CEB Staff Newsletter #65 - 8 August 2025

From the Executive Director

I'm delighted to share with CEB, before a broader announcement is made next week, that I’ve accepted a new five-year contract as Executive Director.

It is a privilege to continue in this role, and I feel genuinely honoured by the opportunity. Over the past five years, it has been a pleasure to work alongside Bishop Paul and the DOBCEL Board. Together, we’ve shaped a strong and united system of schools, celebrating key milestones and navigating challenges with a clear and shared commitment to serving our communities. The Bishop and Board have led with integrity, wisdom, empathy and, when needed, great courage. Their leadership made the decision to continue an easy one.

DOBCEL Strategy 2035 is an exciting and ambitious roadmap, and I’m looking forward to leading its implementation and embedding it into the fabric of our work in the years ahead. I’m fortunate to work with a deeply committed and high-calibre Directorate team, united by our shared vision: fullness of life for all.

I’m incredibly proud to lead our schools and CEB staff, and I have great confidence in what we can continue to achieve together. As we move toward our aspiration of becoming a high-performing system of Catholic schools, I look to the next five years with genuine optimism and excitement.

Mary MacKillop: A Pilgrim of Hope

Today is The Feast of St. Mary of the Cross MacKillop. Here is a short (2.05 minutes) video by Sr. Rita Malavisi RSJ, who is a Sister of St. Joseph of the Sacred Heart - the community of sisters that Mary MacKillop and Fr. Julian Tenison Woods began in Penola in 1866. This video was created on the first day of Term Three 2025.

Sr. Rita lives and works at The Mary MacKillop Heritage Centre in East Melbourne, this is a destination of one of our CEB Pilgrimages in October. Here Sr. Rita outlines how Mary MacKillop worked to bring hope to the world and how pilgrims today are also invited to participate in life changing actions in the ordinary things of life. 

DOBCEL Strategy 2035

DOBCEL Strategy 2035 Baseline Survey 

The response to the school-based baseline survey has been strong, with more than 300 staff taking the time to answer the open-ended questions at the end of a 20-minute survey. This is an incredible indication of our school-based staff's commitment and care for our system’s future.

The thoughts, concerns and hopes provide rich insight into the current state of play across our schools. This feedback is now with Professor Pasi Sahlberg and University of Melbourne research student Caitlin Senior for analysis.

But we’re not done yet. We need your voices. 

The CEB DOBCEL Strategy 2035 Survey has been extended until close of business Monday 11 August. If you haven’t yet completed the survey, please make time to do so. Your insights will directly shape the direction of our work in the years ahead, and we would really value your perspective.

Let’s continue building Strategy 2035 together.

🗓 Open until Monday 11 August
🔗 CEB DOBCEL Strategy 2035 Baseline Survey

Why has DOBCEL taken this approach?

At our most recent Leadership Team meeting, time was set aside for a valuable exercise: crafting a short “elevator pitch” to summarise the intent and approach of DOBCEL Strategy 2035. Working in pairs and small groups, leaders shared a range of responses that captured the essence of our shared direction. You can read some of these pitches in the gallery below.

Social Justice Update

Laudato Si' – Homelessness Week

4-10 August 2025 – Raising awareness of this growing issue.

Here are some common myths about homelessness in Australia for you to consider this week:

Addressing homelessness is a core part of what we do at St Vincent de Paul Society Victoria and Vincent Care Victoria. Click the link below to find out more:
↳ Homelessness Action Now! | Vinnies

Know someone affected by domestic and family violence?

If you are experiencing abuse or violence it is not your fault. There are support services that can help you. If your life is in danger, call 000. For 24/7 domestic violence counselling call the National Sexual Assault, Family & Domestic Violence Counselling Line on 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732).

Where to get help

Acknowledging that one of your relationships may be unhealthy or potentially harmful can be overwhelming to cope on your own. It can also be difficult to see the bigger context when trying to look at a relationship outside of our own lens. Whether it’s a relationship you need help navigating, a behaviour you want to change or advice to support a loved one involved in an unhealthy relationship, reach out to:

• If your life is in danger, contact emergency services on 000
• Lifeline – 13 11 14 or chat online.
• MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78
• Relationships Australia – 1300 364 277

Laudato Si' Partners News

Jillian Hogbin, Caritas Australia, Diocesan Director, Ballarat, has shared some excellent information and valuable resources in relation to the conflict in GAZA.

Here are a few links that may be helpful for you and your school.

• A Prayer for Gaza (Parish/General)
• Urgent relief for survival in Gaza (Blog posted 30 July)
• FAQs - Gaza Crisis 2025.docx (updated 22 May)
• https://www.caritas.org.au/donate/emergency-appeals/gaza-crisis/ (monitor for up-to-date stats and information)

Petition to Turn Debt into Hope

In this Jubilee Year, people around the world are coming together to demand action on the debt crisis. Together, we can cancel debts and bring back hope.

By signing this petition to the Prime Minister, Foreign Minister and the Treasurer, you are joining thousands of people from around the globe in calling on world leaders, and public, private, and multilateral institutions to:

1. Stop the debt crisis now by cancelling and remedying unjust and unsustainable debts, without economic policy change.
2. Prevent debt crises from happening again by addressing their root causes, reforming the global financial system to prioritise people and the planet.
3. Establish a permanent, transparent, binding and comprehensive framework within the United Nations.

It’s time to fix the broken debt system. It’s time for fairness and justice. This Jubilee Year, join us and the global Caritas family to speak up and demand real change. Together, we can turn debt into hope.

✍️Sign the Turn Debt into Hope Petition to demand action on the debt crisis.

