CEB Staff Newsletter #45 - 21 February 2025
- Staff News
- Leaders Gather for Sense-making, Mass and Commissioning
- A Community of Practice with Dr Shiralee Poed - CEB staff welcome
- Psychology Student Placement
- Choir of Hard Knocks comes to Ballarat supported by Catholic schools
- People & Development Updates
- Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Staff News
Welcome Rebecca (Bec) Petrie - Psychologist
We are pleased to announce that Rebecca (Bec) Petrie has accepted the advertised psychologist position which was created following Allan Hutchison’s departure from CEB. Bec will take on a full-time psychologist position to be based out of the Ballarat office.
Bec comes to us with professional experience which began at Damascus College as a teacher, progressed to a counselling role at Damascus, then following qualification as a psychologist, to the role of Psychologist at St Patrick’s College. Following some time in private practice, Bec has for the past four years worked at Berry Street as a Clinical Team Leader & Senior Psychologist
Bec comes to us with strong recommendation, and we look forward to welcoming her to the Wellbeing Team as part of the Psychology Team which currently consists of Tegan Bell and Ellen Dowie (Ballarat), Danielle Buzaglo (Warrnambool), Patrice Rickard (Horsham), and Lisa Robb (Mildura).
Collecting 10-Cent Refundable Cans and Bottles to support Rebecca Brodie!
We have some very proud parents in the SIMON team!
Year 11 student at Loreto College, Rebecca Brodie (daughter of Kevin Brodie and Stephanie Porter), has qualified to represent Victoria in the Hammer Throw at the 2025 Australian Junior Track and Field Championships.
In an effort to contribute to the cost of event entry, travel to and from Perth and accommodation, Rebecca is collecting 10c refundable cans and bottles.
CEB staff are invited to place empty cans and bottles in a box in the lunchroom of the Ballarat office (see pic below!).
If anyone would like more information on Rebecca and her hammer throw journey, feel free to drop by the SIMON area for a chat with Stephanie or Kevin.
Rebecca at the 2024 Australian Junior Track and Field Championships in Adelaide.
Support Rebecca by putting your refundable cans and bottles in this box in the Ballarat office lunch room.
Lost Property Items Must Go!
Have you lost a pair of glasses, a drink bottle or case for your glasses? If so, please take a look in the lost property draw in Elena's area in reception. The draw has a green and white label which clearly states 'Lost & Found'.
Some of these items have been sitting in the lost property draw for a very long time!
Items will be donated to the Salvation Army if they are not collected ASAP.
Footy Tipping 2025 is here – Let’s Kick off the Fun!
Round 1 is just around the corner (March 6), so whether you're a seasoned pro or a first-time tipper, we’d love to have you join us!
The competition is open to all staff, regardless of who you’re supporting!!
Log in, sign up, and get ready to fine-tune your tipping skills (or just trust your gut!), as we make this season unforgettable. It’s all about the fun, the bragging rights, and, of course, the glory of claiming that first-place spot!
The entry fee is $20 cash, due to Nadia by Round 2.
To register, follow this link: CEB football fanatics 2025
If you prefer not to participate this year, please let me know.
Get involved, stay competitive, and let the footy banter begin!
Leaders Gather for Sense-making, Mass and Commissioning
Thanks to all CEB staff who participated in a very successful Diocesan Leadership Gathering (DLG) in Horsham this week.
Principals and the CEB team were joined by Pasi Sahlberg and Dave Runge to continue to 'make sense' of the new DOBCEL Strategy 2035 - Pursuing fullness of life for all, and how we can best work together to take our schools from 'good to great' over the next decade and beyond.
With the new strategy's emphasis on collaborative cultures, a highlight of the DLG was sharing of short videos of 'excellent practice' across our schools and offices.
New Principals in the diocese, and colleagues who have commenced new positions in 2025, were welcomed and Commissioned by Monsignor Glynn Murphy and Executive Director, Tom Sexton at a Mass at Sts Michael's and St John's Church in Horsham yesterday.
Welcome to new Principals: Lisa McDonald (Interim - St Joseph's, Penshurst), Danny Franc (Interim - St Joseph's, Coleraine), Chris Prockter (Acting - St Mary's, Sea Lake), Jaci Commons (Our Lady Help of Christians, Wendouree), Catherine Howison (Marian College, Ararat), Melissa Sutherland (St Paul's, Mildura), Julie Leonard (St Mary's, Warracknabeal), Greg Kluske (St Joseph's, Mildura).
