CEB Staff Newsletter #71 - 19 September 2025

CEB Pilgrims of Hope Pilgrimages 2025

A final reflection as we put the final preparations together for our pilgrimages, here is a poem by the great Irish poet John O’Donohue. It may speak to you of pilgrimage and what we are about to experience on October 1st and 2nd.

Progress on Key DS2035 Projects

Thanks for your work this term in continuing sense-making of the DOBCEL Strategy 2035. With a focus on Deeper Collaboration and Collaborative Cultures, our shared understanding is developing, and we’re excited to share updates on some key initiatives:

• 5 CIRPs are now underway – you can learn more here and explore each project via this SharePoint page designed to keep CEB informed of the ongoing work.

• The Beating Heart of Educational Transformation – Leading from the Middle with Andy Hargreaves is making great progress, with participants activating collective autonomy and agency through their project.

• The School Improvement Action Research Group has conducted an appreciative inquiry of current practices, building on research from the UK and Canada. This work is informing future prototypes.

• The Student Agency Forum is gaining momentum – if you haven't done so yet, check out the Canvas page and the linked PDF instruction sheet below for creating your login.

• Planning for Network Collaboration Days for secondary schools is underway – stay tuned for updates.

• The strategy research opportunity through ACU has attracted strong interest; submissions close today.

These projects demonstrate DS2035 in action, putting our principles into practice as we innovate and collaborate across our schools.

Engaging Deeply with DS2035

Many of you will be familiar with the Executive Summary of the DOBCEL Strategy 2035, which outlines the megatrends shaping the future of education and the global forces likely to impact schools by 2035.

We now encourage you to explore the full strategy document. Slightly longer than the Executive Summary, it offers richer insights into our system’s direction. Notably, Catholic Identity is given greater prominence, and there is a new section explaining why change is necessary.

The strategy identifies key challenges in school education:

1. Stagnating or declining student learning outcomes

2. Widening educational inequities

3. Declining student sense of belonging and engagement

4. Student and staff wellbeing at risk

5. Eroding economic efficiencies in education

As you reflect on these themes, consider:

• How do these trends appear in your own context?

• What opportunities do they present for working differently together?

Reading the full strategy will deepen your understanding of our shared challenges and the vision guiding us forward. At its heart are three Practical Principles: Deeper Collaboration, Networked Local Innovation, and Collective Autonomy and Agency. These evidence-based principles form our theory of change, showing how partnership, local creativity, and empowered educators can transform challenges into opportunities and help realise our vision of fullness of life for all.

Flare Staffing Update

Flare Executive team member, Breeana Wade, has recently accepted a two-year Deputy Principal position at Sacred Heart Primary in Mildura. She will be seconded from her current CEB position during this time, commencing Term 1 2026. We congratulate Breeana and the Sacred Heart community on the appointment. 

To ensure continuity of the Flare program for schools and minimise disruption for staff, CEB is putting several actions into place for succession planning. Further information and details will be provided to schools in Term 4.  

Call for Contributions: Teachers Who Inspire

The NCEC is seeking stories for the Teachers Who Inspire section on the NCEC website, also featured in their fortnightly e-news and across social media. This initiative highlights the incredible educators and leaders in Catholic schools across Australia. You can read past contributions here.

If you know a teacher who inspires, the NCEC would love to hear from you. You can either ask them to get in touch themselves, or send their contact details to the NCEC (with permission). They'll be provided with the set of questions below, and they’ll check with their principal before their story is shared. Each feature highlights the school and includes links to help promote it.

Participants are asked to share:

Background:

• Name

• School and current role

• Year levels/subjects taught

• Years in teaching or leadership

Reflective Questions:

1. What inspired you to become a teacher?

2. Can you share a moment in your career where you felt you truly made a difference?

3. Is there a story from your time teaching that has inspired you or had a deep impact on you?

4. How does your faith shape your teaching approach?

5. What’s the most rewarding part of teaching in a Catholic school?

6. What do you think is the most valuable role Catholic education plays in today’s society?

The NCEC also ask for photos to be shared to accompany the stories (with permission if students are included).

If you have questions, ideas, or nominations, please email comms@dobcel.catholic.edu.au and we can help facilitate nominations. Feel free to forward this to anyone who comes to mind – let’s celebrate the remarkable teachers shaping our Catholic schools!

Lost Headphones?

If the pair of headphones in the photos below belong to you, please see Elena at Reception or phone 03 4344 4350.

Professional Learning Opportunities

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

Career Opportunities

CEB 

• Psychologist – ongoing position at 1.0 FTE (closes 21 September) 
• Education Officer – Learning & Teaching – ongoing or secondment opportunity at 1.0 FTE (closes 21 September) 

Principal Positions 

• Principal – St Joseph’s Primary School, Penshurst – 1.0 FTE (closes 23 September)
• Principal – St Joseph’s Primary School, Warrnambool - 1.0 FTE (closes 29 September)