Executive Director’s Update to Principals #32 - 10 July 2023
Welcome to Term 3
Welcome to Term 3. We particularly welcome Chris McCumstie in Murtoa and Michael Heenan in Creswick. We wish Chris McAloon well for his final week of Principalship in this Diocese and thank him for his contribution. We wish him well in the Northern Territory.
Welcome back to Kate Nunn, Vince Muscatello and Mark Gibson today. Thank you to Chris Robarts for his continued support of Cynthia Maiden in Hopetoun. We welcome Rachel McGennisken at Trinity in Colac and Fiona Mulhall at Monivae in Hamilton while Paul and Jonathon, respectively, are on leave.
Wellbeing Team Staffing Updates
Janette Trento: Psychologist Ballarat
Janette has accepted a position at Salesian College Sunbury and will conclude her time at DOBCEL on 21 July 2023. Janette has contributed greatly to the support of students in the schools she has engaged with over the past two years. She has also supported the Wellbeing Team in their efforts to evolve practices that best support schools. We wish Janette well.
Recruitment for a replacement has been initiated. In the interim, the Psychology Team will work together to manage existing and new referrals and caseloads. Shoni Reimert has been engaged (welcome back Shoni) on a short-term basis to support this caseload management. During this period there may some be some reallocation of cases to ensure a timely response. Please communicate with your Education Officer: Learning Diversity should you have any specific queries.
Allan Hutchison: Senior Psychologist
Allan will enjoy some well earned Long Service Leave for the duration of Term 3 2023.
During this time Danielle Buzaglo (Psychologist: Warrnambool) will step up to the Senior Psychologist role.
Lisa Templar: Senior Education Officer Learning Diversity
Lisa has been appointed Senior Education Officer: Learning Diversity replacing Susan Rampling. Lisa brings strength of practice from her work in schools as well as that gained in her role as Education Officer: Learning Diversity. Lisa also brings specific skills in the development of systems and practices that will support further growth in practice for the Wellbeing Team. We congratulate Lisa on her appointment.
Recruitment to fill Lisa’s Education Officer: Learning Diversity role has been initiated. In the interim, Maria Richards will continue in a full time capacity and Jacqui Pierce in a part time capacity to support the learning diversity requirements of schools.
Mel Frost: Education Officer Student Wellbeing
Mel has been appointed to the role of Education Officer: Student Wellbeing and will join the team which currently comprises Liz McIntyre, Anne Ruddell and Brooke Nester. Mel’s moves from her position on the CEB Learning and Teaching team to pursue her passion and commitment to student wellbeing and will add greatly to the support of the social emotional learning practices in schools.
Recruitment to fill the Learning and Teaching position has been initiated.
Ashleigh Graham: Positive Behaviour Specialist
Ashleigh has been appointed to the newly created position of Positive Behaviour Specialist. She will commence work at DOBCEL on 17 August 2023. Ashleigh is currently working at Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) as a Learning Consultant Behaviour/Autism. Ashleigh will join the Student Wellbeing Team. The introduction of both Ashleigh and Mel to the Student Wellbeing Team offers new opportunities to support schools in the development of positive behaviors across all tiers.
Teischa Coughlan: Visiting Teacher Sensory Impairments
Teischa will commence work at DOBCEL on 17 July 2023 as a Visiting Teacher:Sensory Impairments. Teischa’s work will primarily be focussed on supporting students with hearing impairments in the Central Zone which fills the vacancy created by the departure of Kelly Pails in late Term 2, 2023.
Teischa comes from her current role as a Key Worker for NDIS with a background of further study in hearing impairments and a strong commitment to support students with sensory impairments and specific learning requirements.
Ben Sacco: MacKillop Institute National Program Director for ReLATE
Anne Henderson, Group Director MacKillop Education and The MacKillop Institute, has informed us that Ben Sacco will not be continuing in his role as National Program Director for ReLATE as of 14 July 2023. Schools who have already engaged in the ReLATE culture change model will know Ben as the lead facilitator of this partnership. Anne has provided the linked correspondence ‘MacKillop Institute Information Letter’ to inform DOBCEL of Ben’s move.
ReLATE will continue to support schools in their development of trauma informed practices and build on the strength of the model that Ben contributed so greatly to. The Student Wellbeing Team will support schools in the transition of facilitators from MacKillop.
Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU)
Victorian Energy Upgrades is a government energy efficiency program currently available for households and businesses to assist in reducing power bills and greenhouse gas emissions. This includes the replacement of some styles of fluorescent lights to LED lights and upgrading of existing hot water units.
If schools have been approached by a contractor or are considering an upgrade and are searching for a service provider, DOBCEL recommend you undertake thorough research to ensure you engage a qualified contractor to complete your project. This link provides access to a Factsheet with access to a database of contractors approved under the VEU Scheme. Should you have any queries prior to engaging any contractor, DOBCEL staff are available to assist you with a review.
It is also important to ensure all OH&S and compliance requirements are met so the following documents must be requested and supplied:
Prior to the commencement of works
- Copy of the contractors Working with Childrens Check (WWCC)
- Copy of “A” Grade Electrical Licence
- SWMS (Safe Work Method Statement)
- Working at Heights Ticket – for any ladder works at 2 meters or above
On the date of works the following are to be completed
- JSA (Job safety Analysis) is to be completed, signed and handed to the school
- Site specific induction – undertaken by the school
Upon completion of the works
- Within 30 days the Electrical Contractor will complete the Certificate of Electrical Safety and is required to provide the School with a copy
If the contractor refuses or is unable to provide all the above, DOBCEL recommend the contractor is not engaged. As with any contractor, please ensure all generally required documentation is obtained and inductions are undertaken.
And again, if unsure, or something does not seem right please contact DOBCEL Properties and Facilities Advisor: Penelope Irish who can assist.
Annual Report to School Community (ARSC)
It is a VRQA requirement that the ARSC be uploaded to each school website by 30 June. If you have not completed this yet, please endeavour to do so at your earliest convenience.
The report submitted to the VRQA is very basic and some schools may decide to add more photos to their report, prior to uploading the document to the school community, however, the report as submitted on CEVN is appropriate for use on your school website.
If at the time of uploading the report to CEVN you did not save a copy of your school's report, please contact Susan Crowe.