CEB Staff Newsletter #49 - 21 March 2025
- Staff News
- Australia’s biggest ResearchEd event
- Spirit of Catholic Education Awards 2025 -Recognise the Exceptional Work of Your Colleagues!
- ‘Our Stories Matter: Empowering Voice’ - Early Career Teachers (ECT) 2nd/3rd Year
- People & Development Updates
- Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Staff News
We are thrilled to welcome Sam Campbell as our new Manager: Risk and Assurance!
Sam brings a wealth of experience, starting with a distinguished career in the Australian Army, followed by impactful roles at Oxfam working in countries such as Afghanistan, India and Lebanon and Henerson Risk Limited, where they served as Operations Manager in Kosovo. More recently, Sam has contributed to workplace safety and risk management as Manager – Safety at Ararat Rural City Council and WHS Business Partner for Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation.
Sam will officially join us on Monday, 24 March, and will be based in the Ballarat Office. If you see them around, please take a moment to introduce yourself and extend a warm welcome!
Term 1 Staff Dinner and Meeting Arrangements 9 & 10 April
Tuesday 8 April
Travel - staff to make own dinner arrangements.
Wednesday 9 April
9.00am – 5.00pm - Team meetings
CET at Damascus College, Mt Clear; (morning tea and lunch provided) – meeting invitations will be sent from Leaders
Other Team meetings at CEB, Gillies Street (morning tea provided) - meeting invitations will be sent from Leaders
6.30pm – 9.30pm All Staff Stand-up (Cocktail Style) Dinner
The Garden Room, Oscars Hotel Doveton Street Ballarat Central – (Calendar invitation previously sent)
Thursday 10 April
Time to be confirmed - All Staff Meeting
Damascus Events Centre, Mt Clear (morning tea and lunch provided).
Meeting invitations will be sent for inclusion in your calendars.
Please complete this survey regarding your attendance and dietary requirements for the Stand-up (Cocktail Style) Staff Dinner at Oscars Hotel Ballarat on Wednesday, 9 April, and the Staff Meeting at Damascus College on Thursday, 10 April.
Please complete the survey below by 9:00 a.m. on Friday, 28 March, for organisational and catering purposes.
Staff Dinner & Staff Meeting attendance
Friday 28 March - Happy FriYay Drinks!
It's been a while, and the weather is turning! How about a drink and a chat after work on Friday?
It is a Friday so pop on your best floral and wear it to work for the day - Floral FriYay!
Feel free to bring a friend or family, pop in for a quick hello or stay a while (I think they close around midnight!)
There is no obligation, just an invitation to gather, buy yourself a drink and have a social chat with one another.
The Lake View will put $100 on the bar, which we will convert into finger food if more than a dozen or so turn up. To assist with numbers, please accept the invitation if you plan on attending.
We look forward to seeing you at the Lake View Hotel, 22 Wendouree Parade, Lake Wendouree from 4.40 pm on Friday 28 March!
Event Wrap-Up: Community Breakfast with Alana Forster
Last Sunday, the community breakfast for the Jimmy's Licorice Allsorts fundraiser, featuring Paralympian Alana Forster took place. Alana inspired us with her journey, having won the 2023 World Championship and earned a bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Attendees enjoyed egg and bacon rolls and Ballarat’s best coffee. Significant funds have been raised for The Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute, making a real difference in cancer research.
Thank you to everyone who attended, especially our volunteers and sponsors. We look forward to seeing you at our next event!
Congratulations to CEB staff members Brendan Chalmers, Tim O'Farrell, and Jim Waight from the local cycling team, Jimmy's Licorice Allsorts.
Matched Giving Day
The Jimmy's Licorice Allsorts Cycling Team are very excited to announce that this Sunday, 23rd March is our annual matched giving day!!!
One of our Ballarat sponsors, Southern Design RV are going to match all donations from 7.00am on the day.
It's a way to double your donation! For every donation that is made on Sunday Southern Design RV have generously agreed to donate the same amount to us on your behalf. This means for example if you donate $50, the actual amount we will receive for cancer research at The Fiona Elsey Cancer Research Institute will be $100.
If you might like to support 1 of the three CEB Allsort riders here are the links where donations can be made on Sunday!
Thank you for your interest!
Brendan:
https://jimmyallsorts2025.gofundraise.com.au/page/BrendanChalmers-70416885
Tim:
https://jimmyallsorts2025.gofundraise.com.au/page/TimOFarrell-73171121
Jim:
https://jimmyallsorts2025.gofundraise.com.au/page/JimmyWaight
Australia’s biggest ResearchEd event
Over the weekend, Emma Rutherford, Holly Southwell and Breeana Wade presented at Australia’s biggest ResearchEd event. As Education Officers for DOBCEL, they’ve worked with La Trobe’s SOLAR Lab to transform literacy instruction – scaling a grassroots project into a 10-year, system-wide strategy.
Their session highlighted how expert training, strong data practices & targeted support are driving real change in some of Victoria’s most disadvantaged schools.
Spirit of Catholic Education Awards 2025 -Recognise the Exceptional Work of Your Colleagues!
Nominate your colleagues and give them the recognition they deserve.
