Executive Director’s Update to Principals #1 - 23 January 2025
Welcome to the 2025 school year
I trust you have all had time for rest and rejuvenation over the holiday period and are re-energised for another productive year ahead.
I offer a special welcome and best wishes to those new to Principalship in the diocese - Jaci Commons (Our Lady Help of Christians, Wendouree), Lisa McDonald (St Joseph’s, Penshurst), Danny Franc (St Joseph’s, Coleraine), Melissa Sutherland (St Paul's, Mildura), Julie Leonard (St Mary's, Warracknabeal) and Catherine Howison (Marian College, Ararat), along with Karl Dwyer (Sacred Heart, Colac) and Darren Lloyd (St Patrick's, Camperdown) who take up leadership at new schools this year.
I am pleased to advise that our Diocesan education community theme for 2025 is: ‘May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace.’ (Romans 15:13). This will also be the focus of Catholic Education Week 2025 celebrations from 26 - 30 May. Further details follow in this update.
Our DOBCEL Strategy 2035 work continues apace with an exciting year of ‘sense-making’ about what the strategy means in terms of action for us at both school and system levels. A comprehensive suite of resources to support you to effectively bring your staff on this journey with us is detailed later in this update.
I am particularly excited about the opportunity to join Pasi, Dave and others, for face-to-face engagement with all school staff in each zone during April and May.
As usual, I look forward to visiting all schools throughout the year and I wish you every success as together we work to provide opportunities for the ‘fullness of life’ for our students and communities.
With best wishes,
Tom Sexton, Executive Director
It was great to host those new to Principalship in the Diocese earlier this week (from left): Jaci Commons (Our Lady Help of Christians, Wendouree), Lisa McDonald (St Joseph’s, Penshurst), Danny Franc (St Joseph’s, Coleraine), Melissa Sutherland (St Paul's, Mildura) and Julie Leonard (St Mary's, Warracknabeal).
Catholic Education Theme 2025
Our Diocesan education community theme for 2025 is: ‘May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace.’ (Romans 15:13). This will also be the focus of Catholic Education Week 2025 celebrations from 26 - 30 May.
2025 Theme:
2025 is the Jubilee Holy Year, the 2,025th anniversary of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The concept of "Jubilee" originates in the Book of Leviticus (chapter 25) as a special year of reconciliation, pilgrimage, and coming home. Jubilees are now celebrated every 25 years. Pope Francis has designated the 2025 Holy Year as a time to renew ourselves as "Pilgrims of Hope." Our theme is built on the Jubilee while drawing on the gift of scripture where St Paul writes to the community of believers in Rome.
The context of the greater passage of St Paul’s letters to the Romans is to provide direction, encouragement, and guidance to the community of believers in Rome, a community that Paul had not met personally. In the Ballarat Diocese today, as a community of communities from the Murray to the Sea, we are also tasked to uplift and guide those within our Catholic Christian educational community.
We draw on the inspiration of Pope Francis and the wisdom of St Paul as we strive to bring the peace and joy that God offers to the people of our communities.
Loving God,
May the God of hope fill you with joy and peace as you guide and nurture the minds and hearts of the young.
May the God of hope grant you wisdom to teach with truth, patience to lead with compassion, and faith to inspire with love.
May you always find strength in the mission to reflect Christ’s light in your service, and may your work bear lasting fruit in the lives of those you serve.
Amen.
DOBCEL Strategy 2035 - Resources for engaging teachers and staff
As you are aware, the DOBCEL 2035 Strategy document is complete, and an Executive Summary has been published. It is now important that all teachers, staff and, as appropriate, parents/parent leaders are engaged with the Strategy.
We ask you to take the opportunity early this year to utilize the following resources and opportunities to engage your communities with the new strategy.
1. Copies of the Executive Summary of the Strategy for distribution to all teachers and staff, along with posters for display, should have arrived at your school late last year. School leaders and teachers are also encouraged to read the full Strategy document which is available online.
2. Power Point Presentation and Video - Introducing DOBCEL Strategy 2035.
These resources provide an overview of the strategy, its drivers and intent, along with potential initial actions at school level. Principals are asked to present the Power Point (including a video) to staff (and potentially SAC) at their earliest opportunity in 2025 (approx 30 mins).