DLG - Term 1
A Community of Practice with Dr Shiralee Poed - CEB staff welcome
Associate Professor, Dr Shiralee Poed - Recipient of the 2023 International Positive Behaviour Award.
CEB staff, get ready for an exciting opportunity! You're all welcome to attend Dr Shiralee Poed's engaging session, "A Community of Practice - Where Collaboration Leads to Shared Success," on 23 April 2025!
This dynamic session is aligned with our DOBCEL Strategy 2035 and promises to showcase how schools can connect, share ideas, and enhance collaboration.
Get inspired as Shiralee presents to a vibrant group of Principals and educators from St Coleman's, Mortlake, St Mary's, Ararat, St Thomas', Terang, and St Patrick's, Camperdown.
This is your chance to network, learn, and be part of a transformative experience that prioritises deeper collaboration among our schools.
Don’t miss out! Click here to view the details for Dr Shiralee Poed's "A Community of Practice" poster and mark your calendars for this event.
Psychology Student Placement
This week we have welcomed Stephanie Snelling to the CEB Ballarat office to commence her La Trobe University provisional psychologist placement.
Stephanie will work from the office on a Monday and Tuesday with CEB Psychologist Tegan Bell until the final week of July.
Embracing our Catholic identity, we passionately strive for the fullness of life for everyone, and collaborate with a number of tertiary institutions to support student placements.
Best wishes to Tegan and Stephanie as they work together, and may their collaboration help illuminate Stephanie’s understanding of the vital work of psychologists across our schools and diocese.
Please make Stephanie feel welcome!
CEB Psychologist Tegan Bell (left) and La Trobe University psychology student Stephanie Snelling (right)
Choir of Hard Knocks comes to Ballarat supported by Catholic schools
Sharing Our Voices is an inspirational afternoon of song, community and resilience in a joint collaboration between local organisation ‘Jimmy’s Allsorts’ and the award winning ‘Choir of Hard Knocks’, proving that “adversity will never win”.
The Choir of Hard Knocks is thrilled to be performing in Ballarat on Sunday 2nd March at St Patrick's College, in the brand new state of the art Performing Arts Centre, sharing the stage with a combined Ballarat Schools Children’s Choir.
Our very own DOBCEL schools Siena Catholic Primary School, Lucas, St Patrick’s Primary School, Ballarat and Lumen Christi Primary School, Delacombe, will be taking the stage with this extraordinary choir!
The Choir of Hard Knocks, now in its 19th year, is an iconic story of humanity, connection and celebration in the face of adversity. The Choir is credited with being the only artist in Australian music history to have won a Logie, ARIA and Helpmann award in the same year.
This exciting concert seeks to raise funds to support two dedicated organisations engaged in transformative, hope-filled work - the Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute and the Choir of Hard Knocks.
For more information see the flyer below.
Get your tickets here.
People & Development Updates
Leadership Development - Program Offerings for Term 1
Throughout 2025 a number of leadership development opportunities will run to support the implementation of the DOBCEL strategy 2035 and the development of our leaders.
During term one, the following opportunities are offered.
Feedback - Facilitated by BTS Sparks
| Date, time & location | March 6, Sovereign Park Motor Inn, Ballarat 1:00pm - 4:30pm |
| Program overview | Feedback plays a crucial role in the development of collaboration skills. The focus of this program is shifting mindsets from –
|
| Target Audience | This program is designed for current people leaders – eg: Early Career Principals, Deputy or Assistant Principals, members of school leadership teams and is also suitable for aspiring people leaders and CEB staff. |
| Booking Link | https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1342196 |
| Cost | $275 |
For further information please click here.
(Minimum participant numbers apply for the program to run)
Collaboration - Facilitated by BTS Sparks
| Date, time & location | March 6, Sovereign Park Motor Inn, Ballarat 9:00pm – 12:30pm |
| Program overview | The focus of this program is to deeply understand what collaboration means and how to bring the best version of yourself to collaborate. It focuses on shifting mindsets from –
|
| Target Audience | This program is designed for current people leaders – eg: Early Career Principals, Deputy or Assistant Principals, members of school leadership teams and is also suitable for aspiring people leaders and CEB staff. |
| Booking Link | https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1342190 |
| Cost | $275 |
(Minimum participant numbers apply for the program to run)
For further information please click here.
Click here to view the full list of leadership development opportunities for 2025.
If you have any questions related to Leadership Development opportunities please contact Fiona Murphy.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
CEB Positions
Principal Vacancies
- Sacred Heart School, Casterton – Applications close 23 March