Executive Director’s Update to Principals #52 - 10 October 2025

Enterprise Bargaining Update: A Collaborative Approach for 2026

As the enterprise bargaining process continues, this is a reminder to take a few moments to review and consider the proposal being offered directly to employees and how it benefits all DOBCEL staff.

Please take 5 minutes to watch my short Q&A video below for a summary of the key features and what they mean for you.

At the heart of this process is a shared commitment to ensuring all staff feel valued, respected, and supported.

The proposed offer includes:

• Minimum 7% pay increase in year 1

• Additional increases in line with government school wages

• $1,500 sign-on bonus before Christmas (pro rata for part-timers)

• Five full days of time in lieu for full-time teachers

• Targeted benefits for non-teaching staff, primary principals, and deputy principals

• Improved leave and work conditions (see details at eb.catholic.edu.au) 

This collaborative approach - fully supported by the DOBCEL Board - will deliver meaningful improvements for all staff while ensuring stability and certainty for schools and CEB.

Please explore the resources linked below:

• Presentation Deck to assist in sharing the details of the offer with your staff
• Poster and DL Flyer for staffrooms
• Key Comparisons document

• Further information sheets and FAQs at eb.catholic.edu.au/eb25-offer

Principals are also encouraged to indicate support for or against this approach in the following poll by providing a yes or no response. 

The following letter has been sent to all SAC Chairs, with a similar letter distributed to Parish Priests.

A number of employee drop-in sessions have been scheduled for next week (details outlined below). These sessions will provide an opportunity for staff to learn more and ask questions.

Please also see the article below on Workplace Delegate Rights, which outlines important privacy guidance regarding staff email addresses and union communication requests.

Thank you for taking the time to stay informed and engaged in this important process.

EB25 Offer: Optional Employee Drop-in Sessions

To support all staff in understanding the proposed enterprise agreement offer, four optional online drop-in sessions have been scheduled for next week.

These sessions are role-specific and designed to give staff the opportunity to hear directly from Executive Director, Tom Sexton, with members of the People & Development team also available to provide clarification and support.

This collaborative approach reflects our commitment to collective autonomy and agency, recognising the important role of every staff member in shaping the future of Catholic education. The sessions will allow participants to ask questions, gain clarity, and ensure they are well-informed about the offer being made and what it means for them.

Principals are asked to please share this information with staff, ensuring that those who wish to attend can easily access the relevant session. Principals may attend these sessions if they wish to do so, but are not required to attend.

Session Times and Links:

Teaching staff sessions

• Monday 13 October – 8:00am – 8:40am
  Join the meeting now
  Meeting ID: 427 652 702 530 3
  Passcode: uG3jr3d9
• Wednesday 15 October – 3:45pm – 4:20pm
  Join the meeting now
  Meeting ID: 426 981 330 266 7
  Passcode: vT6qS65V

General school staff session

• Thursday 16 October – 1:00pm – 1:40pm
  Join the meeting now
  Meeting ID: 422 708 707 224 0
  Passcode: 2Sm3Ze6A

ES/LSO staff session

• Thursday 16 October – 3:45pm – 4:25pm
  Join the meeting now
  Meeting ID: 431 859 117 371 6
  Passcode: 8um9i2PA

Staff are encouraged to attend the session most relevant to their role to learn more, seek clarification, and engage in open discussion about the proposal.

Workplace Delegate Rights, Communication and Union Access

It has come to our attention that the Independent Education Union (IEU) has recently advised some school-based representatives that, “using your delegate rights, these emails can be sent through to all staff.”

Under the Fair Work Act, delegates have the right to reasonable communication with union members and potential members in the workplace. These rights are balanced by each school’s responsibility to manage staff information appropriately and maintain respectful communication in the workplace.

