CEB Staff Newsletter #60 - 20 June 2025

Staff News

Weekly CEB Staff Shout Outs - Submission Form

This is your opportunity to celebrate the amazing work, kindness, and team spirit happening across our diocese. Whether it’s a colleague who went the extra mile, a team delivering great outcomes, or someone who simply made your day better – we want to hear about it!

Submitting is easy! Just use our brand new Shout Out Form and make sure to submit by midday Friday each week to be included in the next newsletter.

Let’s take the time to recognise and celebrate the positive impact - big or small, being made every day across our schools and offices. 

Please click here to access the CEB Staff Shout Outs submission form. 

We understand that some shout outs might overlap across multiple pillars - and that’s a great thing! Just do your best to select the most relevant pillar that reflects the heart of the contribution.

Bon Voyage Jo-Anne and Welcome Simon Duffy!

We are pleased to announce that Simon Duffy will be Acting Education Consultant: Central Zone whilst Jo-Anne Bond is on long service leave (23 June – 15 August). Jo-Anne, we wish you all the best and look forward to hearing all about your adventures when you get back!

Trish Caldow will be Interim Principal at St Thomas More whilst Simon is in this role. If you see Simon around, please make him feel welcome!

DOBCEL Survey 2035 Now Open

The DOBCEL 2035 Survey is currently open for all school-based staff across the Diocese.

Please also note that a CEB staff survey will be released in the coming weeks, which you will be invited to complete. Further details will be provided in due course.

This important survey will form our 2025 baseline, helping us understand the current landscape in schools and measure progress against the DOBCEL 2035 Strategy over time.

The survey takes around 20 minutes to complete and will remain open until the end of Week 1 in Term 3. We ask CEB staff to kindly encourage your school contacts and colleagues to complete the survey if they haven’t already. All responses are vital in shaping our collective direction.

The video introduction above, printable flyer, and survey link have already been shared with schools.

Thank you for continuing to support this important work.

Gifted Leave and Office Closure Information 2025/2026

As part of our commitment to recognising the exceptional dedication of our staff, CEB is pleased to confirm gifted annual leave will again be provided during the 2025/2026 Christmas period. This additional leave is a way to thank you for the discretionary effort and commitment shown throughout the year.

All CEB office locations will close at 1.00 pm on Friday, 19 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday, 12 January 2026.

No action is required – gifted leave will be automatically applied for this period in line with your usual work pattern.

For further details, view the Gifted Leave and Office Closure Overview here.

Master of Ed Research or PhD opportunities

Expression of Interest are invited from CEB staff who are interested in pursuing a Masters of Ed Research or PhD related to an aspect of our DOBCEL Strategy 2035.

At this stage all is required is to send through your name to Tina Munro by 25th July. Once we ascertain the level of interest we will set up an information session for interested staff in Term 3.

Passtab: A Smoother Sign-In Experience for CEB Visitors

Many of you will already be familiar with the Passtab sign-in system used across our schools - but did you know there's now a dedicated DOBCEL Visitor sign-in option? Not all of our schools have this option, but please use this option at schools that do!

This new option has made it quicker and easier than ever for CEB staff to sign in when visiting schools. With just a few taps, your details are recorded accurately and securely, helping streamline entry while maintaining high standards of safety and compliance.

The images below show the different stages of the sign-in process, so you know exactly what to expect when you arrive on-site.

This small update is already making a big difference in how we work and connect across the diocese!

Step-by-Step Images

Term 2 Staff Meeting Arrangements 15-17 July

Tuesday 15 July

• Travel - staff to make own dinner arrangements.

Wednesday 16 July

• Team meetings (9.00am-5.00pm)

CET at Damascus Events Centre, Damascus College Mount Clear;

Business Services and Stewardship at CEB, Gillies Street

• All Staff Stand Up Dinner (6.30pm) – Oscars Hotel, Doveton Street, Ballarat.

Thursday 17 July

• All staff meeting (9.00am to 4.00pm) 

Damascus Events Centre, Damascus College, Mount Clear

Meeting invitations will be sent for inclusion in your calendars.

Please complete the survey regarding your attendance and dietary requirements by no later than 4.00pm Monday, 30 June.

Staff Meeting arrangements survey

Catholic Education Ballarat Pilgrims of Hope - Staff Formation Experience 2025

Thank you to everyone who has indicated their preferences for Staff Formation for the 1st & 2nd October. At the moment we are creating the pilgrimage groups according to preferences and will let everyone know their group by the 4th July at the latest. 

Here is a really interesting reflection on the theme of Pilgrims of Hope. It will take 3-5 minutes to read. Enjoy!

Data Day: Strengthening Our Social Behaviour Platform

Primary and Secondary school staff who joined us earlier this week for our Data Day session at Catholic Education Ballarat.

The day brought together the Student Wellbeing and SIMON teams in a fantastic example of cross-functional collaboration, aimed at strengthening our Social Behaviour Platform. Together, we’re building greater capacity in schools to use data more effectively when planning for student needs - supporting wellbeing, engagement, and learning across the system.