Logistics Regarding Formation in October

In the coming weeks details will be finalised regarding each of the formation experiences, e.g. starting times, finishing times, what food is included, etc. All of these details will be finalised by Friday 29th August and will be published in that week's CEB Staff Newsletter.

As some people are starting to investigate travel and movement regarding the experience it would be safe to pencil in, at this point, that we will begin at 10am on day one and conclude at 1.00pm on day two allowing travel time home etc. The two walking pilgrimages – The Yarrowee River Pilgrimage and Nimon’s Bridge to Ballarat Pilgrimage – will most likely begin earlier (8.30am) on 1st October and finish later in the afternoon on Thursday 2nd October (between 3-4pm) due to the time spent walking.

Each Pilgrimage now has a Sharepoint Page, and within that is a spreadsheet to capture your travel plans, accommodation requirements, etc. There is also a tab for you to list any questions that you have about the pilgrimage you are participating in. These questions will be compiled into a Q&A resource document for us all and this will also be published on 29th August.

The SharePoint pages have been linked below, but if you need any help navigating to your SharePoint page and/or the spreadsheet please ask your Pilgrim Leader or Elise Hart.

We are very grateful to Elise for all of her support. To assist Elise and the Pilgrim Leaders could you please record any questions you may have directly into your pilgrimage spreadsheet so nothing is missed in the compilation.

Formation SharePoint Pages

Formation Sharepoint pages and Teams groups have been set up so that fellow pilgrims can talk and plan together ahead of 1-2 October.

The pages feature leader information, pictures, notable dates, etc. Please complete the spreadsheet in the News section to request accommodation, discuss equipment, list dietary requirements, etc.

If you are travelling more than two hours to reach your pilgrimage you are able to request paid accommodation pre and/or post the event, however, those who live within two hours are expected to travel the morning of October 1 and the afternoon/evening of 2 October. Speak with your Line Manager if you have any special circumstances you wish to be considered. Accommodation requests are due by Friday 22 August.

• The Lore of Hope Pilgrimage, Boort: Home
• Yarrowee Trail Pilgrimage, Ballarat: Home
• Nimon’s Bridge to Ballarat Pilgrimage: Home
• Mary MacKillop, Australia’s First Saint Pilgrimage, East Melbourne: Home
• There Where You Are, Warrnambool: Home
• A Pilgrimage to Laudato Si, Halls Gap: Home
• Pilgrims of Hope on the Big Screen, Ballarat: Home

Welcome to Andrijan Cvetanoski

Next week we welcome Andrijan Cvetanoski to the ICT & Cybersecurity team as our new ICT Systems Administrator.  

Andrijan joins us from NSW Health’s eHealth division, where he worked as a Solution Architect supporting projects focused on Microsoft 365 governance and digital transformation across the state’s health sector. He brings a wealth of experience in IT strategy, cloud services, cybersecurity, and system design.  

We're thrilled to have Andrijan on board and look forward to the expertise he will bring to the team. 

Andrijan commences Wednesday 13 August and will be based in the Ballarat office.  If you see him around, please make sure to introduce yourself and welcome him to DOBCEL. 

Professional Learning Opportunities

The following people and development professional learning opportunities are available for staff to attend:

CEB Higher Education Study Support – 2026 Applications Now Open!

Higher education study support is designed to promote ongoing professional learning of the individual and in support of a high-performing system of Catholic Schools culture aligned to the DOBCEL Strategy 2035. 

On an annual basis, Catholic Education Ballarat (CEB) employees can apply for financial support towards higher education and study leave for one approved course of study or subject per semester. Up to two-thirds of the cost of the education will be provided as financial assistance (pro rata for part-time employees).  

How to apply: 

• Read the CEB Higher Education Study Support Operating Procedure.
• Speak with your Team Leader regarding your intentions to apply for Higher Education Support. 
• Complete the online application form by Friday 29 August 2025. 
• Ensure your Team Leader endorses your application—unendorsed applications cannot be considered. 

For more information please refer to CEB Higher Education Study Support Operating Procedure or contact Fiona Murphy.  

Note: The CEB Higher Education Study Support Operating Procedure is a separate provision to the DOBCEL Sponsorship: Higher Education Studies in Religious Education, Theology, and Catholic Educational Leadership Policy which is designed to specifically promote higher education studies in religious education, theology and educational leadership. It recognises that higher learning in these areas is an important element of contemporary Catholic leadership and teaching that will enhance the Catholic identity and the learning across our diocesan education community and support leadership succession.  

CEB Professional Enrichment Scholarship – 2026 Applications Now Open!

The CEB Professional Enrichment Scholarship offers up to $5,000 to support enriching experiences such as retreats, conferences, immersion programs, or school visits aligned with our strategic priorities. 

Who can apply? 
All CEB staff with at least five years of continuous service who meet the eligibility criteria are welcome to apply for a Professional Enrichment Scholarship. 

How to apply: 

• Read the CEB Professional Enrichment Scholarship Operating Procedure and review the eligibility criteria.
• Speak with your Team Leader regarding your intentions to apply for a scholarship. 
• Complete the online application form by Friday 29 August 2025 
• Ensure your Team Leader endorses your application—unendorsed applications cannot be considered. 

For more details, refer to the CEB Professional Enrichment Scholarship Operating Procedure or contact Fiona Murphy at fmurphy@dobcel.catholic.edu.au. 

Career Opportunities

CEB Vacancies

• Leader: Wellbeing fixed term until 2031 at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 August)
  
• Education Consultant – Southern Zone – fixed-term position until 2031 at 1.0 FTE (closes 22 August) 
• ICT Support Specialist – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 24 August) 

Principal Positions

• Principal –  St Joseph’s Primary School, Warrnambool - 1.0 FTE (closes 2 September)