be bulk billed for this course, there is no up-front payment. 

2. The Graduate Certificate in Religious Education provided by ACU

The GCRE is an online course. If this course is your choice, please apply for Diocesan Sponsorship and once confirmed, register for the GCRE; see the flyer with details here.

3. REAP (RE & Pedagogy)

Is a face-to-face course for Accreditation to Teach Religious Education or Lead in a Catholic School and on completion of the study the participant receives a Graduate Certificate in Religious Education (GCRE).

REAP does not have an online option. This face-to-face, supported learning, facilitated by ACU takes place at Aquinas in Ballarat across a Friday and Saturday, twice a semester (dates still to be set). As with the GCRE, there are four units of study with two units undertaken per year. Sponsorship is available for REAP.

If you have already committed to the REAP course to commence in 2025 with Gina Bernasconi, there’s nothing more you need to do for now. Gina will contact you re Diocesan Sponsorship and enrolment with ACU.

This REAP option is still available and if you want to join REAP, please email Gina on the email address below: gbernasconi@ceoballarat.catholic.edu.au

For other priority courses please see the DOBCEL website under Professional Learning/Sponsorship for course links.

CEB Support for Higher Education – 2025 Applications Open

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 using the CEB Higher Education Support Application.

In 2024 the process for 2025 applications is now open until Friday 27^th September 2025.

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

For more information including how to apply refer to CEB Higher Education Study Support Operating Procedure on policy central or click here.

Note this is 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 or policy on Policy Central.

Professional learning opportunity!

"Understanding the reportable conduct scheme in an education setting."

Adam Foster – Employment Lawyer - Colin, Biggers and Paisley supports clients to navigate the changes and issues that arise as legislation changes, ensuring they have best practice policies and procedures in place and are compliant from a regulatory perspective. When problems or disputes arise, Adam's clients value his calm, decisive manner and strategic approach. He has been described as a 'workplace problem solver’, and enjoys helping his clients find solutions to improve workplace relationships to the benefit of the business and its employees.

With the introduction of the Reportable Conduct Scheme in 2017 Adam has become acutely aware of the importance of informing education staff of the scheme, its broad application and the importance of setting professional boundaries to enhance self-care in schools’ settings.

Adam will deliver 4 online sessions for DOBCEL staff in relation to the Reportable Conduct Scheme and its application in an education setting.

Target audience:

 All levels of school staff with a particular focus on teachers, LSOs and support staff working with students.

Delivery – Online

When

1. Tuesday, 8th Oct 2024

2pm to 3.30pm

https://www.trybooking.com/CVGIF

2.  Thursday, 10th Oct 2024

10am to 11.30am

https://www.trybooking.com/CVGIC

3. Wednesday, 16th Oct 2024

2pm to 3.30pm.

https://www.trybooking.com/CVGI

Session content is relevant and important to all levels of staff. Whilst individual staff registration is essential, consider options for staff to attend in pairs or groups to encourage conversation and ongoing reflection opportunities. 

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

CEB

School Capital Planning Officer (closes 6 October)

Principal positions

Principal Our Lady Help of Christians School - Wendouree (closes 4 October)

Principal- Sacred Heart Primary School Colac - Colac (closes 29 September)

Principal- St Patrick's Primary School Camperdown  - Camperdown (closes 20 October)

Principal - Sacred Heart Primary School Casterton - Casterton (closes 14 October)