Executive Director’s Update to Principals #48 - 20 October 2023
Announcement of Appointment - St Patrick's Primary School, Koroit
Ms Tegan McDonald has been appointed as Principal of St Patrick’s Primary School, Koroit. Tegan will commence this new position at the beginning of the 2024 school year.
Tegan has had a major impact on the school community of St Patrick’s since arriving at the school in 2022 as a Foundation teacher, Assistant to the Principal and Religious Education Leader.
Prior to coming to St Patrick’s, Tegan was a member of the St Joseph’s Primary School, Warrnambool community. In her time at St Joseph’s, she taught Years 3/4 and Foundation. She also contributed significantly to the leadership of the school holding the roles of Foundation Team Leader and Religious Education Leader.
Tegan has shown herself to be a passionate and dedicated educator and has made significant contributions to the schools she has taught in. She has shared a clear vision for the school with a strong commitment to collaboration with students, staff and parents and has exhibited an outstanding ability to communicate effectively. Tegan has demonstrated and shared her significant knowledge of learning and teaching and is deeply committed to quality teaching and wellbeing that makes a difference to outcomes for children and staff. She is adept at leading teams of people and has demonstrated her ability to develop strong relationships with all members of the community.
Tegan has also been attending to her professional growth through participation in professional learning opportunities in learning and teaching, wellbeing, Enhancing Catholic School Identity and is in the final stages of completing a Master of Education through LaTrobe University.
I offer my congratulations to Tegan and I ask you to join me in wishing her all the best in her new role.
DLG Meeting 26 + 27 October
Please find attached the DLG agenda for next week’s meeting in Horsham. For those with a dietary requirement, please advise Kerrie Zammit by 9am Monday 23 October.
A reminder that should you be an apology for this gathering due to extenuating circumstances please email execdirector@dobcel.catholic.edu.au
150 Years of the Diocese
As you are aware, next year the Diocese of Ballarat will be acknowledging 150 years of the Diocese. Articles and information from Bishop Paul and others have been included in Our Diocesan Community which I attach here for your reference.
The Diocese will be acknowledging the 150 years anniversary at a number of key events throughout the year. The dates below are relevant to schools and will be placed in the DOBCEL 2024 Calendar. To assist your planning, I provide early advice on the key dates noting further information will come to schools.
Importantly please note the change in dates for Catholic Education Week which will occur from 29 April to 3 May 2024 to align with the Diocesan key dates.
I will provide an update for Principals next term.
2024 Key Dates
- 14 February: Ash Wednesday (special liturgies will be prepared for schools to use)
- 25 March: Mass of the Oils (schools will be asked to send representatives to Mass in Ballarat)
- 28 April: 150 Years Mass in Parishes across the Diocese
- 29 April – 3 May: Catholic Education Week (with special events across school clusters/zones including Mass)
- 3 May: Catholic Education Week Mass and Dinner in Ballarat
Advertising School Career Opportunities in the DOBCEL Weekly Newsletter
To allow for the timely collation of school career opportunities for advertising in the DOBCEL Weekly newsletter, schools are asked to upload their advertising to Teachers on Net no later than Tuesday 9:00am prior to the Wednesday newsletter.
If your recruitment activity is not submitted by this time, unfortunately, advertising will take place in the following week’s newsletter.
People and Capability Update
CECV have just issued the Term 4 Need to Know – Employee Relations and Occupational Health and Safety.
The Need to Know provides important information on the following:
1. Changes to Fixed Term Employment – Fair Work Act 2009 – Effective from 6 December 2023
- A single fixed term contract must not be greater in length than 2 years
- A fixed term contract can not be renewed if the second contract would result in the total period of fixed term employment exceeding 2 years
- A fixed term contract can not be renewed more than once
- The need to include a Fixed Term Contract Information Statement with all fixed term contracts issued after 6 December 2023
- Important Steps for Term 4
2. Scheduled Class time changes for 2024 – CEMEA 2022
- Maximum SCT of 21 hours per week for primary schools
- Maximum SCT of 18.5 hours per week for secondary schools
3. Time in Lieu for Camps – CEMEA
- Following a decision of the Fair Work Commission, all teachers who are required to attend a Camp will be considered during the overnight period to be either on call and available to perform duties (50% time in lieu applies) or performing duties (100% time in lieu applies).
4. Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes) Bill 2023
- The introduction of the above legislation on 4 September 2023 to close loopholes that undercut pay and conditions for workers
5. Working with Children Checks
- Reminders on the need to maintain Working with Children Check and VIT registers for employees, volunteers, clergy and contractors
6. Occupational Health and Safety updates
- Wellbeing resources
- Workcover estimates of remuneration
- El Nino extreme heat and dry climate conditions
- Health and Safety Month
For further information, please contact either Maree Baker on 0436 460 275 or Jo Huntley on 0429 598 163
CARSO Newsletter
Please click here to read the September edition of the CARSO newsletter. This will be emailed to the CARSO network.