3. A dedicated DOBCEL Strategy 2035 web page has been developed to house all resources, information and updates, including a suite of relevant background materials and readings.
4. Face to Face Zone Forums
Pasi, Dave and Tom will lead these forum opportunities to further unpack the Strategy and respond to questions from staff in each Zone:
- Central Zone - 22 April
- Southern Zone - 24 April
- Mid North Zone - 14 may
- Northern Zone – 27 May
(Details to follow ASAP)
We thank you for your expertise, leadership and ongoing support as we work together to pursue the fullness of life for every student in our care.
As we continue to move to action and permanent practice in 2025 and beyond, engagement and co-design with you and within the DOBCEL community, will continue to be the leading principle.
(For any queries about the DOBCEL Strategy 2035 Communication Materials, please contact Gerard Delaney on gdelaney@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or Ph 0413 274 176).
REMINDER: DOBCEL Strategy 2035 – System Initiative opportunities
Andy Hargreaves keynote presentation: Leading from the Middle
[Registrations extended to 30 January 2025]
This keynote, by Andy Hargreaves, will focus on how leadership from the middle becomes a driver of transformational change. How can leaders enable their schools and communities to be adaptive, safe and effective places of learning that help young people develop the knowledge and character that will empower them to shape their futures?
Event Details:
- Date and Time: Friday, 7 February 2025 (Keynote: 10.00 am to 11.30 am)
- Format: Available in-person at Ballarat (venue TBC) or via video conferencing (VC).
- Audience: Open to anyone interested in the content.
Registration - click here.
Child Safe Commitment and Actions 2025
In alignment with the Victorian Catholic Education Authority’s (VCEA) Child Safe Commitment, DOBCEL, in partnership with families and broader communities, strives to pursue the fullness of life for all children and young people. Together, we will continue to work to ensure the care, safety, wellbeing, and protection of our students. With God’s love, we will also continue in 2025, to empower children and young people to face the future with courage and kindness.
DOBCEL’s Commitments
DOBCEL is dedicated to providing safe, nurturing, and empowering school cultures for all children and young people by:
- Upholding the Primacy of Safety: Ensuring the safety and wellbeing of children and young people are prioritized in all decision-making.
- Empowering Voices: Enabling families, children, young people, and staff to voice concerns and provide feedback.
- Implementing Rigorous Practices: Utilising robust risk management and employment procedures to safeguard children.
Child safe actions for start of year
To meet child safety requirements effectively, school leaders should ensure the following actions are undertaken at the start of each academic year:
- Staff, Volunteer, and Contractor Induction:
- Provide a thorough induction tailored to child-related work, covering:
- The Child Safety Code of Conduct.
- The Child Safety and Wellbeing Policy.
- Procedures for managing complaints and concerns related to child abuse.
- Ensure all staff complete the annual ‘Protecting Children - Mandatory Reporting and Other Obligations eLearning Module.’
Please click on the pdf document below which further outlines requirements for building a culture of child safety for 2025.
Wishing you a safe and successful school year.
Contact for Support
For any questions or further assistance, please contact:
Jacqui Righetti
Manager Child Safety
Email: jrighetti@dobcel.catholic.edu.au
Phone: 0409 114 268
Australian Government Capital Grants Program (CGP) 2025
Applications for the 2025 round of the Australian Government Capital Grants Program (CGP) will open on the Friday 24 January 2025 and will close at midnight (end of day), Friday 22 March 2025.
All CGP applications are required to be endorsed by DOBCEL and have an up-to-date master plan to be considered by the VCEA. If you do not meet this criterion, you will be unable to submit a CGP application.
The VCEA will issue correspondence on Friday 24 January 2025 with further information about the application process.
If you wish to submit a CGP application, please contact Andrew Grindlay (agrindlay@dobcel.catholic.edu.au, 0447 755 798) by no later than Friday 7 February 2025 to express your interest.
If you wish to develop a master plan for future applications, please contact Madeleine Ingham (mingham@dobcel.catholic.edu.au, 0477 227 681).