Executive Director’s Update to Principals #35 - 29 August 2024
Student-Free Days and School Closure Days 2025
Schools are currently planning for 2025. In that planning will be the consideration of student free and school closure days to achieve school improvement and staff formation for mission.
Please refer to the attached documentation to support your understanding of the definitions and procedures relating to allocating Student Free Days and School Closure days.
When planning your school calendar, please keep in mind formation opportunities in Catholic identity for your staff. One student free day each year must be designated to this purpose. This day should be part of a staff formation plan and reflect the intentional, ongoing and reflective nature required for formation for mission.
The first and last gazetted day of the school year will be student-free days. Schools may plan four other student-free days across the year. In 2025 we have not included an additional day for TIL at the end of the year given schools' different approaches to managing this.
Tom introduced at the DLG that schools may apply for additional student-free days in 2025 between Easter and Anzac Day (thus reducing Term 2 to a 10 week term). If schools did consider student free days between April 22-24, then schools would draw on one day from their normal student-free day pool and DOBCEL would allow up to an additional 2 days for collaboration with at least one other school within the diocese.
While this time between Easter and ANZAC day presents a specific opportunity to enable schools to collaborate at the same time, DOBCEL’s commitment to supporting collaboration across schools is genuine. If schools choose not to use the two additional between April 22 - 24 then schools will be still supported with an additional 2 days pupil-free for collaboration with at least one other school within the diocese at any time during the year. Please be mindful that you will need to pre-agree these dates with another school/s.
Next week we will distribute a digital form for schools to make their request for student-free days, and this form will remain open until Wednesday 18th September. Please direct any questions to your Ed Con or Matt Byrne as you plan your 2025 Calendar.
In summary-
There are 6 approved student free days for the 2025 school year-:
- First day of gazetted school year
- Last day of gazetted school year
- At least one day for Catholic formation of staff
- Three further days
An additional 2 student free days will be allowed for collaboration opportunities with at least one other school in the Diocese.
Subject to the above, a maximum of 8 student free days will be possible for the school year.
Download the GUIDELINES and PROCEDURES for SCHOOL CLOSURES and STUDENT FREE DAYS
Diocesan Assembly Participation-Survey
Preparations for the Diocesan Assembly on 15 and 16 November are progressing with the formation sessions led by Fr Justin completed. The Diocese is now at the next stage of inviting the nomination of delegates from parishes, Catholic Education Ballarat, social services, health and aged care, religious congregations, diocesan commissions and councils, and Catholic organisations and agencies to attend the Assembly.
Bishop Paul has requested each parish typically provide two delegates.
We are now seeking Catholic education representatives. To ensure appropriate educational representation, we ask that each zone and the secondary principals network nominate up to two representatives. These would be education delegates and separate from the parish delegates. Tom Sexton, Megan Ioannou, and Matt Byrne plan to attend, and a small number of other CEB delegates also.
If you or another leader within your school community could be your zone representative, could you please fill in the linked survey by September 5. In the event we have more than two representatives from each zone, we will work with you regarding our overall number of representatives. Principals are encouraged that if they do commit to this opportunity, they should calendar a day when you are not working to offset the weekend commitment.
The Diocesan Assembly will be held on the evening of Friday 15 and all day Saturday 16 November, 2024. It will be held at Federation University, University Drive, Mount Helen. Overnight accommodation will be provided for regional attendees. More information on accommodation will be provided once delegates have registered.
Recent participation in the formation sessions around the diocese is beneficial, but not necessary.
The assembly is seeking representatives with the ability to discern with an open heart, listening to what the Spirit is saying in relation to leadership and governance in a synodal Church in the diocese.
If you have specific questions please reach out to Matt Byrne via mbyrne@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or event organiser Jane Collins via jane.collins@ballarat.catholic.org.au.
Please indicate your willingness to attend by completing this survey by 5 September
People and Development Update - recent changes to Fair Work and Closing the Loop and CEMEA (2022)
Please find below information and links that reflect recent changes to Fair Work and Closing the Loop and CEMEA (2022).
1 July Wage Increases
- The Annual wage increase has increased for staff covered by Modern Award/s date effective first full pay period after 1 July. This will include Casual Relief Teachers (CRT) in relation to clause 11.3(d).
- The updated CRT rate is available through this link on CEVN.
Employment Reform - Right To Disconnect
- This has now come into effect as of Monday 26 August 2024.
- This ‘right’ is to ensure that employers do not unreasonably disrupt an employee’s non work time.
- This is yet to be tested as a practice but guidelines do exist to assist both employers and employees understand how this should work as it is recognised that each occurrence will be subject to individual circumstances.
Please click here to read more about this reform.
Casual Employment
There are also changes pertinent to the definition of casual for anyone engaged as a casual post 26 Aug 2024. The new definition requires that:
A person is a casual employee if when they start employment:
- The employment relationship has no firm advance commitment to ongoing work, taking into account a number of factors, and
- They’re entitled to a casual loading or specific casual pay rate under an award, registered agreement, or employment contract.
- There is also a change in pathways to ongoing employment for a casual – effectively when someone has been employed as a casual for 6 months they can provide notice to their employer that they want to become an ongoing employee.
Please click here to read more about casual employment arrangements.
Independent contractors - Additionally, the definition of contractor has been amended:
Whether a worker is a contractor or an employee depends on a number of factors. These include:
- the amount of control the business has over how work is performed
- who holds financial responsibility and risk
- who supplies the tools and equipment
- the worker’s ability to delegate or subcontract work
- how hours of work are set
- any expectation of work continuing indefinitely.
Part-time Ad hoc additional hours sheet
- The part-time ad hoc additional hours information sheet provides guidance and examples on the implementation of ad hoc additional hours performed by part-time teachers and clarifies situations where ad hoc additional hours payment would apply compared to Time in Lieu.
- This information sheet is designed to assist understanding as to when this applies as opposed to other entitlements under the CEMA.
Updated Templates
- The template letters of appointment have been updated to include the most recent version of the relevant Fair Work Information Statement.
- Please ensure that the updated templates are used to remain compliant with Fair Work requirements.
Superannuation during Parental Leave Information Sheet
- This update provides information on how the entitlement will apply for eligible employees.
- Please be aware that for schools on Centralised Payroll, these changes will be managed by Chris Young and the CPS team.
Contact Enquiries
For all enquiries please contact:
- Tina Phillips – Manager Employee Relations; tphillips@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or 0436460275
- Jo Huntley – HR Advisor jhuntley@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or 0429598163
Principal vacancy - Our Lady Help of Christians (OLHC), Wendouree
We are seeking a collaborative and visionary principal to lead Our Lady Help of Christians School, Wendouree -
Go here to view the video and find the information pack.
Applications close Friday 4 October 2024.