DOBCEL will continue to sponsor the awards program that honors outstanding service and leadership within our Diocesan school communities and the Catholic Education Office.
In 2025, have unveiled refreshed awards that align with our DOBCEL Strategy 2035.
This strategic alignment underscores our commitment to our vision: “As partners in Catholic Education, open to God’s presence, we pursue fullness of life for all.”
We encourage all staff to participate and help us recognise the remarkable contributions of our colleagues. Together, let's celebrate the dedication and excellence that enrich our community!
Nominations close Friday, 28 March, 2025.
For all the information, please visit the Spirit of Catholic Education Awards 2025 page on our website.
‘Our Stories Matter: Empowering Voice’ - Early Career Teachers (ECT) 2nd/3rd Year
DOBCEL remains dedicated to supporting our early career teachers, and this week, we welcomed 28 second- and third-year educators from across the diocese for a session titled ‘Our Stories Matter: Empowering Voice.’
The day featured an engaging agenda with presentations from CEB staff, including topics such as A Spotlight on Behaviour, Universal Design for Learning, Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Perspectives, and The Importance of Dialogue from a Catholic Perspective.
In the afternoon, workshops offered valuable networking opportunities for those navigating the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) process, helping them in their journey toward full registration. Another session focused on the importance of self-care.
Participants appreciated the chance to connect with their peers and left with practical engagement strategies to implement in their classrooms.
People & Development Updates
Have YOUR Say…Staff Engagement Survey March 2025
We are excited that our 2025 CEB Staff Engagement Survey is NOW OPEN CLOSES Monday 24 March
We have once again partnered with Culture Amp to facilitate this survey for many reasons, including a 100% guarantee of confidentiality.
The Engagement Survey will offer an opportunity for all staff across CEB, to pause, reflect and provide input into what we are doing well and focus on areas for improvement to support engagement and continue to create a positive workplace culture.
These insights have guided us all at CEB to focus on transparent communication within and across teams over the past two years.
How will I receive a copy of the survey to respond to?
Survey links were emailed to each CEB staff member on March 11. The link will take you to the survey, however, the survey can also be accessed on the Culture Amp home screen under tasks.
When will the results of the Survey be shared?
You can expect the results to be shared during Term 2. Teams will experience similar debrief session to the 2023 survey debrief sessions.
2025 Staff Engagement Survey FAQs
Click here to see frequently asked questions
Who can answer questions about the Survey?
If you have any questions about the Engagement Survey please contact Fiona Murphy or Emma Baldwin.
Crucial Conversations - 29 & 30 May, Ballarat Location
| Time & location | Day 1 9:00am-4:00pm and Day 2 9:00am – 3:30pm Glowery Room, St Patrick’s Cathedral, 3 Lyons St, Ballarat |
| Program overview | Crucial Conversations teaches a model for effective communication, that can be applied to any situation, but particularly difficult or high-stakes situations. It focuses on fostering dialogue, managing emotions, and achieving mutual understanding. The model helps to navigate high-stakes discussions with openness, respect, and skill, enhancing relationships and driving positive outcomes. This program is designed for anyone who would like to develop skills in providing effective feedback and fostering open dialogue. The skills can be transferred across a range of situations including providing feedback and fostering open dialogue with colleagues, parents/carers and the community. It is relevant for people working in schools as well as the CEB office. Crucial Conversations will be run each term on the following dates -
*Minimum participant numbers apply for programs to run. Further information on additional leadership development opportunities for 2025 will be provided in next week's newsletter. |
| Query?Contact | If you have any queries about the program please contact Fiona Murphy or Emma Baldwin |
| Booking Link | Try booking registration – https://www.trybooking.com/CZNTC |
| Cost | $500 (inclusive of learning materials (3 x books), morning tea and lunch) |
Upcoming Flu Vaccination Clinic
As part of our commitment to supporting employee health and wellbeing, a Flu Vaccination Clinic will run at the CEB Office located on Gillies Street, Wendouree. This initiative aims to provide staff with easy access to flu vaccinations to help protect against seasonal influenza.
Details:
- Where: CEB Office, Gillies Street, Wendouree
- When: Monday 28 April 2025
- Time: 9:30am to 12:30pm
Bookings:
Further details will be shared for online bookings to this clinic
For staff located in other offices, or who are unable to attend the Ballarat clinic, you have the option of sourcing your own vaccination (via a pharmacy or local vaccination clinic) and will be reimbursed (up to the total of $25).
Reimbursement for the expense of the vaccination can be submitted via the Flexi Purchase process.
Unfortunately, due to the availability of the vaccine, we are unable to align the vaccination clinic to the CEB staff days in the April term holidays as has been done in previous years.
Please note: The flu vaccination clinic will only run if we have more than 20 employees attending.
Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
CEB Positions
- Talent Acquisition Partner – Ballarat Office – Fixed Term (Parental Leave) at 1.0 FTE (closes 30 March)
- Learning Management System Administrator – Ballarat Office – Full-time Ongoing at 1.0 FTE (closes 6 April)
Principal Vacancies
- Sacred Heart Primary School, Casterton (closes 23 March)