Executive Director’s Update to Principals #53 - 25 October 2022
Diocesan Leadership Gathering
In consultation with various Principals and reviewing of the downgraded weather forecasts for the rest of the week, it has been decided to proceed with the Diocesan Leadership Gathering planned for Horsham on 27 and 28 October. We understand that there may be some localised flooding moving through communities and we know this may impact some Principals’ ability to attend.
With regard to travel, road conditions are more challenging, so please build extra time in for your trip.
If any Principal feels concerned about travel or if you feel your community needs you to be present as a result of the existing weather conditions, please email Tom Sexton at execdirector@dobcel.catholic.edu.au.
We are looking forward to the opportunity to farewell some long term contributors to Catholic Education at our Mass and dinner on Thursday evening.
CECV Edge Network Commencement
This year, CECV will be delivering the Edge Network Project which will vastly improve your schools’ capacity to connect online through an extensive, multimillion dollar upgrade to our Wide Area Network (WAN). Each of the 500+ schools being managed by CECV will gain a substantial increase in bandwidth and have more reliable, safe and secure access to the Internet, enabling them to run more efficiently, collaborate better and take greater advantage of data and digital resources to deliver services to over 200,000 students.
The bandwidth allocation is calculated at 1Mbps per student and is based on the student Census numbers. This allocation has been increased from 250kbps per student which gives you a fourfold uplift in bandwidth. CECV aims to ensure schools maintain an agile, scalable IT network to future-proof our systems for the digital economy and to offer the best possible solution for students and staff.
The CECV and DOBCEL teams are working closely with our project partner Orro (previously Comscentre), who have been contracted to implement and manage the new Edge platform. Orro have already commenced the ordering of services from their telecommunication partners Telstra, Superloop and TPG.
There have already been 260+ transitioned schools to the new Edge Network across all Dioceses in Victoria. We are now commencing this process for Primary Schools in the Ballarat Diocese.
You will have already been contacted by delivery partners on behalf of their telecommunication partners to arrange access for the installation of these new services.
You will receive regular communications via email from the CECV Edge Network team to ensure you are updated with regards to:
- When hardware devices are being sent to your school and expected date of arrival
- When we plan to cut over your school to the new service including any expected network outages:
- Cutovers will be planned in consultation with you to identify the most appropriate time to complete this process
- An outage usually lasts 5 – 10 minutes while cables are being moved from your old service to your new high speed internet service
- Schools will need to have someone available to carry out some basic tests following the cutover. This may be a member of staff and/or your IT provider or the DOBCEL IT team
DOBCEL and Orro look forward to working with you over the coming weeks to deliver a much-improved service for you and your school.
If you have any questions regarding this process, please do not hesitate to contact either
Dan Kelly
CECV Edge Network Project
Senior Engagement Lead at Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools
Damian Foster
Manager: IT & Cybersecurity at Catholic Education Ballarat
CECV Employee Relations and OHS Need to Know – Term 4, 2022
The Term 4 edition of the CECV Employee Relations and OHS Need to Know brief is now available via CEVN. In this edition:
- Applicable wage increases will apply from the first full pay period on or after 17 October 2022 and back pay from 24 December 2021 will be provided to employees no later than 25 November 2022.
- Employees (either ongoing or within contract) can request access to their long service leave (LSL) as part of a transition to retirement. There are a number of factors that schools need to consider as highlighted in this attachment.
- Term 4 is an opportunity for schools to review fixed-term employees who will have their contract renewed or be provided with a notice of conclusion letter.
- October (4–28) is WorkSafe Victoria’s Health & Safety Month –a commitment to building a safe and healthy workplace, free from physical and psychological harm. This year’s theme is ‘connect, learn, share’.
- Functions are a great opportunity to recognise the hard work of employees. Helpful guidelines for principals can be found in this attachment.
- Working alone or in isolation can include working after hours, on weekends or during school holidays. When authorising an employee to work alone, there are things principals should consider as highlighted in this attachment.
- There are changes to the Victorian WorkCover scheme in relation to the dispute process and services, effective 1 September 2022.