Key takeaways included:

• Deepening understanding of behaviour data and its value

• Exploring tools like the TFI and individual/cohort data

• Learning how to analyse and apply data in meaningful ways

• Creating effective data templates

• Examining attendance trends and how they inform planning

This session marked a significant step forward in our system-wide efforts to embed data-informed practices that directly support student outcomes. Thank you to all who contributed to such a valuable and energising day!

Social Justice Update

Response To The Cry Of The Poor

World Refugee Day, Friday 20th June 2025

Matthew 25:35:

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me."

Jesus was born into life as a refugee. Mary and Joseph had been forced to flee into Egypt from their own land to save the life of their child. This was no accident but was central to the life of the Holy Family and would become a central teaching of the Church – hospitality and protection for the stranger in our midst. Catholic Social Teaching, from Scripture, through the example of the saints throughout history and from formal teachings of the Church have emphasised the importance of welcoming the outsider, especially the ones who are poor and marginalised.

Each year on 20 June, the world honours the strength and courage of people who have been forced to flee their home country to escape conflict or persecution.

This year, World Refugee Day focuses on solidarity with refugees.

Solidarity means honouring refugees not just with words but with actions. It means listening to them and making space for their stories. It means defending their right to seek safety and finding solutions to their plight, ending conflicts so they can return home safely.

It means ensuring they have opportunities to thrive in the communities that have welcomed them and providing countries with the resources they need to include and support refugees.

But above all, solidarity means saying, clearly and courageously, that refugees are not alone and that we will not turn our backs.

To find out more and be inspired to make a difference to the lives of refugees, watch the UNHCR video linked below:

↳ 🎥 We have a question

Upcoming Key Social Justice Dates:

FLARE Team Days – Horsham, June 2025: Connection, Collaboration & Shared Purpose

Two days. One team. Countless cups of tea/coffee (some edible).

The FLARE Primary Literacy team came together in Horsham to press pause on emails and calendars, and focus on the people behind the work. With most of us based in different offices, this was all about building trust, deepening connection, and collaborating face-to-face.

What We Did

From sharing our favourite books, family photos and who we are outside of work to generating professional learning 'sparks' (or were they flames or bonfires?), the balance of professional and personal was spot on. Tarot cards, alongside school ghost stories, made an unexpected appearance while Psalm 19:4 grounded us “Their voice goes out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them he has set a tabernacle for the sun."

Why It Mattered

We left our time together with sharper tools, stronger ties, and a shared sense of clarity. A stronger team, clearer focus, and a renewed commitment to the work we do in our schools across the diocese.

Next up?

Team Day #2 is booked for November. Snacks already being planned.

People and Development Updates

6-Month Self-Reflections Now Open!

The 6-month self-reflection process for the CEB office is now open. The self-reflection process aims to ensure an opportunity for conversation to affirm and reflect on your achievements to date in 2025 and provide space to discuss and capture any support or growth and development opportunities for delivering on the goals you set for 2025.

Each person received an email from Culture Amp (notifications@cultureamp.com) containing a link to complete the self-reflection. You can access your self-reflection via the 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.

6-month self-reflections and meetings should be completed by Friday, 17 July 2025.

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 Fiona Murphy or Emma Baldwin.

Support Gemma in ‘Dancing With Our Stars’!

We are incredibly proud to share again that our very own Miss Johnson has bravely stepped up to take part in this year’s ‘Dancing With Our Stars’ - a wonderful fundraising event run by the Ballarat Foundation. 

This community initiative raises vital funds to support those experiencing hardship across our region. Every dollar raised goes toward creating brighter futures through local food programs, education support, mental health services and more.

To help Gemma reach her fundraising goal, she’s running an exciting Raffle - and she’d love your help!

🎟️Tickets are just $5 each or 3 for $10

🧊First Prize: 6 premium tickets in a Superbox to a spectacular live ice performance at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, 20th July at 2:00 PM (please note: food and drinks are not included)

🧊Second Prize: 4 premium tickets in a Superbox to a spectacular live ice performance at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday, 20th July at 2:00 PM (please note: food and drinks are not included)

👗Third Prize: A $200 voucher for Jericho Road Clothing

This is a fantastic opportunity to support a great cause and go in the running to win some incredible prizes. 

Scan the QR code on our posters around the school or visit the link below to purchase your tickets today! 

https://rafflelink.com.au/dwos-gemma 

Let’s rally behind Miss Johnson as she takes to the stage and helps make a lasting difference in our community. 

Thank you for your generous support! 

Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community

CEB Positions

No current vacancies.

Principal Recruitment

• Principal – St Joseph’s, Penshurst (closes 1 July)
• Principal – St Joseph’s, Coleraine (closes 1 July)
• Principal – St Patrick’s, Port Fairy (closes 13 July)
• Principal - St Malachy’s Edenhope (closes 20 July)