CEB Staff Newsletter #36 - 8 November 2024
Staff News
Farewell Allan Hutchison
Allan Hutchison has decided to conclude his time as a CEB employee. Allan will now add his remaining Long Service Leave entitlement to the Long Service Leave he had already planned for December 2024 and January 2025. This means that Allan’s last actual workday at CEB work will be Friday November 29, 2024.
Words will not capture the multi-faceted contribution that Allan has made to what we now know as DOBCEL – the schools, the students, the staff, the families, the community. The impact of Allan’s contributions over the past 23 years cannot be easily quantified. For many individuals, students and staff, their engagement with Allan has been life changing.
Allan’s presence, his integrity, his professionalism and…even his sense of humour!
From a Wellbeing Team perspective, Allan has played a pivotal role in establishing the theoretical, philosophical, ethical and spiritual foundations of the team and ensuring that we are focused on being the best version of ourselves to do the work we do.
Allan does not wish for any fanfare to mark his farewell. Please find your own time and space to pass on your thoughts to Allan.
Thank you Allan and best wishes to Mercia and your family.
Tony Perkins, Leader: Wellbeing.
[NB: Tom Sexton will speak in more detail about Allan's significant legacy in the diocese at the CEB staff dinner.]
DOBCEL Strategy 2035 – Executive Director Update to all staff
Please download the PowerPoint Presentation (PDF format). The recording can be accessed below:
Tom Sexton-DOBCEL Strategy 2035 update for all staff-20241108_085916-Meeting Recording.mp4
Changes to Professional Learning in 2025
We have updated and included guidelines for Professional Learning in 2025.
Click here to view the Professional Learning Steps 2025 PDF.
Please note: all professional learning activities, regardless of whether they require a TryBooking link, must submit a professional learning form for reporting purposes.
What’s exciting is we’ve transitioned to electronic forms!
You can also access these documents in the Professional Learning SharePoint folder: DOBCEL Professional Learning
Any questions please email: pl@dobcel.catholic.edu.au
2025 DOBCEL/CEB Meeting Calendar
Please click here to view the draft 2025 DOBCEL/CEB meeting calendar.
Due to the transition of VCEA from CECV, we are still waiting on dates for statewide committee meetings, which may require further adjustments to this calendar.
A final version will be released to CEB staff and Principals in December.
Please provide feedback to execdirector@dobcel.catholic.edu.au
DOBCEL Child Safe Standards update
As we prepare to roll-out a training program specifically for Learning Support Officers working in DOBCEL schools, our Child Safe Manager, Jacinta Cook talks about the importance of ongoing training in implementing Victoria’s Child Safe Standards.
English Curriculum Project Planning Day
DOBCEL works to improve secondary student outcomes in English
Yesterday, DOBCEL facilitated an English Curriculum Project Planning Day providing an opportunity for English subject teams to review and recreate their curriculum with a focus on mapping a developmental sequence of skills and knowledge for Years 7-10.
With the new English Victorian Curriculum 2.0 also presenting an opportunity for review, the teams participated in a series of workshops with the goal to build practices and curriculum for their own school settings.
The day was led by expert in the field, Kirstin Bourne, and built on professional learning opportunities over the past 18 months to enhance teachers’ knowledge of the pedagogy, curriculum and assessment required to improve student outcomes in years 7-10 in English.
A big congrats to Julia Petrov DOBCEL, Education Officer: Learning and Teaching for coordinating a successful event!
Photos from yesterday's English Curriculum Project Planning Day
People and Development
12-Month Self-Reflection/Annual Review Process - Now Open
A reminder that 12-month self-reflections for the CEB office are now open and should be completed by Friday 13 December 2024.
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 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 achievements in 2024 to date and provide space to discuss any support or development and growth opportunities required to ensure you deliver the goals set for 2025.
12-month self-reflections and meetings should be completed by Friday, 13 December 2024.
Instructions for updating the status of goals and completing the self-reflection can be found here.
If you have any questions about Culture Amp please speak with Emma Baldwin or Fiona Murphy.
Blended Work Arrangement
As we come to a close to the end of the 2024 School Year, the current Blended Work Arrangements (BWA) are due to expire.
All staff are invited to apply for a new Blended Work Arrangement for 2025.
To access a copy of the Operating Procedure, Health and Safety Checklist and Application Form please visit via Knowledge Banks. These resources will provide all the necessary information and guidelines for submitting the BWA application.
Applications must be submitted to Team leaders for approval, no later than 30 November 2024.
Please note, approval of a BWA request is conditional on the home office endorsement by the OHS Coordinator, Leah Crough.
For any queries or questions please contact Emma Baldwin.
Converge Branding Update
Our Employee Assistance Program (EAP)- Converge International has updated their branding.
A reminder of the available resources for all DOBCEL staff through Converge.
- Employee Mental Health and Wellbeing access- Flyers for all programs
- Support for Wellbeing through the Converge Wellbeing App
- Free Subscription to the Flourish Wellbeing E-Magazine
- Free Subscription to the Thrive Podcast
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
CEB
- Primary Education Officer: Structured Literacy Coach - Mildura, Swan Hill, Horsham, Ballarat or Warrnambool, fixed term (12 months) or secondment position at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 November)
- Strategy Implementation Manager - Ballarat Office, full-time, ongoing position, (closes 24 November)
Principal positions
- No vacant positions.