CEB Staff Newsletter #61 - 27 June 2025
- Staff News
- DOBCEL Survey 2035 Now Open
- Master of Ed Research or PhD Opportunities
- NAIDOC Week 2025 Yarn with Red Dust
- Testing and Tagging of Electrical Equipment at Gillies Street Office
- Term 2 Staff Meeting Arrangements 15-17 July
- Social Justice Update
- People and Development Updates
- Support Gemma in ‘Dancing With Our Stars’!
- Career Opportunities in the Diocesan Education Community
Staff News
Acting Executive Director Arrangements
Ann and I are off overseas next Wednesday to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. As some of you would be aware it was Matt Byrne’s turn to take on the acting position, as we rotate the Acting ED role between the two Deputies in my absence. Matt’s dad has been quite unwell recently and is currently in hospital. He is expected to recover and leave hospital at some stage. It seems sensible that Megan takes on the acting position to allow Matt the flexibility of attending to his dad and his wider family needs at this time. Please keep Matt’s dad in your prayers.
So with that in mind, I am formally advising you Megan Ioannou will be the Acting Executive Director while I am on personal leave from 2 July to 27 July 2025.
With best wishes,
Tom Sexton
Executive Director
DOBCEL Survey 2035 Now Open
The DOBCEL 2035 Survey is currently open for all school-based staff across the Diocese.
As a reminder, 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 done so. All responses are vital in shaping our collective direction.
We understand that some of the questions – such as how many students attend your school, or how far away the nearest Catholic, government, or independent school is, can feel frustrating to answer, especially when this information is already known. These questions are included so that the researchers can apply consistent rules when analysing the data across a wide range of school contexts. Please encourage your school-based colleagues to keep this in mind when responding. All responses are important and need to be included for the data to be fully and constructively analysed.
The video introduction above, printable flyer, and survey link have already been shared with schools.
Thank you for continuing to support this important work.
Master of Ed Research or PhD Opportunities
Expressions 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 that 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.
NAIDOC Week 2025 Yarn with Red Dust
Come and yarn with Red Dust as we celebrate NAIDOC Week 2025.
All CEB staff are invited to join (or drop into) this 60-minute yarn around the theme of NAIDOC Week 2025 – The Next Generation: Strength, Vision & Legacy.
The discussion is an invitation to all to listen, learn, and engage in meaningful dialogue about reclaiming narratives, amplifying voices and committing to justice and equality for all.
There is free registration to the event, but CEB has purchased an organisational registration so that everyone has access to this online event.
Event Details:
Date: Friday July 4th 2025
Time: 12.00pm
Link: Yarn with Red Dust
Password: Kj924JS3
The NAIDOC Yarn will explore the following:
- Shifting the Narrative: Igniting Change
- Self Determination
- The Urgency of Now
- Understanding Legacy: More Than Just History
- Contemporary Experiences Matter
- A Call to Action for Non-Indigenous Allies
Testing and Tagging of Electrical Equipment at Gillies Street Office
Please be advised that testing and tagging of electrical equipment will be undertaken on Monday 14 July.
Should you have any work items that require testing and tagging such as phone chargers, laptop leads, etc. please leave them on your desk so that they can be tested on this day.
These works may extend into 15 July if required.
If you happen to be working from the office on these days, interruption whilst testing your personal equipment should only be minimal.
If you have any questions, please contact Penelope Irish on email or on 0429 473 351.
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 via the link below to register your attendance and dietary requirements by no later than 4.00pm Monday, 30 June.
Social Justice Update
Response to the Cry of the Poor
Today is World Refugee Day
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:
Upcoming Key Social Justice Dates:
| Term 2 Dates: | Event: |
| Friday, 20th June | World Refugee Day |
| Saturday 5th July | |
| Sunday 6th July | Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Sunday |
| Sunday 6th - Sunday 13th July | NAIDOC Week |
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 the poster below or visit the following 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
- Speech Pathologist – fixed-term position – 0.5 FTE (closes 13 July)