CEB Staff Newsletter #66 - 15 August 2025

The Feast of the Assumption

Today, the 15^th of August is The Feast of the Assumption, an important date in The Catholic Tradition. If you would like to find out more about it, some information that may be useful can be found here.   

If you would like to ponder The Assumption through prayer, meditation or contemplation a resource that you might find appropriate has been linked below.

DS2035 Baseline Survey

The DOBCEL Strategy 2035 Baseline Surveys have been extended for one more week, giving both schools and CEB staff a final chance to have their say in shaping the future of Catholic education across our Diocese.

The school survey is open to all teaching and education support staff. The CEB survey is open to all staff across each of our office locations. Responses will provide the baseline for our 2035 strategy and help us to track our progress over the next decade.

We encourage CEB staff to remind their school contacts about the school survey during conversations and interactions next week and prompt them to complete it. If you have not yet completed the CEB version of the survey, please take the time to do so.

All voices are essential in shaping our future. Both surveys are now open until Monday 25 August.

Diocesan Leadership Gathering

This week’s Diocesan Leadership Gathering (DLG) brought school and system leaders together for a rich day of learning, collaboration and inspiration.

The day opened with an Acknowledgement of Country and prayer led by Kate Lawry, followed by a welcome from Executive Director Tom Sexton and a light-hearted address from Dr Berenice Kerr, Board Director and Deputy Chair, who congratulated Tom on his new five-year contract.

Leaders heard from Australian Catholic University (ACU), who outlined Masters and PhD opportunities available all. The group then took part in a reflective Grow and Let Go activity. Throughout the day, participants also engaged with sponsors through presentations and exhibits.

International guest Jean Stiles joined from Canada for a session to discuss the Student Agency Forum, while renowned education expert Pasi Sahlberg shared insights on the importance of play in learning. Pasi, together with Dave, also led a session exploring collective autonomy and agency.

Principals were challenged to “start with the why”, developing their own elevator pitches to deepen connection with our strategic approach.

The gathering also included important operational updates from Tom Sexton, Paul Jans, Kevin Brodie, Megan Ioannou and Ange Jones.

It was a valuable opportunity to connect as leaders, strengthen our shared vision, and reflect on the practices that will shape the future of Catholic education across the Diocese.

DLG this week

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Formation in October

A 2.5 minute read

Our Staff Formation in October is based around the Jubilee Year theme of Pilgrims of Hope. What is hope? Hope is an interesting thing to try and describe!!! Richard Rohr OFM, in the following article unpacks it from a Christian perspective. It may offer some insights to our dialogue and reflections around the concept of HOPE.

Energizing Hope
Richard Rohr
Sunday, October 8, 2023 
Centre for Action and Contemplation

Prophets nurture and evoke a new way of thinking. They give us images and words which subvert our system and tell us that we haven’t seen the whole picture yet. Prophets are not just concerned about social change for the sake of social change. They are concerned above all with transformation and freedom of the heart, and then out of that free heart, the prophet says, “Listen.” The prophet creates a new, freeing consciousness which allows us to hear the divine word.

In the midst of that freedom, the prophets plant a promise, an alternative and new vision. In the Hebrew imagination, this became the promised land. But the promise never really gets fulfilled. It both tantalizes and torments us with dissatisfaction—and nevertheless calls us forward! It isn’t that God or the prophets are playing games with us. It’s that we are energized by the hope of God’s promises. What gives us the energy and power to keep moving is the promise, the dream, the vision of what could be and what’s beyond the moment. The prophet knows that, and God knows that. In the exodus, God plants the promise in Moses’ heart, and then Moses gives it to the people.

These promises are not lies. They’re true, but they’re not always what we expect or hope for, and so God calls us a little further. This is the way that divine love stretches our hearts. This is the real rebirth. This is the way we’re reborn again and again until we enter, through death, the promise of a deeper life.

The established and dominant culture does not have authentic promises because it seeks to maintain itself. The system has materialistic and self-protecting promises for more money and a better life; it encourages us to consume more and more. It cannot offer a promise which fills and expands the heart beyond itself to the larger world.

God’s promises energize and expand the heart, deepening our capacity for life and our quality of being in this world. They put the authority inside us. This, finally, is the only overcoming of death, the only answer to the absurdity that this time is going to end. That’s what the promises of God do—lead us to the experience of deeper life. The Gospel writers call it resurrection.

References:  Adapted from Richard Rohr, The Prophets (San Antonio, TX: Catholic Charismatic Bible Institute, 1980), audio recording. No longer available for purchase. 

R U OK? Day

R U OK? Day is Thursday 11 September 2025 and is the National Day of Action, providing an ideal opportunity to engage staff and the wider school community with the values of R U OK? 

You can also encourage and support an R U OK? Culture every day of the year by having regular, meaningful conversations which builds trust and engagement within our communities.  

Learn more about the 4 steps of a RU OK ? conversation 

1. Ask R U OK? 
2. Listen with an open mind
3. Encourage action
4. Check in 

Here are some resources you may like to access for R U OK Day: 

• https://www.ruok.org.au/work
• https://www.ruok.org.au/education
• https://www.ruok.org.au/education#PRIMARYSCHOOLRESOURCES
• https://www.ruok.org.au/education#SECONDARYSCHOOLRESOURCES 

Professional Learning Opportunities

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

PageUp Goes Live Across 14 DOBCEL Schools!

We are thrilled to announce that 14 DOBCEL schools have now completed their training in PageUp and are officially live, using the platform for all recruitment and onboarding needs. This marks a significant milestone in the Nexus Project and reflects the dedication and collaboration of our school communities, the CEB ICT/Simon Team and the People and Development Team. 

Following the successful pilot launch with Emmaus Catholic Primary School, St Francis Xavier Primary School, St Augustine’s Primary School, Damascus College, and the CEB office, the momentum has continued with 10 additional schools now fully onboarded and actively using PageUp. 

The feedback from early adopters has been overwhelmingly positive, with many highlighting the ease of use and the time saved during recruitment processes. 

What’s Next? 

The rollout continues! Over the coming months, we’ll be partnering with an additional 12 schools to complete their PageUp training and implementation. Our goal is to have all DOBCEL schools transitioned to the platform by June 2026, ensuring a consistent and streamlined recruitment experience across the Diocese. 

For any questions please, reach out to the People and Development Team. 

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 January 2031 at 1.0 FTE (closes 17 August)
• Education Consultant – Southern Zone - fixed term until January 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)