To support consistency and understanding:

• Communication – Delegates may communicate with staff through normal workplace channels, such as conversations with colleagues, posting on staff noticeboards, or sending messages from their own school email account.
• All Staff Emails – Delegates do not have an automatic entitlement to access or use school-managed “All Staff” email distribution lists, however a delegate can request to email all staff on matters related to enterprise negotiations.  They cannot share employee contact details with external parties, including a union.
• Principal Requests – If a delegate wishes to share a message with all staff, the principal is not required to distribute the message on their behalf.
• Reasonable Access – Delegates are entitled to reasonable access to discuss industrial matters with both union and non-union staff. What is considered reasonable may differ between schools, but reasonable support must not be withheld.
• Freedom of Association – Delegates must not continue to engage with staff who have indicated they do not wish to receive union-related communications, in line with the principle of freedom of association.
• During Work Hours – Delegate activities should occur in a way that does not interfere with normal duties or the performance of other staff. For example, discussions should generally take place during breaks, before school, or after school hours.
• Union Site Access – Unions also have rights under the Fair Work Act to enter workplaces for a range of reasons, including holding discussions with employees. These visits are subject to specific rules and requirements to ensure expectations are clear and observed by all parties.
• Notice of Entry – Under section 487 of the Fair Work Act, the minimum of 24 hours’ notice should be provided before a visit.  Our expectation is that unions continue to provide such notice consistent with our current agreement.

For background, the VCEA Information Sheet – Workplace Delegate Rights outlines the scope of delegate communication in Catholic schools.

If your school receives or becomes aware of a request for access to staff email lists, or if you are unsure how to respond to a delegate or union access request, please contact the People & Development team for clarification and support.

Mandatory reporting training being removed from Information Sharing and MARAM Online Learning System

As advised by VCEA 3 October, the Protecting Children – Mandatory Reporting and Other Obligations Non-Government Schools eLearn training module is moving to a new platform.

Actions Required

Principals are asked to:

• Make sure your staff are aware of the change and remind them they need to complete their mandatory reporting training every year
• Check all staff have provided you with a copy of their completion certificates
• Ensure that your regular CRTs are aware of the change and have access to the training
• Ensure all school staff and regular CRTs receive the information contained below in the Additional Information section.

Main Points

• The Protecting Children – Mandatory Reporting and Other Obligations Non-Government Schools eLearn training module is moving to a new platform
• Current training (access to certificates) will be removed from the Information Sharing and MARAM Online Learning System from 13 October 2025
• The interim platform will continue to be in place until early 2026 when the training will be accessible via a new portal for Catholic schools.

Prior to 13 October staff can access the platform through the usual avenue via DE at:

Protecting children: Mandatory reporting and other obligations | vic.gov.au

After the 13 October, an interim learning management system (LMS) will be available for non-government school staff.

If you are due to refresh your training and will be unable to complete the module before 13 October, you can access the interim LMS to complete the mandatory reporting training by following these steps:

1. Go to the interim LMS and click “Enrol”
2. Create an account by filling out the required fields. Click “Register New Account."
3. Open your confirmation email and click “Complete Registration.” You can then set a password for your account.
4. The module should now be visible from your Student Dashboard. Click on your name in the top right corner and select “Student Dashboard”

The interim platform will be in place until early 2026 when the training will be moved to a new VCEA system which is currently being developed.

Student-Free Days and School Closure Days 2026

Schools are currently planning for 2026. In that planning will be the consideration of student-free and school closure days to achieve school improvement and staff formation for mission. The Professional Learning Calendar will be circulated in the coming weeks to assist you in your scheduling.

Please refer to the documentation (linked below) 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.  

There are 6-8 approved student free days for the 2026 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
• Optional two student-free days for collaboration opportunities with at least one other school in the diocese.

Please complete this survey before 31 October 2025, and direct any questions to your Ed Con or Matt Byrne as you plan your 2026 Calendar.

Principals are asked to send themselves a copy of their response for reference. You will be prompted to do so after pressing 'submit'.

Application for Placement of DOBCEL portable buildings 2026

As a part of CEBs planning for 2026, Principals are asked to please complete the survey 2025 DOBCEL Portable Survey so that we can assess and review any portable building requirements for 2026.

It is requested that this very quick, 4 question survey please be completed by no later than Friday 17 October so that CEB can be in contact with schools soon to discuss further as required.

If you have any questions, please contact Penelope Irish, Properties and Facilities Officer on email at pirish@dobcel.catholic.edu.au or phone 0429 473 351.